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High HR running downhill, HR drift on long workouts

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  • #140484
    karimirak
    Participant

    My AeT HR is about 154.

    When I run downhill, it is hard to keep below 154. Running downhill at 165HR feels easy, I can still nose breathe. Is it possible my AeT is higher for downhill running? Doesn’t make sense to me.

    I think my form is pretty good, but I’m sure I can get it better.

     

    On long days in the mountains with heat and dehydration, my HR goes higher. Again, after a few hours 165 feels more like 154. If trying to do Z2 training, should I keep at 154 and below, or does AeT change on a given day with dehydration?
    After many hours, I feel like I can maintain the 165HR effort.

     

    Thank you,

    #140557
    Avatar photoScott Johnston
    Keymaster

    Karimirak

    As is explained in both books your HR will always be lower going down hill. Going uphill you are having to lift your body against the pull of gravity so are doing more work then when going down hill.  Similarly, you should not attempt to hold your HR to the same level on down hill as when going up hill when doing a simple aerobic base run.  The downhill running has its own special value intuit it builds strength and muscular endurance as you resist the pull of gravity.

    Yes, when it is hot your HR will drift higher.  That is because in an attempt to maintain your body’s core temperature at its normal level, the capillaries in your skin dilate allowing more blood to flow to the skin and dump heat via evaporative cooling.  This means there is less blood for the working muscles. To compensate the heart must increase its output so the HR goes up.

    Scott

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