New Year - New LT Test

Since I've been working out off and on for the last few weeks, yesterday's Winter Beach run seemed like the perfect opportunity to re-test my LT, and reset my hr zones.

For breakfast, I had some Hi Octane Pancakes, recipe courtesy of D3 Multisport. Yummy.

This year the beach run started and finished in Neptune Beach, a fact I wish I had noticed before parking in Jax beach, where they held it the prior year.

I thought I had given myself plenty of extra time to pick up my number and chip. Imagine my surprise when 15 minutes before the race I found out I was in the wrong place. Oops.

I drive the few minutes north to Neptune beach, stressing the whole time of course, and seemingly taking forever to find a parking spot. Fortunately the race start was delayed by a few minutes, and I ended up with more than enough time.

I signed up for the 5-mile option, perfect for a LT test. I went easy for the first 10 minutes, using it as a warmup, with some 30 second accelerations to get my hr up before starting the test.

I hit the lap button after 10 minutes and started running....let the "fun" begin. As usual, I completely overestimated the pace I thought I could keep for the next 30 minutes, going out at ~7:20. I was able to keep up that pace for a while, although saw it start slipping.....

I hit the lap butting 10 minutes in, so I'd have my average HR over the last 20 minutes of the run. I watched as my hr kept climbing, and my pace kept slipping. The last miles SUCKED.

I was oh so happy to cross the finish line and end the pain, looking up to see 40:something. My average HR for the last 20 minutes was 186. I'll discount that slightly, since we all have a tendency to go harder in a race than on our own, so will base all my new zones on a running LT of 183 and biking lt of 173, slightly up from the last time I did the test.

The winter beach run may be the best value of the year too. For $20 you can do either a 5 or 10 mile run, you get a REALLY comfortable technical running shirt, and the best part.....

FREE BEER and PIZZA......

Thanks to ......1st Place Sports for putting on another great event. Next up, the Gate River Run on March 8.

Live with purpose....enjoy the adventure