Are you doing your zone 2 training at the wrong intensity? The benefits of Zone 2 training are huge but you need to train at the right intensity to get the best results. Many people assume that Zone 2 is always at a certain heartrate range and that may the wrong assumption. Fortunately there is an easy way to determine the best zone 2 training intensity for you so you can improve your fitness and long-term health!

We’ll discuss why zone 2 isn’t actually tied to a specific heart rate range, why depending on a heart rate zone calculator may be suboptimal, the best way to determine your zone 2 and how the talk test can help you dial in your zone 2 range.

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Takeaways:

• Determining your Zone 2 workout range may require a reevaluation of your current methods.
• Heart rate is not the sole determinant of Zone 2 training; alternative approaches exist that may prove more effective.
• The Talk test serves as a practical means to ascertain if one is training in Zone 2 effectively.
• Relying solely on maximum heart rate calculations without a proper VO2 max test can lead to inaccuracies.
• The Maffetone method provides an alternative means of estimating Zone 2 ranges when maximum heart rate data is unavailable.
• Engaging in Zone 2 training necessitates a nuanced understanding of individual physiological responses and thresholds.

Clip of Inigo San-Millan talking about how Zone 2 is often at 70%-80% of Max HR: https://www.youtube.com/clip/UgkxI-ckwBMPZ8gOlZgtrmHoLoBV-zpe1iO2

Clip discussing how the "Talk Test" should sound": https://www.youtube.com/clip/UgkxFoOzpgGC6l3eevvc8f3Is0d_MmjEpw9F

Clip of me demonstrating how the talk test sounds: https://youtu.be/pMlJ2DYM6Ow

Article on 220-age calculation: https://www.asep.org/asep/asep/Robergs2.pdf

Maffetone Method Calculation: https://philmaffetone.com/180-formula/

Karvonen method Calculator: https://www.calculatorsoup.com/calculators/health/target-heart-rate-zone-calculator.php