Jun 16 2007

Using a heart rate monitor in training

Published by Sanne at 11:03 under Training

This week has been quite busy when it comes to the job…as there are some changes going on. Making me a bit tired now and then, but never the less it has no impact on my training and performances. I’d expected that my performances would be lower and I wouldn’t be able to train with the same intensity.

20070613_Drywalk.jpgBut, as it turns out, the training sessions we set out this week progressed according plan. I also put my RS400 to use now and this brings an extra information stream back to Jorg. For instance my drywalks get a new perspective, I’ve posted a result from one of the drywalk sessions from this week (see image). The Polar Training Software generates a nice graph and puts in the lap-points along the HR-line, so I can easily look back at my training and retrieve all the information about my HR.

Drywalk training
The training-session layout for this one is:

0 » 1: 2 minutes preparation
1 » 2: Drywalk (empty lungs)
2 » 3: Walking back to start point
4 » 5: 2 minutes preparation
5 » 6: Drywalk (full lungs)
6 » 7: Recovering

Empty lungs drywalk (1 » 2) felt relaxed and at ease, hitting the “lap” button from my RS400 at 59s. After that I walked back to my starting point and start preparing for the full lungs drywalk.

With my full lungs drywalk (4 » 5) I usually walk along the same route, this helps me in knowing how far I still need to go and how the drywalk is progressing. As I like to put some extra pressure to it, I added 10m extra to my starting point. So now already know in advance that this drywalk is going to be a 2+ minute drywalk. Starting with confidence and passing by some people and cyclists, “No distraction and focus..” I say to myself. I continue for about 1 minute where first contractions kick in. At this point it’s good to have inspiring music (Godsmack) and a strong mental side, as this is the point my mind tries to convince me that taking a breathe is so nice :P. This also is the point where I enter the 2nd part of the drywalk which is also clear in the graph, where my Heart Rate goes down. Eventually dropping below 60 bpm for the last part of the drywalk. I can already see the end-point from which I know it normally means 2 minutes, but as I had 10m’s extra, it meant I hit the “Lap” button at 2:09 @ 52bpm. A good training and I recover on my way back home…

Freediving specific training
Last Friday we went to Tongelreep again for another specific training. With a very promising and challenging training, which I write down on my slate, to keep track of where I am during my training.

A nice side-note is to see the many swimmers with whom I’m sharing the lane during my training sessions, grab the slate and don’t quite understand what I’m doing. A few weeks back I forgot to bring home my slate from the pool and when we arrived next time they actually thought it was one of Jacco Verhaeren’s (Pieter van den Hoogenband’s coach) training schedule’s, so they took to liberty of wiping the slate clean for me… :) Luckily I brought Jorg along so he could tell me what to do.

20070613_Freediving_training.jpgThe training started promising and progressed as we planned, until a certain point where I got the cramps in my toes :( Normally when I stretch a bit, it will go away but now it stayed so Jorg and I decided to end the training as we were almost at the end of the training. A very good and intense training, which I’ll try to monitor with my RS400 next time.

3 Responses to “Using a heart rate monitor in training”

  1. # ericvrpon 16 Jun 2007 at 17:32

    Hi Sanne,

    I’m curious about the walking speed you have while doing your drywalks. Do you for instance know the number of steps or number of meters you make during your 2 minutes?

    I also wonder if you try to maintain a constant speed or not.

    From what you write I gather that 10 meters (extra) takes you 9 seconds. 13.3×9=2 minutes so my guess is you walk about 133 meters per 2 minutes. Is this about right?

  2. # Sanneon 16 Jun 2007 at 20:09

    Hi Eric,

    I do not try and measure speed, but more the intensity. For me it’s got to feel like the dynamic intensity, I wouldn’t know the exact distance. Although I can measure it in Google Earth, which says it’s about 230m.

    I try and maintain the same speed during the whole drywalk.

  3. # ericvrpon 22 Jun 2007 at 12:33

    Hi Sanne,

    Today I managed my first 2′00” drywalk :-) jee

    I was following your training somewhat but it took me lot longer to get there mostly to build confidence. The empty lungs part I managed 30 seconds instead of the one minute although I can do 2′00” laying down without to much of a problem. Maybe it had something to do with the yoga I did this morning. I’ll see next time.

    For the full lung part I had to let go of my fear for injuries a bit first so I worked up to a 2′30” hold while standing still. Then I did a very slow drywalk for 1′45” and one for 2′00”. For the last one I had to push myself a few times but in the end it felt like a 100 meter dynamic which surprised me because it felt harder. The last two drywalks were just a little over 60 meters :-)

    Thank you for all the blogs, I hope you can relax and enjoy the road to reach your goals!

    cheers, Eric

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