HEART-RATE MONITOR TRAINING

Probably the biggest change in my training is using a Heart Rate Monitor. At time of writing this  I use a Garmin 405 that I picked up in 2008 before doing the Berlin Marathon.  I through the HR Strap in the cupboard at the time as it seemed to be a pain wearing it. I recently decided to dig it out and pair it up with the Garmin.

In Sep 11 when I started to train again after a minor injury, I had read some articles reference HR training and how of you worked in your 'aerobic zone' you would reap more benefits than the full on method I had previously subscribed.  All common sense I suppose. I won't rattle on about in depth science (I have put a huge chunk of the current thinking below) but I was definitely impressed with a lot of DR Phil Mafetone's research.

After all the reading (and I did a lot of it!) I am using his approach to Aerobic Training using his 180 formula this will help me to train at Max Aerobic Heart Rate that is required for the distance running I want to undertake.


For me that is 139 BPM at the moment. By the end of the Cardio Training Base (Feb 11)I hope to equate this figure to a Pace.  I will monitor each month to see how it changes.  In theory I will run my Marathons around that Zone to see if I can have a pain free experience...


How I worked out my Max Aerobic Heart Rate is here