Core: Pilates
I am a junk mile junkie.
Junk miles are those that you cover at a pace that's too fast for meaningful recovery and too slow to achieve better fitness. Basically, it means exercising at the same, slightly too high, pace all the time.
Training with a heart rate monitor (HRM) can break this habit. Problem is, I hate doing it. I've spent the summer blissfully untethered to a HRM. Our system of single track trails in the Wood River Valley is amazing, so it's hard to be disciplined and think of running as a specific workout. I just want to get out there and see my favorite places!!! Problem is, most of the routes I like to run are the same type of terrain, similar distances, and of course I always run them at the same moderate speed.
Carbonate-Vorberg = Fountain Coke
Imperial-Greenhorn = Potato Chips
Howards-Mars Ridge-North Fork = Milkshake
Oregon-Fox = Pizza
Tastes so good, but does nothing for you.
Today, I busted out the HRM. I promised myself last winter that I would be diligent this fall and make more of an effort to train in the proper zones. Mix things up a little bit. But first, I had to see how bad things were. I ran the standby Imperial-Greenhorn loop -- about 10 miles with 1500' vertical. I made sure not to cheat, and just ran like usual (which, FYI, is not very speedy). Secretly I hoped that maybe, just maybe, my heart rate (HR) would be in the low range.
The results?
For the generally uphill portion (just over an hour), average HR was 158
For the generally downhill portion (just under an hour), average HR was 150.
That's pretty much right where I don't want to be (more on this later in the week).
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