I have finally made the commitment to go from casual triathlete training when I can to a scheduled and focused triathlete with a real game plan and organization. After a reading a couple books, most people seem to recommend Heart Rate Training for endurance events like HIM & IM and that you try to do most of your training in Zone 3 focused more on time than distance. This is opposite of how i have been training by typically trying to run a particular distance and a certain pace.
How has the HR training worked for everyone. It feels like i am running too slow (seems to have tacked another 30 secs. per mile to my run) and i am afraid i am not training hard enough.
Experience/suggestions???
It was an eye opener for me. Last year was my first year in Tri’s (with a swimming and cycling background) and I trained for the bike and run as you state…trying to run or ride x-miles at a certain pace/speed. Over the winter I got a HRM and on a structured plan for IMWI. I spent countless hours on the bike trianer and treadmill working at the specified zones for each HR. I too felt at times, especially running, that I was not going hard enough.
Interestingly, on the bike trainer, there were times when I would have a workout that would say include a 40 minute zone 3 ride and my legs were tired and had it not been for the HRM I would have not pushed myself to get into and hold zone 3.
This spring on my first ride outside of any significance I did 30 miles in zone2-3 with a few good hills, concentrating on spinning up the hills without getting above zone3. Whereas last year I would go out and try to hammer the whole ride to meet a certain mph avg. My best last year for that ride was 19+mph avg. My first ride this year using the HRM it felt, especially on the hills, like I was not pushing as hard as I should be but then at the end of the ride my avg was 21+mph.
check out www.opentri.com and read all his stuff on HR training and calculate your zones based on his TPR (total pulse range) system.