Newbie heart rate and Lactate threshold questions.

Newbie

I decided last January I wanted to get in better shape and vowed to do a Triathlon, so I began training the 3 different disciplines and by July I had entered and completed two 5K's and a sprint tri. I trained almost exclusively by perceived exhaustion and thought I was doing Ok even though I was never able to run further than 3.5-4.0 miles.

Hoping to do better this year after learning how important heart rate training was, I recently had a Max VO2 test done in a lab and found my lactate threshold to be very low (HR 143) while my Max HR was 196.

I found all of my training was indeed too hard and I had ripped down precious lean body mass and raised bodyfat levels when comparing to my last evaluation.

To make a long story longer, I have found it impossible to run at a heart rate even close to 142. I start my runs with a ¼ mile walk to stabilize my hr at about 117-121 but as soon as I start jogging painfully slow—my heart rate jumps to 152, 158, 162 and levels at 164 until about 3 1/2 miles to where it climbs to 172 and I am done running.

I am 39, 5”10, 188lbs and do want/need to drop down to 170

I guess my question is am I too ambitious for the shape I am currently in?
And is there any way to raise lactate threshold limits faster than at glacial speeds? Or s

hould I just resort to biking where I can control my HR until I get in better shape?

I wish I could say “Toss the HRM away and carry on” but I have already seen how detrimental that course of action has been for me.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! dunno

TIA

Dave

Happy Holidays to ALL

Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Welcome!

I don't think your being too ambitous, but I would suggest getting a book. A one would be Parker's HRM for the Compleat Idiot. I'm sure maybe kattzoo or someone else knows of some others.

From my personal experience:
I strapped on my hrm for the first time and realized that I, too, have been going pretty hard on ALL my runs. Instead of doing any sort of speedwork/threshold training, I'm building my base properly for a few months first.

Excelent

Any idea what your resting heart rate is?

Newbie

Resting heart rate upon waking is 58-62 bpm

Member

If you don't mind me asking - how much did the Max VO2 test cost? Did you do it at a hospital?

Any other Canadians (more specifically Ontarians) out there who know if our provincial health plan covers this test? I should check with my doctor - I'm not sure if I always trust those age/statistic based calculators used to figure out your LT.

(Although I would be really annoyed to find out that mine is actually lower than what I've already calculated!)

Newbie

I did my test at a place called baseline fitness in columbus, Ohio. (www.baselinefitness.com) The cost was $60 and you need to buy a mask at a one time purchase of $50 that you will use in future tests.

The equipment used is made by a company called New Leaf fitness products if you do a search on them on the website they have a locator service that tells you if there are any locations in your area.

I did mine on a bike but from what I understand you should perform your test sport specific.

As far as my results I found that my max HR was close to the numbers you get when using normal methods (220-age etc) and my fat burning, race pace and recovery zones were also close to the numbers you use when calculating those zones by % of max HR.

But the magic number I was looking for was the lactate threshold number which in my case was disappointingly low.

Which still baffles me because I always thought the LT to be a "wall" that you aren't able to perform above unless for a very short period of time--but it has been my personal experience that I can.

dunno

Excelent

Newbie heart rate and Lactate threshold questions.

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