Search the Community

Hi Everyone I bought a Garmin Forerunner just after Christmas and for the past 4 weeks or so I hve been using to heart rate train. I've been following the training plan in Roy Benson's Heart Rate Training book which advocates building up an aerobic fitness base by running at approx 60 - 75% of max heart rate for 8 - 12 weeks or until you can run in that zone without your heart rate going above the upper limit for the zone. I usually run around 8.5 minute miles over 10k pace but running in this zone is limiting my pace to about 11.5 minute miles. My question is: will I ever get quicker?!! Running in this heart rate zone is sapping the fun out of my runs. However I have noticed that since I started that the runs are very easy effort, I'm feeling no aches, pains or niggles and my waist size is dropping. I have events throughout the summer and would usually be following a training plan with regular interval and tempo sessions by now as I prepare for my events. Should I stick with building my aerobic base and hopefully see my pace improving within the 60 - 75% zone or should I park this type of training until the winter when I can build up a good aerobic base through the cold months when there are no races on the calendar? Any similar experiences and advice would be much appreciated :-) Thanks!