Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Rules Are Meant to Be Broken, Right?

Rule 1: Spandex is a privilege, not a right. This rule I have decided to break. I have two new pairs of running capris! These new capris with the Brooks running shirts are incredibly comfortable. I bought one pair, New Balance, at Marshalls for about $17. The other pair, Saucony running capris, I ordered online from Amazon for about $40.

Rule 2: Workout in the 'maximum aerobic heart rate range'. A few years ago I honored this by wearing my heart rate monitor (HRM) for all of my workouts and keeping my heart rate around 170bpm (beats per minute). This is still a bit too high, and I should really be in the 150-160 bpm range. Recently I have left my HRM to collect dust in a cubby of the treadmill. I have felt my runs being harder in the last few weeks. It is very safe to assume that I was way over my aerobic heart rate for my 10k, and this could be the reason it's been so hard to feel fully recovered. I remember when I used my HRM it felt great to have another tool to help gauge my workouts. It was easier to accept that I needed to go faster or that it was time to call it a day, based on what my HRM was telling me. This rule I have decided to stop breaking. Thanks to Slowly but Surely for making me take this seriously again.

8 comments:

  1. I love my compression shorts and would never run without 'em! Yeah for spandex! Flaunt it girl!

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  2. I am thinking about getting some new capris! I hate running in shorts because they ride up too much! The HR is something to think about .... thanks!

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  3. Hmm... I think you might be on to something with the whole heart rate thing.
    It isn't all the time, but I have a tendency to have a rough time recovering... Maybe I should invest in a monitor to be sure I'm not pushing too hard.

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  4. There is a way to find out your individual maximum heart rate besides the typical "your this heart rate if your this age". It can be pretty far off.

    If you get your base max heart rate by doing exercise to find it (verses only cals) I find it to be more helpful and accurate. Here is a good link in a quick search.

    http://www.marathon-training-schedule.com/maximum-heart-rate.html

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  5. Thanks RunningforTwo. I have found in the past that when I kept around 170 I was working hard, maybe a little too hard. Staying around 150 seems a little low, but I will work to stay in the 155-165 range for my coming cardio workouts and see how I feel.
    Katie, I definitely recommend a pair of capris, even they are as inexpensive as you can find at Target or Marshalls.

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  6. Thanks so much for your comment! :) I'm glad that you're going to give HR Training a try! Keep us posted on how it goes.

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  7. Oh I loooove my running tights. I think what we wear now is just slightly different from the shimmery stuff we had in the 80s (not that i EVER wore any :P )

    As for the HRM, i haven't bitten the bullet on that yet...

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  8. Wear all the spandex you like, but please take care of your ticker. You need it, and we need you! Wear your monitor!

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