AeT: MAF versus Nose Breathing | Uphill Athlete

AeT: MAF versus Nose Breathing

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  • #6497
    Matt Paul
    Participant

    Hello.

    I have a question about HR guidance for my current base training…
    My MAF HR is 145 and I have been regularly (every 10 days) been testing AeT via a 20 minute flat run at max nasal breathing. Result is avg HR 155.

    My question: what HR number should I be focusing on when doing my base training. I live in the mountains and find that staying under HR 145 is doable but 155 would be way easier.

    Thanks for your insight and guidance.

    Matt

  • Inactive
    Anonymous on #6514

    Matt:

    Both the MAF and the nose breathing/conversational pace methods are attempts are approximations of your aerobic capacity. The MAF formula tends to give a very conservative estimation of AeT and for those without much history of low intensity long duration training (by HISTORY I mean years of focused training program) it is probably the best number to use (baring Lab Test results https://uphillathlete.com/getting-tested-part-1/). For those with extensive aerobic training background the nose breathing/conversational pace (ventilatory test) can give a decent correlation with lab testing and blood lactate levels.

    People with a history of most of their aerobic training in Zone 3 be that in CrossFit style workouts or just racing up the trail to the base of the climb as fast as their less will carry them, can not get reliable intensity info from using the ventilation rate/depth test. For them the MAF approach will give more reliable info.

    Since you live in he mountains, find a long hill and hike/run up it for an hour at your MAF HR and time yourself. Go back a few weeks later when in a similar fatigue state and do this little time trial again. Over the course of weeks/months you will see a drop in the time for the same HR. Voila: Improved Aerobic Capacity :-). When you begin to see a plateau in the time drop then you have you can bump your AeT HR 5 beats in training and start the building process again.

    I hope this makes sense,
    Scott

    Participant
    Matt Paul on #6515

    Thanks Scott. It makes sense and having been a skimo dork for a bunch of years, I have spent time building my aerobic engine, so I will continue to bump up my base AeT HR using the mountain MAF test as a good guide.

    I appreciate the response.

    Matt

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