Having run consistently for over 40 years now, and it’s safe to say I’ve tried every method and idea out there. Low heart rate training is a method that gets a lot of attention these days and I’ve had my share of experience with it. I want to share a few mistakes I’ve made to hopefully save you some time and trouble.

#1 Only Doing Low Heart Rate Training

One thing they don’t tell you about low heart rate training is that you shouldn’t do only low heart rate training.

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When I did nothing but very slow, very low heart rate training, I didn’t improve much at all. Once a week you need to do some form of faster running, such as a tempo run or interval training. Doing just one faster run per week gives your training a tremendous boost without causing you to over train or get exhausted.

Low heart rate training plus one faster run per week turned out to be the secret sauce for me.

#2 Stressing About Exact Numbers

When I first tried low heart rate training, I was a slave to the numbers on my heart rate monitor.

If I accidentally went one or two beats over my planned heart rate, I immediately slowed down and worried that I’d ruined the workout. There’s no need for such precision. Sure, training 10 beats or more above your target heart rate for long stretches of your run doesn’t accomplish the purpose of your workout, but a few beats here or there doesn’t change the training effect.

Consistently training within 5 beats plus or minus of your target heart rate range is close enough to give you the benefits without changing the purpose of the run.

#3 Giving Up Too Soon

Low heart rate training is definitely not a ‘get fit quick’ scheme.

It takes time and patience. The benefits won’t show themselves for several weeks at least. It took me several tried to learn the patience required to stick with it. If you do, the benefits are tremendous. Greater aerobic fitness, fewer injuries, and more enjoyment of the sport to name a few.

Stay strong, stick with the program and you’ll be a faster and healthier runner for it. Guaranteed.

Got any questions about low heart rate training or any other running topics? Let me know in the comments.

3 Mistakes I Made With Low Heart Rate…