You guys. I've been doing this super slow training where I am very careful to keep my heart rate below 140 (and ideally in the low 130s). It's supposed to train my body to be more efficient. And look! Look at the graph! Jogging at the same pace every time, my heart rate has consistently been lower at every single workout!
It's one thing to read that this sort of training is supposed to work, and another to actually see the data showing that, yep — it's working. Even when I take nearly two weeks off running!
Yes, after sitting around doing zero exercise for 11 days after Marie was born, I felt like a slug, so I jumped on the treadmill and got up to 90% max HR a couple times. See graph, below:
Five days later, I once again jogged at the same slow and steady speed I had in December. And look at the results!
The last few times I ran, by minute 14 my pulse was around 131 bpm. This time, at minute 14 my pulse was at 123! Seriously, it was taking so long to increase that I thought my heart rate monitor wasn’t on properly. So far, low and slow (with the occasional speed work) seems to be working! It’s especially surprising since I’ve done so little exercise over the past two weeks.
Tonight I'm scheduled to do this for 40 minutes if possible. Let's see if I can actually handle it. Will report back.
