logo
episode-header-image
Jun 2024
1h 15m

Zone 2 Myths, Heart Rate vs. Effort, Hea...

Jason Fitzgerald
About this episode

Brady Holmer knows a lot about running and a lot about science: a perfect combo for a conversation on the show.

Brady is a lifelong endurance athlete who competed in cross country and track at the collegiate level. He currently works as a science writer and researcher, holding a Master's degree in human performance. He also recently ran his PR in the marathon: a 2:37.

In this episode, Brady and I talk about:

  • The flexibility of heart rate zones and their impact on training adaptations
  • Physiology is constantly fluctuating: zones aren't static
  • RPE (rating of perceived exertion) is a valuable metric for runners
  • The 80/20 rule of running: 80% lower intensity and 20% higher
  • Benefits and nuance of Zone 2, Zone 3, and Zone 4
  • Zone 3 training is complicated, but not pointless
  • When to ignore heart rate during runs
  • Maintaining intensity during hot weather
  • Running in summer heat leading to higher heart rates and increased cardiovascular drift
  • Heat acclimation and its benefits for runners (and also cooler weather benefits)
  • Bike intervals for adaptations and injury prevention
  • Finding optimal running paces

You know that friend you have who won't stop talking about Zone 2? Send them this episode now.

Links & Resources from the Show:

Thank you DrinkLMNT!
A big thanks to DrinkLMNT for their support of this episode! They make electrolyte drinks for athletes and low-carb folks with no sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. They are offering a free gift with your purchase at DrinkLMNT. And this does NOT have to be your first purchase. You'll get a sample pack with every flavor so you can try them all before deciding what you like best. 

DrinkLMNT's products have some of the highest sodium concentrations that you can find. Anybody who runs a lot knows that sodium, as well as other electrolytes like magnesium and potassium, are essential to our performance and how we feel throughout the day.

If you're not familiar, LMNT is my favorite way to hydrate. They make electrolytes for athletes and low-carb folks with no Sugar, artificial ingredients, or colors. I'm now in the habit of giving away boxes of LMNT at group runs around Denver and Boulder and everyone loves this stuff.

Boost your performance and your recovery with LMNT. They're the exclusive hydration partner to Team USA Weightlifting and quite a few professional baseball, hockey, and basketball teams are on regular subscriptions. So check out DrinkLMNT to get a free sampler pack and get your hydration optimized for the upcoming season.

Thank you to 2Before!

We are supported by 2Before, a powerful sports supplement made from New Zealand Blackcurrants designed to increase endurance, manage inflammation, support immunity, and promote adaptation. 2Before helps to boost performance by increasing blood flow, making it more efficient for the body to pump oxygenated nutrient-rich blood into the muscles. 

So, if you want to try to boost your performance and immune system, use code JASON for 30% off 20 packs and multi-serve packs at 2Before.com.

Thank you to 2Before for supporting Strength Running!

Thank you MOBO Board!

Invented by renowned physical therapist Jay Dicharry, MOBO helps you stabilize your stance with an innovative rocker board that's set up on two fins. The design effectively forces you to drive your big toe into the board to improve your stability. I was pretty arrogant going into my first session on the MOBO Board. How hard can it be to balance, right? Well, I was humbled pretty quickly!

Even if you're a good runner, better balance, stability, and proprioception is going to help you have a more powerful stride and prevent more running injuries. You'll learn how to improve the efficiency of the kinetic chain from your hip to your big toe. Because as Jay likes to say, it's not just how strong you are, but how well you use that strength.

I was recently at a weekend physical therapy workshop (lol I was the only running coach) and learned how important (and rare) this simple movement is. Save 10% with code STRENGTHRUN10 at checkout at moboboard.com.

