[Karen]

Hi again Seth

I did another AeT drift test targeting HR of 143, as you suggested. I did it outdoors (laps of a playing field – the only flat place around) because I couldn’t access a treadmill. I don’t have Training Peaks premium so I input my Coros watch lap data here   https://runningversity.com/heart-rate-drift-test/

After a 20 minute warmup, I stabilised my heart rate at 143. Lap 1 averaged HR of 144 and took 29:37 minutes to go 2.79 kms. Lap  2 averaged HR of 143 and took 30:37 minutes to go 2.95 kms.

So, again, no HR drift. Question: does this mean my AeT HR is more like 150? 

I will say that I could easily nose breathe throughout. Thinking back – prior to starting Zone 2 training – I could always nose breathe comfortably up to about HR 138. Question 2: is it possible that my aerobic threshold has improved after just 7-8 weeks of Zone 2 training (at 7 hours a week)? 

Last week’s AnT test (30 mins hiking steeply uphill after a warmup) averaged a HR of 176. So if 176 is my AnT and my AeT HR is about 150, I’d still be aerobically deficient (and it feels that way to me). Since I’m 55 years old with a resting HR of 63, I just seem to have a high AeT and AnT – as you said, not fitting the Bell curve.

thanks

Karen

 

[Karen]

Thank you, Seth, for such a helpful response.

It is good to understand that not everyone fits the Bell curve. I’ll re-do the AeT drift test when I can. I get what you’re saying about how important that particular piece of data is so I can make the most of my training.

What fascinates me is that my top end can improve without having done any interval training lately. I have done nothing but 7 hours of Zone 2 walking/hiking or cycling each week for the past 7 weeks. That seems amazing to me.

Incidentally, I thought I’d struggle with the discipline of Zone 2 training but it has turned out to be easy and enjoyable, especially when there’s no recovery time needed. It does also help that I am starting to notice some small, positive changes that will help with my specific hiking goals.

thanks, Karen.

 

[Karen]

Sorry I somehow lost part of my post. My resting heart rate (just after waking) is 63. My max heart rate is 176 according to one of the formulas you can use. I am 55 years old.

[Karen]

Hi Seth. Thank you so much for clarifying how I should do the test. I’ll probably have to do it outside but I now feel confident about how to do that (and why).

Best wishes, Karen

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