Well, as I launch my newest attempt at blogging I was sitting here thinking I should name this blog "Slower Than Molasses" instead of Wanna Be Running Mama. Hahaha... okay yes I do still know that I am slow, but I also know I am stubborn and I truly believe that you can do anything (within reason) that you put your mind to. No, I don't think I will be an Olympic medal winner, but I certainly believe I have lots of room to improve and I am 100% sure that I haven't found *my best* yet.
I ran today and my one and only goal was keeping my darn heart rate down. I am new to heart rate training and finding it a little tiny bit frustrating. I like to believe I'm not in horrible shape, but unfortunately my heart rate monitor is telling me otherwise. I keep running slower and slower to get my heart rate down. I accomplished my goal for today and kept it below 150. My husband is the awesome-est (made that word up). I was whining about how nobody's heart rate is as bad as mine and that I'm running 12 1/2 minute miles and still beating in the 150s (to 160s). Well, he says to me "No you're not and there are people who can't even run a mile at all." I think that's what I needed to hear at the moment. I forget that sometimes. Everybody has to start somewhere and the trick is to keep trying and not quit.
Oh hey there! I still had your old blog in my reader feed so thanks for sending us over here to the new one.
ReplyDeleteAs far as getting your heart rate lower, simply running slower to keep it under a certain target is not going to do you any good. I would continue to run at whatever speed your legs and body tell you they want to run at and ignore your heart rate (go by perceived exertion).
2nd, if you want to train your heart to work more efficiently and lower itself, you actually need to tax it more with interval training/hard days. High intensity, low rest intervals at 80-90% of your max heart rate are going to increase your heart's fitness, which will, in turn, lower your heart rate during your regular runs. It's really the only way. That or take a spin class - the intense interval training in a spin class is specifically designed to whip your heart into shape and you'll see the difference in your heart rate on your runs.
Hey there stranger! I know there is more than one school of thought on HR training. I am doing interval training too. I'm actually working with a coach now and it's helping me a lot. I am signed up for my second marathon in September and super excited about it. I have had a baby since my last one and found getting back in a groove post baby was a little tougher than I thought it would be (even for me).
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