Heart Monitor Training for the Compleat Idiot

Review Summary: A beginner's perspective

Review:

I have never been able to stick to any form of running program in the past, so I have waited three months before submitting a review of this book.

I received this book for Christmas and read it from cover to cover before deciding that I would follow the twelve week novice program. I was already walk/running about 10 to 15 miles a week, but without any plan of where I was going. I often wore a heart rate monitor, but never really used it to train properly. This book changed all that, and I set myself a target of running 10km in less than an hour at the end of the program.

Before commencing the training, I did manage to complete 3 miles in 30 minutes, but my heart rate was around 90% MHR (Maximum Heart Rate) and I couldn't go any further or faster! This has often been the way of my "training" in the past - I have always struggled to increase speed or distance. The book taught me that this was because I was training at too high intensity, which was leading to burn-out and a lack of enthusiasm for running. All of my training took place on a treadmill at the Gym, so my records for time and distance are very accurate.

Armed with a plan, I followed the program almost religiously. I changed very little, other than to adapt the interval distances for treadmill running. My first three mile run at 70% MHR took 43:41, and my 5 mile run at the same pace was 1:06:48. In three months I never missed a single day of the program. It started off easy with a weekly mileage of 17 miles, including one "hard" day which wasn't too taxing. My times were gradually reducing and it was enough to keep me motivated. Then, as the intensity of the hard days was gradually ramped up, and the weekly mileage increased, I found that my times were improving noticeably on almost every single run. This happened at around the five-week mark - so I wasn't going to be sending off for the apology certificate from the author. I can honestly say I actually looked forward to the weekly hard day, and was itching to see what would happen when this increased to two per week.

Over the next seven weeks my speed increased along with my motivation. I could now run 3 miles in less than 29 minutes at 70% MHR and could run six miles faster than I had originally run five miles at the same work-rate. My five mile time was reduced to 50:57. I could go on, because there were so many milestones during the training. Best of all, it was fun and I always looked forward to my next workout.

At the end of the 12 weeks I ran 10km in a time of 53:54, which exceeded my expectations.

Criticisms of the book:

Well, there are a number of typo's in the programs that really should have been spotted before going to print. Nothing major.

I thought that the intensity of the hard days ramped up too far in the final week. To suddenly go from quarter-mile intervals at 85% MHR to a full mile sprint at 95% MHR was a step too far for me. In fact, I never achieved 95% MHR in the program at all. Of course this could be my fault, rather than a fault of the program. It didn't stop me making big improvements.

All of the plans are for 10Km (6 mile) races. I would like to have plans for longer distances too. However, the techniques of adding a little mileage and intensity week-by-week are quite easily adapted. Plans from elsewhere can also be followed, since the most important point of the book is to run truly easily on the easy days!

Summary:

Any book that can change me into someone that loves running deserves 5 stars! I know my running times will not look impressive in themselves, but I hope that you can see the improvements that were made by following the program as laid down in the book. I'm nearly 46 years old and this was a revelation to me. I wish I had discovered this gem years ago, but you live and learn.

A personal trainer at my gym has been following my progress and as a result has implemented Heart Monitor Training for some of his clients who want to improve their running. This book is far cheaper than a personal trainer!

Review Summary: this is the only running book you need

Review:

Being an overweight lady of a certain age began running at the beginning of the year. I ran too fast too soon and came up against injury after injury. I invested in a heart rate monitor and have religiously stuck to Parkers advice in this book and have been injury free since. My fitness and endurance is improving and it feels much easier to keep to percentages than worry about how many minutes running/walking I should be doing which is how most plans work. This book is written with humour and is a very easy read.

Review Summary: This book transformed my life

Review:

From a coughing, spluttering, over enthusiastic, over weight, over 40, would be runner to a keen (read addicted) runner in a couple of months. This book has singlehandedly transformed my life. I have lost around 1 1/2 stone and now run at sub 10 mins per mile at less than my 70% recovery threshold. I can breathe easily and I now race, for fun!!! I'd also recommend the Runners World web forums for sharing experiences and progress.

You need this book!

Review Summary: HRM for the complete novice?

Review:

This book should be read before you buy your HRM. It poo-poos the idea of 'heart rate zones' and instead uses a maximum HR for each level of activity, eg <70% instead of the usual 60-70% zone.
The chapters are well written with humour and give a good explanation of the concept of training using a HRM. There are several suggested 12 week programs for beginners through to "advanced" runners. Each program gets slightly harder week by week but the program relies on running distance as opposed to time. A minor gripe but when you run on rural tracks you can't always measure the distances involved and a time based session would probably be of more benefit.
A worthy introduction to HRM training.

Review Summary: Heart Monitor Training for the Compleat Idiot

Review:

I am a 9 minute miler, always wondering why my training didnt produce the result I thought I was capable of. After buying a heart monitor, I just couldnt figure out why my heart was going fast, and why I wasnt able to keep going at a high rate. This book told me exactly what I was doing wrong, and offered lots of advice and instruction on how to USE a heart monitor as opposed to WEARING one. It is brilliant!!!.. Since reading this book, I am now training properly, feeling less tired, doing MORE miles, and loving my running. It was hard at first, following the advice of the book, and often I had to walk to keep my heart down. But now I have cracked it, and I feel great. My advice BUY THE BOOK!!!