Training Zones after Injury

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    Topic
  • #37635
    spencervillano
    Participant

    Hey all,

    My last HR test was done in January of 2019 and I continued to use these zones until June of 2019 when I injured my ankle.

    Z1 Active Rec 0 – 135
    Z2 Base 135 – 150
    Z3 Tempo 150 – 160
    Z4 Threshold 160 – 165
    Z5 VO2 165 – 176

    I have not been able to train cardio for the last 7 months.
    I’m finally to the place where I can begin to get back to activity.

    What zones should I start training at again?
    Have I lost all my fitness and need to start over?

    Thanks

  • Inactive
    Anonymous on #37711

    After seven months off, you will have lost a significant amount of fitness. How much is hard to say. It depends on your training history. If you’ve been training for decades, then it should come back fairly quickly (within months). If you’re relatively new to structured training, then it will take longer.

    As for intensities, I would start with a drift test to determine your current aerobic threshold. Detraining tends to skew intensity toward the anaerobic side, so your AeT HR at the moment is likely lower than what it was.

    Most importantly, don’t make the common mistake of trying to “cram”. You can’t speed up the process by upping the intensity or over-doing it on duration. That will only set you back further. If you’re patient and progressive with it, you’ll get the best results you can.

    Participant
    spencervillano on #37727

    Thanks Scott. I’ve only been doing structured training for about 2 years now.

    I’m planning to go do another lab lactate test once I heal enough to be able to perform one.

    In the mean time while I build up to that I will knock down the intensity since my AeT has reduced.

    Would it be a safe to assume I can train base in the 130 – 140 range until I’m healthy enough to re-test?

    Inactive
    Anonymous on #37887

    If 150 was previously AeT, then training in the 130s seems reasonable for now.

    Before spending money on a lab test, I would get in at least a month of solid training. After a long lay off, things tend to become more anaerobic and so you may have higher heart rates for a given intensity than you will after a month of easy volume.

    For example, I’ve been out for three weeks with a bad sinus infection. I just went out today and put in an hour at a pretty easy pace. Based on my speed in a known section of trail, my heart rate was ten beats higher than normal. So if I did any kind of threshold test right now, the results wouldn’t be very helpful. The shelf life of the information would be too short.

    Participant
    spencervillano on #37976

    OK thanks Scott!

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