How much do you use heart rate to guide your training?

‘It’s my go-to metric to know how fit (or unfit) I am. I find focusing on hitting a certain HR, rather than a pace, for specific efforts means you’re working your body within its capabilities, and not chasing a pace that might end the session early.’ – Ben Hobson

‘I never use a heart-rate monitor, but when I can see my heart pounding from my chest like I’m a cartoon character who’s suddenly fallen in love, I stop running. In short, I pay close attention to my heart rate.’ – John Carroll

‘I’ve trained with my heart rate for years. Although it’s another metric, if you do it consistently enough I think it allows you to run by feel better because it helps you to know precisely how hard your body’s working.’ – Andy Dixon

‘I’ve tried in the past but the equations never seem to put my efforts in the zones that match my perceived effort, so I sort of lost faith. I love the idea of the precision, though, so I’m fascinated to do the Field Test on p38 to find bpms tailored more accurately to me.’ – Joe Mackie