[Richard Abbott]

Richard Abbott on November 3, 2022 at 10:46 pm · in reply to: Anaerobic Threshold Test Gone Terribly Wrong #72296

I can’t really answer your important questions, but I will say that 3.5-4.5 mph for me is a bit of a “no man’s land” where I struggle to efficiently walk/hike or run so I might suffer similarly in that situation. If I feel like I’m going to be at that speed for a particular target HR, I generally have to adjust elsewhere (incline/weight/etc.) to hit it.

[Richard Abbott]

Richard Abbott on November 3, 2022 at 10:42 pm · in reply to: long hikes early in the training cycle #72295

I’m in a similar boat – when I’m in the beginning of a training cycle I just go a little slower on the long hikes than I might normally. Sometimes I’ll hike the workout first, break for snack/lunch, and then drop the pace significantly the rest of the way up – or vice versa. I’ve also done what you mentioned and moved longer hikes to later in the cycle, but generally I like to take advantage when I have a full day available – regardless of where I’m at in the cycle.

I also don’t carry as much weight though – even in Z1 mileage carrying 30 pounds downhill definitely counts. In fact if I’m carrying weight for a portion as part of my plan, I’ll make sure most of it’s water so I can dump it out once the workout portion is done.

If you keep it to low-Z2 and Z1, more might really be better in this case.

[Richard Abbott]

Richard Abbott on October 31, 2022 at 10:11 pm · in reply to: Where is everyone located? #72228

I’m in CO between Denver and Fort Collins. Much to the chagrin of the “locals” I moved out here from Texas – purely for the mountain access. I’m fortunate to spend much of my year – summer/fall in particular – up in Wyoming. I’m a very experienced wilderness backpacker – especially in the Winds and GYE and have spent a good amount of time up in Alaska (Brooks, Alaska, and Chugach ranges). If you spend too much time walking around mountains, eventually you end up wanting to go up/over them – the last few years I’ve gotten the bug to do a little more “serious” mountaineering. Next year (2023) I’ll be spending a few few weeks in Ecuador and am hoping to summit Cayambe, Cotopaxi, and/or Chimborazo and have a multi-year goal of Denali and similar Alaskan peaks.

I do have a full-time job (thankfully I work from home), a wife, and two young children (5 & 7), so training time can be very limited. I’m lucky to live near the mountains, but sadly often too busy to get into them more than a few times a month. (Hoping to up that a bit leading into Ecuador though.)

And I’m an absolutely terrible skiier. I never even touched a ski until I took my first son up to Eldora the first time – so I’m roughly as good as a not-very-good seven year old. I’d like to get better, but it’s not a top priority – I’ll probably continue going with the kids until they leap past me and leave me in their dust.

Joining in on this “party” a little late – but for good reasons. Ended up squeezing in a couple pretty strenuous trips up in the Absarokas at the beginning of October that left me needing some recovery. Back in the saddle with purpose as of last week.

[Richard Abbott]

Richard Abbott on October 31, 2022 at 9:47 pm · in reply to: How much Z3 a week is too much? #72227

https://uphillathlete.com/aerobic-training/slow-best-for-fitness/ < referenced by Cory

I’m surprised that so much of your ski touring and social runs are Zone 3 though. My guess is you could probably make some minor changes and stay closer to or within Zone 2. It all depends on your goals and I’m not a coach, but with such clear ADS I’d probably try to stay below AeT the vast majority of the time until you’ve “closed the gap” a bit. I spent the better part of a year at very regular, almost exclusively sub-AeT efforts before I saw noticeable improvement in that area. (And a couple years on I think I can safely say I’ve kicked the ADS, too, so it was worth it.)