I am adopting the Joel Friel periodization plan. Last night I experimented to see what my Zone 2 running would be like. I determined my zone by doing a treadmill test, specifically starting at 6.0 for 10 minutes and then increasing 0.2 every minute. I started heavy breathing at 8.4 mph pace and my HR was 167. From this I determined that I needed to be in the 142-152 HR region for Zone 2. Last night I went for my first dedicated Zone 2 run and the feeling was odd. The pace was very slow, and I am trying to figure out if this is normal or if it is due to a potential sickness.
I tried to hold 152 but my HR climbed slightly due to some rolling hills and my average was 154 for the 90 minute run. My pace was 9:15 for the run. Is a 9:15 pace right for a zone 2? I am heading to the doctor today. Memorial day, I ran a 10 mile race and averaged 7:40 per mile. I have been running 3-4 days a week since that race, and I believe my fitness level is about the same (my recent treadmill test was very similar to the one I performed right before the 10mile race). If 9:15 is right, so be it. I’ll suck it up and live with it. If it seems too slow, maybe the sickness theory holds some truth. I have had a nasty cough for two weeks. Cough medicine doesn’t seem to influence it all. I think it is more of an upper respitory infection. After running, I cough for about 30 minutes and I seem to be better. If I take a large, deep breath, it tends to trigger a coughing episode. I am heading to the doctor this afternoon to get things checked.
Thanks in advance.