# My Zone 2 Training
Sources:
- RDJ
- [[Zone 2 Training]]
See also:
- [[Training zones]]
- [[Power (FTP) Seven (7) Training Zones]]
## Summary
As of this writing on 2024-03-14, I've determined my zone 2 training effort via 3 methods:
- Direct lactate testing from February 2021 indicating a heart rate between 110 and 120 is generated with a zone 2 effort.
- Perceived exertion and "ballpark calculation" confirms this range.
- FTP testing and subsequent zones based on FTP confirm the Endurance zone (2) correlates with an effort that generates a heart rate of around 120.
- [ ] The plan includes retesting lactate and FTP.
## Notes
### Traditional method calculation
- For example, assuming a maximum heart rate of 165 BPM and resting heart rate of 45 BPM.
- Target = [(max - resting) x %intensity] + resting
- At 60%: [(165–45) x 60%]+ 45 = 117 BPM
- At 70%: [(165–45) x 70%]+ 45 = 129 BPM
- Using this formula, the target Zone 2 is 117 - 129 BPM, or rounded to 120 - 130 BPM.
### Lactate Testing
I rode the [[Keiser]] and tested lactate to determine the HR and power output that brought me to the 2.0 threshold.
#### April 4, 2020
I got on the spinning bike and performed the lactate test. There were a couple of outliers, and a repeat test is in order at a couple of heart rates. My tested zones will likely be close to the predicted zones (according to Garmin).
| Heart Rate | Lactate |
| :---: | :---: |
| 100 | 1.4 |
| 105 | 1.5 |
| 110 | 1.6 |
| 115 | 2.8 |
| 120 | 3.2 |
| 125 | 3.6 |
| 130 | 5.8 |
| 135 | 4.8 |
| 140 | 5.0 |
#### January 31, 2021
| Time | Watts | RPM | Gear | HR | Lactate |
| ----- | ----- | --- | ---- | --- | ------- |
| 13:04 | 118 | 89 | 12 | 110 | 1.0 |
| 18:34 | 138 | 89 | 13 | 118 | 2.0 |
It appears that the top of my Zone 2 is around 118 BPM. So maybe I’ll exercise in the **110-120 BPM range**. This range is very different from my previous calculation using max and resting heart rates. So let’s NOT use 120-130 (from the Traditional Method Calculation)!!!
Assuming my maxHR is 165 then 110-120 bpm would translate into HR percentage of roughly 65-75%.
#### February 24, 2021:
I performed a zone 2 workout (Keiser’s so-called Aerobic Builder) using my updated FTP number (232W). My heart rate stayed between 100 and 120 throughout the hour-long workout. I tested my lactate after 10 minutes and then at 50 minutes, and the results were 1.4 and 2.0, respectively. I’m pleased with the lactate confirmation of my zone 2 numbers.