And Breathe

Sort of completed week 3 of the training. I say sort of because the Norse gods have been unhappy and cursed this hill in Accrington with snow and ice. Normally it starts as snow then melts a little and turns to ice. With the added bonus of lots of wind!

It has meant that couple of days this week it physically has been almost impossible to get out of our stately country pile. Fingers crossed next week we have a big thaw :-)

So out of the 6 sessions I have managed just a measly 4. Instead of regaling you with my magnificent amazingness and feats of athletic prowess I will tell you about some knowledge I have acquired.

All about your heart, well the heart rate zones that are used when you train. Heart rate zones are the % your heart is working towards its maximum rate. It is all calculations and loads of detail can be found on the interweb.

By using the right zone you can concentrate on getting either your aerobic (fat burning - yes please) or anaerobic work outs. Mixing and matching they can make you run faster, jump longer with out being Steve Austin.

If you are going to do some tri training or anything else for example, can I highly recommend you get a heart rate monitor and stay in the Zone (man). 

Last year I followed a training plan for my tri and just did the activity suggested flat out then collapsed(ignoring the heart rate zones). This year I am following the plan including the heart rate zones and in 3 weeks I am probably fitter than 3 months of training last year! The added bonus is that you hurt less after even though you have progressed more.



Below is a non standard Will interpretation of the zones :-) 

Zone	Which is	Feels like	Example
1	Gently	You haven’t even started	Strolling in a summers evening in a beautiful bluebell wood
2	Bit of a trot	Sort of jogging	The speed at which a boy that decides he likes being kissed, runs during kiss chase
3	Steady on now	Definitely moving now	When you mum tells you to hurry up, if you don’t think it is worth it
4	At a gallop	Sweaty and fast	10 minutes to kebab shop closing
5	Flat Out	Your body will explode!	Phil Mitchel running towards the Queen Vic when he gets the news that Peggy has had a fall