Today was scheduled to be my hard day. I was planning to take a easy warm up run 60-65% for 1.5 miles, do a hard run (>85%) for 3 miles, then do a easy (60-65%) cool down run for 1.5 miles. But I decided to do a max heart rate test. I walked about a half mile at a quick pace for a warm up. Then I jogged up a hill for about 150-200 yards. Then I jogged down. I then jogged faster up the hill, and jogged down. Then I ran up the hill, and walked-jogged down. Then I drove up the hill about as hard as I could. I made it most of the way up before my body needed to slow down. My heart rate hit 193. I was breathing hard, and had a pain in my side. I walked back down the hill, and headed home. When I got home, I got on the treadmill and ran 2 miles. I tried to go at 10:30 or 11:00 minute miles, but it was tough. I ended up dropping down to 12:00 minute miles. But I did keep my heart rate up above 171 (85%). I was going to try for 3 miles, but I was just tired. I dropped the speed down, and did another mile and a half keeping my heart rate at 60-65%.
When I walk at a brisk pace ~4.3 mph and my HR is <70%, I feel I can easily go the 26.2 miles. But as soon as I start to jog or run, and my HR goes up, after a little while, I think there is no way I can do 26.2 miles of this. I hope I get to the point I jog/run and maintain a sub 70% heart rate!
After reading Dean Karnazes’ book Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner , and learning of his 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days, I became intrigued. The one for New York state is of course on in New York City. That’s a long drive from Rochester. But the one in Cleveland , OH is much closer. It is going to take place on October 20, 2006. It is not an actual marathon, but they will be running the actual course of the Cleveland Marathon. There will be a police escort, and rolling road closures. The rough time of the course will be 4:30 to 5:00 hours or 10:00 to 11:40 minutes per mile pace. That is still kind of fast for where I am at now. I know I can complete a Marathon, even if I have to walk some or most of it. But my brick walking pace of 4.3 mph is slower than the pace needed. I can jog fast or run faster, but then my heart rate goes up, and I know I wouldn’t be able to hold that pace for 26.2 miles. I am going to keep pluging away. I might try to sign up, and I could at least stick with the group for a half marathon, maybe… I don’t know. It would be fun though.
Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner by Dean Karnazes
SUMMARY: I loved this book! I had a hard time putting it down.
Dean Karnazes ran cross county events in school and was failrly successful. He tried Trand & Field, but after a disagreement with the coach, he gave up running. Years later after his sister died in a car accident, Dean found himself running for 30 miles in blistered feet. He began to run again as a release. Then he learn about the Western States 100 Endurance race (100 miles through mountains). He raced a 50 mile race, and qualified for the Western States 100 race. He managed to drag himself across the finish line. He then tried the Badwater Ultramarathon, and 135 mile endurance race from the lowest point in Death Valley, to the Mt Whitney with temperatures reach 130 degrees. He didn’t complete it the firts year, but made it the next year. He goes on the run to a 199 mile 12 person relay race as a team of one (Team Dean).
Dean Karnazes is currently preparing to run 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 consecutive days (Endurance50).
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HR102 Heart Rate Monitor by Oregon Scientific
SUMMARY: The heart rate monitor works great. It is a great no-frills unit for the price. The manual is a little weak.
I have been using this heart rate monitor for a few weeks now, and for the most part I am happy with it. I chose it for price (less than $30 from Amazon.com) and because I own another piece of electrnics from Oregon Scientific that I am pleased with. When I first got it, I strapped it on, and start working out, and it worked great. The next time I went to using it, it didn’t register my heart rate right away but then soon did. The third time I tried I couldn’t get it to register my heart rate. I began to think I got a bum model. But after I worked up a sweat, I tried it again, and it worked. I began thinking the batteries were low, and it would only register my HR after it really got pumping. Then I read the manual. Lo and behold, I wanted to strap it UNDER my pecks, though one of the drawings looks like it goes over the pecks. Also, I wanted to dampen it, so it would make good contact. So once I started strapping it below my pecks, and dampening it first, it has worked great.
I tried to set it up to beep if my heart rate rose above 151, but I didn’t hear it beep. Maybe it was drowned out by the TV.
One thing I am concerned about is whether it uses a coded signal. I would like to use it when I run a marathon, and would hate to have it rendered useless from cross feed. To be able to store data, and download it into my computer would be cool, but I don’t know if I would get much use from it.
I may look at buying Polar with a few more features. But for now the Oregon Scientific HR102 Heart Rate Monitor works great!
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To learn how to train most efficiently on my treadmill, I bought various books. My favorite is Heart Monitor Training For The Compleat Idiot by John L Parker Jr. Using the book I have identified my max heart rate (192), my resting heart rate (~55), and calulated my Recovery Ceiling (151), and Threshold Floor (171). So I have been trying to work out on the treadmill, and keep my HR below 151. I have do a fast walk of around 4.2-4.5 MPH on the treadmill (incline = 4%), and keep my heart rate between 140-151. But as soon as I start to jog, my heart rate goes up. I found that if I slow the treadmill to 3.5 MPH, I can jog, and keep my heart rate below 151. I think this is caused by the extra motions in jogging suchs as arms moving more, body bouncing up and down more. So I am trying to figure out whether it is better to jog at 3.5mph, or walk at 4.3 mph. Which will improve my speed for a marathon?
Maybe I can walk on the slow days, and jog/run on the fast days. I am still learning.