Okay, so these changes may not be David Bowie song worthy but in my little world, they’re kind of big changes.
What kind of changes? Coaching changes.
Ever since I started running, I’ve been doing all of my training based on pace (how fast I was running) and distance (how far I was running).
Over the past 18 months, I’ve logged over 3000 miles and I’m a very. tired. kid. I just didn’t have it in me to pound out those kind of miles without getting hurt. Something had to give. I began looking into different kinds of training and also looking at different coaches.
Now, let me make it perfectly clear, my coach that I’ve been working with for a little over 2 years has been awesome! He has helped my running TONS! He’s a good guy. It was just time for fresh eyes and a different approach.
Enter HR/time training.
Yesterday, Saturday, was my first training run going by my Heart Rate (HR) and time (how long I was running).
Yesterday’s run was primarily a run to help set up my different HR (Heart Rate) zones. I had a set amount of time to run and specifics on what I was to do during each amount of time. So, yesterday morning, I went out and followed the directions laid out by my new coach.
This morning I set out on my first “Official” training run based solely on HR/time.
To prepare myself for this kind of training I needed a HRM (Heart Rate Monitor). When I purchased my current Garmin (Fenix2) back in 2014, it actually came with a HRM! It was a chest strap HRM and that nasty thing chewed up “the girls” and left scars. I got to the point where I refused to wear it and eventually sold it. I hadn’t really (at that time) been utilizing the information I was getting from it anyway so I wasn’t sad to see it go. Now, I needed a HRM. Amazon to the rescue!
I purchased a Mio Link. This is a wrist HRM. You put on your Garmin and then wear the Mio on your wrist above the Garmin.
So this morning’s run was a 45 minute run in the “green” zone. I ran merrily along with the green light blinking contentedly on my Mio.
Here are my different HR zones: Zone 1 is blue. 2: green. 3: yellow. 4: purple(?) 5: red.
Today I found myself creeping into the yellow without even realizing I was working that hard. I guess I’ve been training a LOT harder than I realized because yellow was feeling pretty easy. When I saw the yellow light, I dialed it back a little bit until the green came back. It was a solid run and I didn’t feel beat up at the end.
This is going to be fun! 🙂
THAT, and I have to start doing some yoga on Friday mornings. I’ve never yoga-ed a day in my life. THIS will be interesting. Hope I don’t have to call 911 because I’m tied up in knots! LOL!!! In all honesty, my biggest problem will be the help I get from my pudgy pooch, Paxton.
#IRun4Aiden
#teamZensah
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