I’m not sure what’s more critical right now, a lactate test or gait analysis. Both are around $130USD, so I would prefer to pick one now and another later if they would be beneficial.

Coincidentally, I have small, wide feet.

On my last run, the 7-miler, it was an average of 159spm. That’s slow even for me. I normally am around 180spm.

Well, I’m not in distress or struggling necessarily from a cardio standpoint. It’s my knees, ankles, and calves that seems to wear down. Granted, I could be running too fast for my real zone 2 since I’m using my watch and HR strap and not a lactate test, but I recover from my runs pretty quickly in my 5 Min cool down walk.

Thanks. I’m trying to loose body fat and improve my running. I have a good amount of lean muscle, 170lbs at 5ft 9in and around 10% body fat. You make a valid point and maybe my body hasn’t adapted yet. I am very used to training fasted, though, just not running it’s been weightlifting.

Thank you for the feedback. Maybe my muscles are just not conditioned for endurance and that’s why I’m making slower progress. I’ll really consider listening to my body instead of my watch.

Very interesting. Thanks for the feedback.

Thanks. I’ve been using one breathe in and out every 4 steps.

I wouldn’t be surprised. It’s the values Garmin gave me when it recalibrated me VO2 max. I’m considering getting a lactate test done to get my actual levels. You might be right though. I probably need to keep the heart rate under 140. Like you, when I get tired it’s really my feet and ankles and knees. Not my lungs.

So similar. In high school and college ball, I was ALWAYS at the back of the pack with the “fat guys”. I have wondered if I have something biologically that makes it so, or if I’m just a punk and need to suck it up and run more to get better. I guess I’ll find out, lol!

My lungs aren’t burning at all. I have my breath still, it’s my legs

Thanks for the support. I’m going to take your advice but I just wanted to add that I’m on week 10 of building. It started with two 2 miles and a 3, and built up each week. I’ll just keep trucking along.

I might do this.

I’m able to breath in through my nose and out of my mouth for the entire run, nearly every run. I’ll have to look up anything else.

I feel like the running version of a Honda Civic with a body kit, exhaust, and hood scoop. I look fast, but still slow.

Thanks for the feedback.

Yes, in the Texas Heat even at 5am it’s about 88F and sometimes 90%+ humidity. It’s nasty.

The last 4 weeks average is 10 miles a week. So, not much volume.

I want to enjoy running. I enjoy almost all fitness activities. I really enjoy improving performance. Even though I don’t “love” running, I like it enough and want to be good at it enough that I’ll stick with it. I’m the type of person that obsessed over a goal or something I’m passionate about.

Thanks for the tips. I average around 160-180spm. I do a lot of barbell squats and lunges but I’m not sure if that actually makes my hip flexors tighter decreasing my stride performance?

My Garmin shows my lactate threshold at 167bpm.

• Z1 112-138
• Z2 138-153
• Z3 153-165
• Z4 165-172
• Z5 172-187

I’m not saying your wrong, I just cant fathom going any slower and making progress. I guess my mind can’t reconcile walking actually improving my endurance after so many years of fitness. I guess I’m just being naive or ignorant.

No, I don’t right now. The reason is I tried two Garmin coaching plans and both times lead to injuries of my calf/achilles in my left leg. So I had to stop both programs after 3 or 4 weeks (which included speed runs) and now I’m just trying to build a better base.

Yes, the 7 miles I just ran had a total of 40ft ascent. Not a track, but road.