# Cardio rpe question

**URL:** <https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/cardio-rpe-question/14500>\
**Category:** Training Q&A \[Moderated\]\
**Created:** [April 12, 2024, 1:56am UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/cardio-rpe-question/14500 "2024-04-12T01:56:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![tfranc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@tfranc](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/tfranc)\
**Post date:** [April 12, 2024, 1:56am UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/cardio-rpe-question/14500/1 "2024-04-12T01:56:55Z")

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Hi Jordan,  
Had a follow up question from ig. I thought it better to ask here. You mentioned you’d like to see most cardio done in zone 2, rpe 3-4 “with significant fuzziness on either end.” However, in the podcast you describe zone 2 as rpe 5-6 in the 5 zone model. Which one should I be doing? I’m probably missing something. Thanks

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**Author:** ![Jordan\_Feigenbaum](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.barbellmedicine.com/jordan_feigenbaum/32/1315_2.png) [@Jordan\_Feigenbaum](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Jordan_Feigenbaum)\
**Post date:** [April 12, 2024, 2:30pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/cardio-rpe-question/14500/2 "2024-04-12T14:30:15Z")

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Yes, we described the talk test -anchored RPE scale in the podcast, where the onset of some breathlessness (can only speak in short sentences) would represent the top of zone 2. When using breathing rate for a proxy, RPE 5-6 is the target.

Some will use an effort anchor for RPE, e.g. very easy, easy, moderate, hard, very hard. And others will use a pace-type anchor, e.g. active recovery (z1), aerobic endurance pace that could be sustained for hours (z2), tempo work (z3), max pace for ~ 45 min to 1 hour (z4), and vo2 max training (z5).

Combining all of these together is quite difficult and can be confusing, I agree. I was hopeful the podcast would be somewhat actionable regarding RPE and the anchor system we were using. Similarly, I was optimistic the tweetorial posted (using a different RPE anchor) would give people the target needed for conditioning if they weren’t already doing some.

To your question, I think the majority of your conditioning work should be done right at or under the aerobic threshold, which is approximately the 1st lactate threshold, and ventilatory threshold. This is ~ RPE 3-4 using a pace or effort-anchored scale or RPE 5-6 using a breathlessness anchor.

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**Author:** ![beefcake99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@beefcake99](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/beefcake99)\
**Post date:** [April 17, 2024, 6:58pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/cardio-rpe-question/14500/3 "2024-04-17T18:58:39Z")

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Not sure if this helps, but here’s how I try to feel after completing a workout:

Zone 1 (Recovery): exactly the same as when I started, maybe even a bit better  
Zone 2: fine - not tired  
Zone 3+: tired