I always seem to have a high heart rate when running, but I almost always feel fine. I average in the 160s for most runs, and in the 170s for races/speed workouts.
both? slow down a little and see what happens? Does the run feel easy the whole time? Do your splits stay even or do you slow down the longer you go?
Are you sure your HR zones are calculated correctly? Have you done a recent threshold test to confirm the data? That’s the first thing I’d check in order to get them set right before moving to address your feel and your pace.
A Chocololic Frolic?!!
If you're using the default zones (usually something like 220 - age for max), they could just be wrong. Low 160s is still zone 2 for me. If you don't know it already, you can try to measure your actual max HR with an all-out 5K or a bunch of hill repeats and calculate from there.
I want to be mad about only being 40 seconds away, but I really can't be. I left everything out on the trail and was very consistent throughout. I *think* I dropped a minute between miles 11-12, which took me off of the PR. I also wish it had been cloudy and about 5 degrees cooler, as it was about 60 when I finished.
The run feels easy the whole time. My stays are mostly even. Generally the first half mile is too fast, and then they hover within about 15 seconds of my target pace. I'm able to sing while I run, but I find that generally also makes my heart rate increase when I do.
Nothing better than a flat course followed by a cookie the size of your face (not a trick—that cookie is touching my nose)
"Now if I buckled down, I could probably shave a few minutes off my PR. But I'm fairly lazy and just like to run for fun."Race Report
I ran a local half marathon this morning "just for fun."
The weather was perfect - around 50 - and I felt good going into it, so I figured I would see what happened.
It is an out-and-back with about 300 feet climb going out and then downhill coming back.
I didn't follow a plan or do any speedwork going into this race. I basically did some variation of 4-5 miles twice a week, 6-7 miles once a week, and a long run (8-10) on the weekend, of which 11 was my longest.
My PR is 1:53:58 from May 2019. I ran a 1:54:38 today
The real issue is my Fenix 6s. It absolutely hates giving me the right time and distance splits. By mile 2, it was already one-tenth of a mile off. I'd look at my watch and it'd show 11:50 pace when I was running like 8:50. I know instantaneous pace isn't always accurate, but my old Forerunner would always get it together, even when I was in an area where I knew the instantaneous would be wrong - the mile always turned out correctly. My Fenix had the run at 12.58 when it was a certified 13.1, so I can't even really figure out where I lost some time. I am sure I did on some of the uphill and I think 11-12 as well.
I'm really happy with the run, especially since I basically ran by feel and just looked at total time to figure out general mile splits. Now if I buckled down, I could probably shave a few minutes off my PR. But I'm fairly lazy and just like to run for fun.
Your zones look a bit off to me. I’d expect to see something more like these for you with a max HR of 191, which would put your runs more into zones 2 and 3. The border between z1/z2 and z2/z3 can vary by a few bpm.
What mile were you at? You guys really turned out! Thank you!!!
I agree that the posted HR zones seemed a bit high. @accm, have you gone in and made sure that the watch is using the %HRR method for setting your zones? Garmins seem to come with a weird default setting out of the box, if you haven't changed it.
Maybe a quarter mile after the mile 8 mark, on Lafayette. I had remembered this stretch when I ran last year and wanted to get back to see it from the other side and sure enough, it was an absolute blast. After that I went to Central Park about a mile off from the finish.
I added a pair of Endorphin Pros last year because I was able to get them with a coupon code.
