My garmin has it set up like this:
Z1 = 50-60%
Z2 = 60-70%
Z3 = 70-80%
Z4 = 80-90%
Z5 = 90%+
As of right now, I’m seeing my Z3 improve but improving Z2 is going to take me a while. I can have a conversation in Z3 using the Garmin percentages.
I’ve also seen other forums/websites have different percentages. Ex.
Z1 = 68-73%
Z2 = 73-80%
Z3 = 80-87%
Z4 = 87-93%
Z5 = 93%+
If I used this method, then my Z2 is the one that has been improving this whole time. This one ‘feels’ right to me when I’m running but I’ve only been running for a few months at this point (was running last year but got sick a few times and had to basically start all over) so maybe I just need to stick to it and the garmin method will start to make more sense.
So I was just curious how everyone has their percentages set up. What do you all actually train at?
a_fancy_kiwi
I spent hours researching and tweaking my Garmin’s HRZ’s in my first year of running. It was the most important metric for me to follow and I think it helped me build a nice aerobic base.
As I’m only an amateur I won’t share anything specific but anecdotally, I found that once I dialed in where I “thought” (through many different self-test options I found online) my lactate threshold was and could start to identify that space between zones 3-4 I could then pull back and find my comfortable zone 2 space. After that I started manually adjusting the zones. I will say now I don’t use it as more than an occasional reference. I think a lot of folks (maybe?) migrate to using a combo of HRZ and RPE.
I’d say now I think I know what it feels like when I’m pushing past my lactate threshold and what comfortable and sustainable feels like and try to trust that.
Good luck in your running!!
