I have not started using the logbook too much yet, but I thought it would be nice to start putting in my “fitness tests”. For those of you that are long time readers, you likely have seen me discuss this before. For those of you new to my thoughts around what a fitness test is and where the value is; you can read this:
the importance of Fitness Tests
or you can read how my regular application of fitness tests in 2007 saved me from making mistakes in my build up to Ironman Wisconsin by reading this post:
Einstein, Relativity and Triathlon Training
The concept of using regular fitness tests is something that Gordo and Joe Friel discuss in Going Long and when I began regularly implementing them, I found my training programs becoming more and more beneficial to my current fitness.
The biggest issue I see is that people train at an intensity level and ability based upon where they wished or hoped they were, not where they really are. It is apparent in almost every group run I’ve ever been on.
Garmin 305:
I just received my Garmin as a gift a couple weeks ago, therefore I have not discovered all the potential uses. But one really great benefit of having gps is that I was able to develop a fitness test that included the off the path trails at Veterans Park. Now when I “retest” myself in a few weeks, I won’t be able to recreate the condition of those trails, but that is a small price to pay in order to get some more trail running in. (I saw several times that my pace was around 12min/mile on the trails… no wonder I felt like I was burning it up on the road!)
Brief review of this Fitness Test:
It is a new run so I can’t show a graph of multiple applications, but for this test I decided to have a run that I would just go out and run at an RPE of 7 on a 10 point scale. Many of the tests I have heart rates that I choose to maintain (such as 150bpm on the 3 mile run), so this was nice to get out and run on “feel” and see what occurred.
My average heart rate was 173bpm for the run, which is pretty high for a run of this caliber, but I am not in great shape. Plus 173bpm is lower than my average bpm seen over my last several marathons which have ranged from 178bpm to 182bpm. A good sign that my current lactate threshold is probably not that great.
Let me know if you have any good Fitness Tests designed or questions about how to apply one of your own.
Logbook Activity
- Type: Run
- Date: 01/27/2008
- Time: 15:00:00
- Total Time: 1:07:09.00
- Average Heart rate: 173
- Max Heart rate: 192
- Calories: 966
- Distance: 8.37 miles
- Average Pace: 8:01.28/mile
- Max Pace: 5:48.84/mile
Veterans Park Run - New Fitness Test
RunNo Comments »I have not started using the logbook too much yet, but I thought it would be nice to start putting in my “fitness tests”. For those of you that are long time readers, you likely have seen me discuss this before. For those of you new to my thoughts around what a fitness test is and where the value is; you can read this:
the importance of Fitness Tests
or you can read how my regular application of fitness tests in 2007 saved me from making mistakes in my build up to Ironman Wisconsin by reading this post:
Einstein, Relativity and Triathlon Training
The concept of using regular fitness tests is something that Gordo and Joe Friel discuss in Going Long and when I began regularly implementing them, I found my training programs becoming more and more beneficial to my current fitness.
The biggest issue I see is that people train at an intensity level and ability based upon where they wished or hoped they were, not where they really are. It is apparent in almost every group run I’ve ever been on.
Garmin 305:
I just received my Garmin as a gift a couple weeks ago, therefore I have not discovered all the potential uses. But one really great benefit of having gps is that I was able to develop a fitness test that included the off the path trails at Veterans Park. Now when I “retest” myself in a few weeks, I won’t be able to recreate the condition of those trails, but that is a small price to pay in order to get some more trail running in. (I saw several times that my pace was around 12min/mile on the trails… no wonder I felt like I was burning it up on the road!)
Brief review of this Fitness Test:
It is a new run so I can’t show a graph of multiple applications, but for this test I decided to have a run that I would just go out and run at an RPE of 7 on a 10 point scale. Many of the tests I have heart rates that I choose to maintain (such as 150bpm on the 3 mile run), so this was nice to get out and run on “feel” and see what occurred.
My average heart rate was 173bpm for the run, which is pretty high for a run of this caliber, but I am not in great shape. Plus 173bpm is lower than my average bpm seen over my last several marathons which have ranged from 178bpm to 182bpm. A good sign that my current lactate threshold is probably not that great.
Let me know if you have any good Fitness Tests designed or questions about how to apply one of your own.
Logbook Activity