I've been using heart rate training for a while now and I'm still not convinced it's the game changer everyone makes it out to be. Sure, it's useful for tracking effort, but I think it's overhyped. Anyone else at the elite level finding that HR training is more of a distraction than a benefit? How do you incorporate it into your training?
I'm not elite, but I've dabbled in HR training. For me, it's been helpful for pacing and recovery, but I don't obsess over the numbers. I think it's a tool, not a rule. I use it to gauge my effort, but I also listen to my body. If you're finding it's a distraction, maybe try using it as a guideline rather than a hard and fast rule. It's supposed to support your training, not dictate it.
Good point about using HR as a guideline, not a rule. Maybe I've been too focused on the numbers. Thanks for the perspective.
I'm not at the elite level, but I've tried HR training too. I think it's useful for beginners like me, but I can see how it might be less important for experienced runners. For me, it's helped me avoid overexertion, but I'm not sure it's made a huge difference in my performance. Maybe it's more about finding a balance between listening to your body and using data to inform your training.
I'm with you, I think HR training is more useful for beginners, once you've got a good sense of your body's limits it's less necessary.
Yeah, I'm with you on that. As an intermediate runner, I've dabbled in HR training and it's just not that exciting. It's useful, don't get me wrong, but it's not the magic bullet some people make it out to be. Finding that balance between listening to your body and using data is key. Too much focus on HR can be distracting, in my opinion.