I am a keen heart rate user when I cycle, and I have seen the benefits from zone 1/2 activity lots. My capability quickly increases when I spend time at the lower end of the zones; the hardest thing is holding back to stay there (especially when I get overtaken on the road!).

So with this in mind, I am keen to try it with running. However, with running I find there are a lot fewer options to reign your heart rate back other than walking. A quick glance over my running so far will show my average heart rate is about 165-168- that will put me in zone 4- which is no good for either the speed I am looking to go, or weight loss.

So I have pinched my Garmin 220 back off of my son (sorry Ethan!) and paired it with my heart rate strap. I will be using this now to monitor my training instead of my Apple Watch (the heart rate strap is more reliable for the heart rate, and plus on the Garmin I can set alarms for the zones).

Tomorrow I intend to run 4 miles, with my maximum set Heart Rate alarm set at 150. When it goes off, I shall walk until it is back down below, and try again. It will be a weird thing to do- training to run a marathon by potentially walking- but I have to believe in the benefits. The more I do this, I am hoping the less time I will spend walking.

 

What do you think? Will this work- or am I being daft? Let me know below!