Right now in the fitness community, the hottest topic is Zone 2 training.
Everywhere you look, both coaches and runners are extolling the benefits of running at a Zone 2 effort, while advising runners to be wary of running too hard on easy days.
Make no mistake: there are great reasons for running most of your mileage at an easy effort around Zone 2. No coach worth her salt will tell runners that easy running isn’t advantageous. In fact, a lot of easy running is the key to racing faster and building a strong body that’s resilient against injuries.
But with all this focus on Zone 2, are we ignoring other zones? What about Zone 1? Or what about Zone 3 (which seems to have become the boogeyman of running efforts)? Despite the baggage of Zone 3, and most athletes ignoring Zone 1, these zones still have value.
In fact, every zone has a place in a well-designed training program. Let’s get into the weeds, explore the nuance, and discover each shade of gray about zone training.
What is Zone 2 Running?
Zone 2 running is best defined as easy running where you’re still able to hold a conversation with a friend. The…
