Picking Up the Pace

I've been doing heart rate training on and off, mostly on since around 2012. My running hasn't been the strongest over the past 5 years, but I have been running with the most consistency I have in years over the last two years, and I've been doing heart rate training the whole time.

For anyone who starts doing heart rate training, you know that you have to slow waaaaaay down when you start it. And when you're not really in great shape to start, you have to slow down even more to keep your heart rate in the correct zone. Typically for me I slow down like crazy over the summer months because it's really hard to keep your heart rate where you want it when it's incredibly hot and humid out.

A couple of weeks ago, I was logging a run in my log and noticed how low my heart rate was. So I started to look back over the past few weeks of runs, and was a little shocked to notice that my heart rate was significantly lower than it should be for the types of runs I was doing. Typically my general aerobic pace is around 10:35-10:50, and recovery range is 11:00 pace, we haven't delved into speed work yet this session.

So our runs have been in the 10:30-10:45 pace per usual, but my heart rate data has been reflecting recovery rates. Wait. What?? I looked over the majority of the summer's data, and that has been the trend for a couple of months. I was shocked! I knew I had gained fitness this spring training for the Brookings half, but assumed that those paces would just stay the same with that improved fitness and the onset of all the heat and humidity, but they've leveled off even more!

It's been a long time since I've seen such a clear cut sign of my fitness improving, and I'm beyond excited. I texted Toni and let her know that I thought we might have to pick up the pace a little bit on our runs, but that I was nervous, as I tend to break when I speed up. So we'll be mindful of it, and I'll continue on the full on recovery train after runs with epsom baths, and foam rolling/sticking, massages, yoga, etc.

I can't wait to see what this translates to in the fall when it's actually COLD OUTSIDE!!! Omgggggggg!