HR Caps

Remember that it is a HR Cap, not a Target.

I had some questions on whether the HR caps should be hard or soft -- basically do you adjust for: (a) heat; (b) dehydration; (c) altitude; (d) fatigue; (e) lactate; (f) low blood volume; (g) lack of fitness; (h) gender or other factors that we can dream up.

I asked this question to Mark in Austin. His reply was that our HR is the best indicator for actual stress on our bodies. So when we are at our cap, we are under enough stress. Adding more stress tolerance due to a/b/c/d/e... isn't consistent with his advice for best practice. The time to add more stress is when the "endurance" protocol shows a plateau in terms of run test performance. If we keep improving then stick with the protocol.

On reflection and with eight weeks of his model under my belt. I have to say that it makes a lot of sense. So if you tempted to give yourself an excuse to go harder... my recommendation is "not yet".