JimmyB's
Heart Time Long Runs

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Race Results
MAF=133 bpm   AT=176 bpm   MHR=203

LT tempo runs       recovery runs (heart time)        MAF tests


date run
miles
run
time
run
ave
pace
peak
ave HR
in a mile

Wt.

lbs.

ºF H D
P
Course/Notes




















6/9/10
10.27
2:16:00
13:15
133
177
82º 49%
61º
tm 1%  
  3 x 2:00 hills @3%
5/26/10
10.31
2:25:00
14:04
133
179
82º
55%
65º
tm 1%  
  3 x 2:00 hills @3%
5/16/10
8.09
1:55:00
14:13
133
181
87º
82%
82º
tm 1%  
 2 x 2:00 hills @ 3%
5/7/10
9.08
2:18:00
15:12
133
182
84º
55%
66º
tm 1%  
1 x 2:00 hill @ 3%
4/30/10
8.62
2:11:00
15:12
133
183
74º
58%
58º
tm 1%
4/9/10
8.85
2:17:00
15:29
132
185
73º
52%
55º
tm 1%
4/2/10
6.77
1:59:00
17:39
131
186
77º
50%
57º
tm 1%


heart time long runs

--warm-up 15 minutes bringing HR slowly to MAF-23 (110 bpm)
--the next ten minutes HR is stabilized at MAF -15 (118 bpm)
--hold the speed at which I'm running at the end of the ten minutes until the end of the run.
--when my HR gets to MAF, and I can no longer hold it at MAF, I stop the run
--
Currently limiting these runs to 2.5 hours. Whichever comes first, the top of the zone or 2.5 hours.

The first two long runs were run in a heart time zone of 113-133. I shortened it to 118-133 for subsequent runs.


The idea of "heart time" is to let heart rate determine the duration and distance of each run. What I'm looking to happen is for the duration and distance to get longer, and average pace to improve. This long run zone is at a very low effort;  64-78% of my energy is derived from fat. Eventually, when and  if I am regularly running 2.5 hours, I'm hoping to shorten the zone or heart time.

I got this idea from seeing that my HR would start to spike at a certain point in a long run. Generally,  at the same speed, my HR will rise slowly, then hit a plateau within a range of 3-5 beats. Then around the 2:00 mark it will start to rise quickly by 5-7 beats and get to my MAF ceiling. Then it is not long before I can't stay at or below the ceiling without slowing down. I always stay hydrated throughout all my runs, so I attribute this spike to muscle fatigue, core heat and glycogen depletion. Some dehydration can't be ruled out, but I believe it is not the main factor. That's how I came up with the concept of running by heart time. The time is 15 beats (118-133bpm), and when I run out of beats, the run is over. I'm not pushing too far beyond the point where my body begins to stress out. This reduces stress hormones, and hopefullly will lessen the probability of over-training and injury. That point of stress is getting a little later in the run with progress.

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