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
Percentages don’t matter until you’re advanced. Use nasal breathing or the talk test for Z2 and you’re fine, and when doing speed work just gas yourself and recover
For some runners (maybe even a majority) that’s true. To me, the numbers are important. I want measurable results and properly calibrated goals to work towards. Half the fun in this for me is in the numbers
Why not measure the same thing everyone else does: pace, distance, and speed?
You’re measuring something no one else does. You ever wonder why no one else does? Maybe because measuring your zoned heart rate percentages is inaccurate as hell, like electrostatic body fat measurements
Why do chemists pipette liquids when they can’t get the exact amount of atoms in every drop? /s
‘Why measure something no one else does?’ is generally a foolish take.
One thing to watch out for, some places will recommend zones based on %HRR rather than just % Max HR so you could see significant differences there
As for what I like my zones to be, it all depends on what label you want to give your zones.
- Z1 - Recovery, so everything below 73 %HR Max, 62 %HRR
- Z2 - Easy, Up to 80 %HRMax, or 70 %HRR
- Z3 - Moderate/High Aerobic,
- Z4 - Lactate Threshold, 88-92 %MaxHR, or 84-88 %HRR for me
- Z5 - Everything else
I find the Garmin defaults are fine for people who don’t want to think about it, but I like zones set for specific training goals. Easy and LT zones are about the only zones I really try to use. Everything else is based on VDOT paces usually.
edit: formatting
Honesty, OP… none of this matters right now. At the “few months” mark you should simply run every run at a pace where it always feels easy. If a run ever starts to feel “not easy” you should slow down. Your avenue for improvement is to run more miles. The absolute best things a novice runner can do are to (1) stay healthy and (2) build easy volume. Zones will be useful for setting workouts once your fitness progresses past 30-35 easy miles a week.
I know your comment came from a good place but I disagree with a part of your comment. Setting realistic goals, even if they are long term goals, is important for some people. I’m not able to consistently run just for the fun of it, I need the numbers and graphs. “Number get bigger/better” or I’ll lose interest lol
What I’m getting at is, you are right, for now, building up a good base is what I need and what I am working on. But for my future reference and the future reference of anyone who happens to come across this post, what percentages are runners using for heart rate training? I want something to work towards.
I just use the zones as preset on my Garmin watch. I don’t really care that much what percentages they are at exactly, for me it is enough that what the watch is showing me more or less matches my “feel” during a run.
I did a few months of doing weekend long runs mostly in Z2 according to my watch, and I did feel the improvement I wanted, and that is enough for me. To hell with exact percentages.
Your mileage may vary. :)
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!!
