Thoughts on Target Heart Rate?

[nuliajuk]

I used to have a swim coach who also had a masters degree in kinesiology, and he advised his triathlete clients to use nasal breathing as a guideline to staying below lactate threshold. The theory is that, barring any sinus or nose cartilage problems, the point at which you have to start breathing with your mouth is usually the approximate point at which you transition from aerobic to anaerobic effort. It seems to work for most people, but if you're not used to breathing through your nose while exercising, it can seem hard to get enough air at first.

So, give that a try and see if it works. Also, heart rate monitors work better with some sort of liquid between the sensor and your skin. Nasal lubricating gel works great, but even spit will do.

(I guess this explains why I was always overtrained and tired when I was in my 20s - I had excess cartilage in my nose and couldn't breath through my nostrils even at rest.)