I like using the treadmill at the health club, where the incline varies to maintain a target heart rate. Walking at a brisk pace on an incline can get your heart rate going just fine, and is easier on my knees at least.
Usually I follow the 'cardio' heart rate that the machine comes up with based on your age, and go for 20 or 30 minutes. This is the normal aerobic workout that all the experts say everyone is supposed to do a few times a week.
If I wanted to concentrate on an event like the 500 free, which lasts 5-6 minutes (hopefully closer to 5 if I can repeat my times from 20 years ago), should I alternate the normal cardio workout setting a higher heart rate (still below max for my age of course) and go for 5 minutes?
I've been checking my heart rate for 6 seconds on some swimming sets, and although this method is not as accurate, on sets like 100s or 200s my heart rate is well above the standard 80% of 220 minus age.
Parents
Former Member
What I'm wondering is whether in an event like the 500 free you are going to be above the standard 80% of max HR that they recommend for cardio workounts. I think the answer if you push yourself hard is that you will exceed 80% of the max for a mid-distance event, so then the question becomes should you train for that specifically, or just set the treadmill to maintain 80% of max by varying the incline and plod along for 20-30 minutes.
What I'm wondering is whether in an event like the 500 free you are going to be above the standard 80% of max HR that they recommend for cardio workounts. I think the answer if you push yourself hard is that you will exceed 80% of the max for a mid-distance event, so then the question becomes should you train for that specifically, or just set the treadmill to maintain 80% of max by varying the incline and plod along for 20-30 minutes.
