Run or weight vest for zone work?

Hello guys and gals. I’ve been doing some 70% cardio work once or twice a day for a few weeks to build a base. Either by jogging or mowing my lawn at a good pace. Just low intensity stuff; no work over about 70% unless my heart rate gets there during a set of squats or something. Well, it came back quickly. I’m to where I have to start running, rather than jogging/power walking, to keep around a 70% heart rate. I’m wondering what your thoughts are on adding a weight vest/plate carrier v. just going faster? I’m not in it for speed, and am inclined to think that going faster will require more recovery and increase injury potential.

Thank you for your time and your informative site.

//Doug

I would not wear a vest for cardiorespiratory training, as it tends to shift emphasis from the cardiorespiratory system to the muscular endurance arena.

I would disagree that going faster requires significantly more recovery or increases injury potential to a task you’re already adapted to.

-Jordan

Cool. I’ll start moving faster. I’ve had problems running in the past, hence my reservation starting again.

Re: muscular endurance, that’s interesting. I supposed the weight vest v. running is like gearing on a bicycle - though we’re going for a target heart rate here rather than speed. I always bike faster in a lower gear where I “churn” more than spin. Probably too many years on a BMX. It’s just a sensation I’m more comfortable with. I was always told that I’d ride faster (on a road bike) if I learned to spin at a higher cadence but could never bring myself to adopt that style. Rucking feels more comfortable than running to achieve the same heart rate, but it’s probably familiarity. Just musing here.

Thank you for the reply, Jordan.

//Doug

I do my cardio as weight-vest walks – my experience is that Jordan is right.

Cardio is not the limiting factor in my w-v walks. Upper-back and trap endurance is. It took a long time to build up to where it became good cardio, and even now I can hit higher sustained heart rates pushing a lawnmower than walking with a 60 lb vest. Also, pushing the lawnmower hurts less.

Not an efficient form of cardio, unless (like me) you already spend 30 minutes walking every day, and can’t switch to running due to being encumbered with small dogs.