Heart Rate Training

Although I've been a runner since I was a little kid and even ran in college, the whole heart rate training idea is still pretty novel to me. The 400 meter hurdles and heptathalon didn't exactly require heart rate training. I'll be honest.....I wasn't too excited going into it this season as I hate over analyzation. In fact, I 'm not a details person at all! Keep it simple and look at the big picture right???

WRONG!

The fine details that go into triathlon annoy the crap out of me. If I have a watch and and remember my heart rate monitor on the same day that is a plus :) Forget compu-trainers...power meters... and other crazy analytics. Yah- I know biofeedback may work but don't go there-

Over the past month especially, I feel like I've made leaps and bounds in regards to my running. Before my mentality was "go hard" all the time. I had one gear and one gear only. I caught on quickly after my first few runs when my rate ave was 160-170 bpm.

For some reason, I thought going slower would equate to losses in speed and fitness. Once I said goodbye ego and fear and started adhering to the ranges, things have changed. I can now power up hills and actually stay in my heart rate range. I know how to anticipate the hills and actually control the speed. While my training partners weren't necessarily happy adding a minute plus onto my mile pace, I can finally see fitness improvements.

My speed DEFINITELY is definitely not there yet, but there is still time for that to come right? I guess maybe the whole heart rate training thing does work?

IT BETTER!!!!