Hear Rate Training and cardiac drift

new2703

Started this topic when stated was going to do an unscheduled RR this weekend using HR as a guide instead of pace.  The intent of this was to look at how my average power output compared to a constant HR ( keeping in Zone 2).  Was using this to sort of get a picture of the efficiency of  my aerobic energy system and how much of an impact it has on my power  over a 112 mile ride. I understand the idea of cardiac drift and how the heart rate will naturally rise with prolonged activity.  Factors that effect Cardiac drift:  temperature ( increased body temp), increased sweat rate, electrolyte imbalance and muscular strength and efficiency.  If I can keep these factors relatively constant the biggest limiting factor should be conditioning?  Another thought is depending on my level of conditioning my intial power zones should be more high zone 2/ low zone 3 with an eventual drop to zone 2.  in the end AVg HR and Avg power should fall into zone 2.

Do i train like this no.  I train by pace and power with couple of exceptions.  One during pre season training before start of interval training and when I first start training in heat

Would love to hear peoples thoughts

gamb

I don't even know where my HR strap is. I stopped using it a while ago b/c like Tim said in the dashboard I'm one that used it to negatively affect me. I go by RPE first and then power and pace. The numbers work themselves out well most of the time. If I get in my own head I tend to not do well. I.E. "my HR is too high I should slow down even though I feel fine" etc

Just my observations.

morpheus

Well, my thoughts are that I got faster when I stopped looking at HR.

Doesn't mean that it won't work for you. But, when I took test results and then trained on %'s of those results, let's say...setting a performance result based bar, I got faster. I see HR as an effect, a symptom, of the hard effort that set the bar for future workouts, not as the bar itself.

But, you already know all this, you know your stuff. Do your own experiment and get back to us.

Tho, this reminds me of my rationale when I was 100% coached by me. Over the last 3 years, i've gotten better and better at staying closer to the plans and my results have improved. This kind of self coached experiment is the type of thing that I would do in the Off Season when there isn't any schedule of stressors/recoveries/adaptations going on. Just a thought.

I sometimes wonder if I put a little more emphasis on the HR for the IM run. But, since I'm too cheap to replace the HR strap that I lost after an out of town group ride, I can rationalize my thoughts any way that I want

new2703

Looking at this as more of an assessment tool not training tool. For all workouts and even racing use power/pace, RPE with an eye of heart rate. Agree that using heart rate your only metric can be self limiting

Brian Quarton [OLD]

This sounds like Maffetone's MAF test?

new2703

MAF test?

Al Truscott

John ... Makes more sense to start off mid Zone 1, and be finishing mid Zone 2. That will probably keep you @ a steady power. Your plan would have you dropping power and speed over the course of the 112 miles.

FWIW, My HR usually gets to high zone 1 during an IM bike leg, ending at very low Zone 2. Then, the run usually starts there, and pretty much stays there until mile 18-20, when it *might* start to go up again. At least, that what happens to me when I'm holding steady power and pace.