Functional Threshold Heart Rate Test

Training Q&A [Moderated]
1

Sorry for multiple questions on the same day. I just did the field test, for some reason I ignored it on block 1, and just used HR% of max as a guide, but your recent you tube clip on Zone 2 sold me that this was the way to go.

So question, is it my average heart rate over the entire 20 min test, or is the average heart rate over the final 5 minutes that I use. I feel like its the average over the final 5 minutes, as I wa able to go fastee each 5 minutes, and thus my heart rate increased each period. For example, ovee the entire 20 min, average heart rate was 143 bpm. However, the final 5 minutes was 167, with a max of 172 bpm. Just curious which number I should apply 95% to, my gut would be 167 x .95 = 159 bpm functional threshold heart rate. Is this correct?

Thanks

2

I would use the average HR for the last 5 min in your case. In practice however, I use the average HR over the entire test. I’m thinking you needed a longer warm up and needed to start at a faster pace to hit a true max effort for the 20 min test. No big deal though, you’ll get another crack at it in 4 weeks.

3 Likes
3

Awesome, thanks Jordan!!!