Up next
Nov 20
Long Run Strategy, Balancing Intensity vs. Volume, Heavy Lifting, & More (Q&A with Jason)
<p>Listen in on a <em>Team Strength Running</em> coaching call, where Jason takes questions from the community about training, long runs, workout strategy, and more. </p> <p>To join one of these calls, <a href= "https://strengthrunning.com/join-the-team/">join the team here</a>.  ... Show More
41m 29s
Nov 13
How to Learn From Any Injury (So You Stay Healthier) with Physiotherapist Brodie Sharpe
Brodie Sharpe is a physiotherapist, the host of the Run Smarter Podcast, and author of Run Smarter. As a Physical therapist who specializes in endurance runners, Brodie Sharpe takes a holistic approach to injury prevention. He helps runners learn how to correct mistakes and work ... Show More
1h 10m
Nov 6
Isometrics vs. Strength vs. Plyos: What's Missing in Your Strength Training with Dr. Matt Silver
Dr. Matthew Silver is a physical therapist, author, and owner of Alpha Project Phyzio and Performance in Maryland. His book Built to Run is now available. While he set his college's 8k record and made the all-conference team, injuries prematurely ended Matt's career, sparking his ... Show More
1h 3m
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2023
Get Fit, Not Fried — The Benefits of Zone 2 Cardio
<p>When most people work out, they jump right from a resting state called Zone 1 cardio to Zone 3 cardio. But in skipping over Zone 2 cardio altogether, they miss out on a significant range of benefits to their health, fitness, and overall well-being.</p><p>Here to unpack why you ... Show More
1h 12m
Feb 2024
#81: Strength Training for Runners with Kyle Long
<p><span style= "font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;"> Strength coach Kyle Long discuss a many strength topics, such as: When and how to perform the right strength training for r ... Show More
52m 45s
May 2014
Can Heat Make You Burn More Fat, How To Run With A Knee Injury, Why I Don't Do Crossfit And Much More!
<p><a href="https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/285" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/284</a></p> <p>May 28, 2014 Podcast: How To Run A Marathon With A Knee Injury, Can Heat Make You Burn More Fat, How To Do Magnesium Baths, Stevia vs. Artificial Sweet ... Show More
1h 23m
Oct 2019
Longevity vs. Muscle Gain, How Much Cardio Is Too Much, Blood Flow Restriction Training, Sex Supplement Tips & Much More With The Guys From ATPScience.
<p>Founded in 2009 ATP Science is the brainchild of Matthew Legge, Jeff and Toni Doidge, and in this episode I have a chat about supplements, longevity, muscle gain, fat loss, training and much, much more with Matt and Jeff.</p> <p><em>ATP Science Head Scientist Matt Legge has mo ... Show More
1h 4m
Jun 2021
How to Build Endurance in Your Brain & Body
This episode I discuss endurance: our ability to perform effort over extended amounts of time. I describe the four kinds of endurance: muscular endurance, long duration (single-set) efforts, and the two kinds of high intensity interval training (HIIT). I discuss efficiency of eff ... Show More
2h 1m
Mar 2022
How to Build Strength, Muscle Size & Endurance | Dr. Andy Galpin
In this episode, I discuss fundamental principles of strength and hypertrophy training and building endurance, along with the mechanisms underlying them. Joining me is Dr. Andy Galpin, Professor of Kinesiology at California State University, Fullerton, and one of the foremost exp ... Show More
3h 27m
Mar 2019
015- Heart Rate Variability and Energy Systems- Everything You Need to Know to Optimize Performance with Joel Jamieson
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Joining us today is one of the most forward-thinking coaches in the world!<span class= "Apple-converted-space"> </span> Joel Jamieson has trained elite MMA fighters, Navy SEALS, and worked for some of the largest fitness brands in the world.<span cl ... Show More
1h 4m
Feb 2023
GUEST SERIES | Dr. Andy Galpin: How to Build Physical Endurance & Lose Fat
This is episode 3 of a 6-part special series on fitness, exercise and performance with Andy Galpin, PhD, professor of kinesiology at California State University, Fullerton. He explains protocols to improve the various kinds of physical endurance: muscular endurance, anerobic capa ... Show More
3h 48m
Jan 2024
How To Work Out Less And Get Fitter, The Secrets of Sustainable Fitness, What We Can All Learn From The World’s Best Athletes & Understanding The Stress Load of Exercise with Professor Stephen Seiler #422
Whether your fitness goal is completing an Ironman race, jogging a 5K, or simply tackling the stairs without getting out of breath, today’s guest has some surprising news on how you can get there quicker, by putting in less – yes, less – effort.   World-renowned sports scientist ... Show More
2h 20m