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<< 500 miles on a pair of shoes? Speed training with Hal Higdon >>
 Training Runs Using Pace Time
terrysquier

Canon City, CO
Joined: 09 Jan 2005
Posts: 44
Training Runs Using Pace Time Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 12:57 pm 
Since I run with a heart rate monitor, heretofore most of my runs have been run using the applicable heart rate range for the particular run I was doing. However, since I also have the Forerunner 201, I decided to try using Daniels' VDOT paces for the type of run I was doing, i.e., easy, tempo, etc. I used the "Virtual Partner" mode of the Forerunner and set it for running a designated distance or time at a particular pace recommended by Daniels. The watch would tell me whether I was ahead or behind my virtual partner at any particular time and I tried to keep as close to being even with him as possible.

While I admit that the GPS is not 100% accurate, using this method was not only a lot of fun but very rewarding. It was probably "close enough for government work." I also wore my HR monitor and noted that at a particular pace for my VDOT level, my heart rate was almost right on with what Daniels suggests as the applicable heart rate ranges for any particular pace. Anyway, I was very pleased with the results and will continue using the pacing method instead of the heart rate method. I think it may be a better way to train at least for most of my level-ground runs.

Terry
Rickshaw
Runworks 2005 5M Racer
San Francisco, CA
Joined: 26 Nov 2004
Posts: 1157
Re: Training Runs Using Pace Time Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 2:47 pm 
Yeah, I agree that training by pace is usually better than by HR. Since you have Daniels' book, you know that he's not a big fan of HR-based training, due to the many different factors that can influence your HR that are unrelated to the workout intensity.

How does the Forerunner's virtual partner mode work? Does it beep at you whenever you're going too fast or too slow? Doesn't that get annoying after a while?
terrysquier

Canon City, CO
Joined: 09 Jan 2005
Posts: 44
Re: Training Runs Using Pace Time Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 5:58 am 
No, it didn't beep. After you set the appropriate setting, i.e., time/pace or distance/pace, etc, it tells you to press "start" to begin. When you do, the timer starts and a split screen appears: the top half has two runner figures running and the bottom half shows whether you're ahead by so many feet or behind by so many feet. If you're ahead, the screen is clear; if you're behind, the bottom part of the screen has a black shading. In other words, it seems you have to keep glancing at the screen to see your status, which I didn't find all that problematic. Maybe there's a setting where you can turn on a beeper. If I find it, I'll let you know.

Terry
Rickshaw
Runworks 2005 5M Racer
San Francisco, CA
Joined: 26 Nov 2004
Posts: 1157
Re: Training Runs Using Pace Time Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 10:24 am 
That sounds pretty good, actually. Constant beeping drives me crazy. In some larger races, everyone's got their watch set to beep if their heart rate is too high or too low, their pace is too fast or too slow, at every mile split, when the moon is full, when their coffee is ready, etc... It can get pretty distracting.
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