Zone 2 Q&A: Can You Run Too Slow? When Does Easy Pace Get Faster?

Have we put Zone 2 running on an undeserved pedestal? A recent episode with Brady Holmer dug into Zone 2 as it relates to heat training. One listener named Nadine emailed me some great questions to follow up on the Zone 2 conversation. Like many of you, easy running has gotten confusing for Nadine because of so much of the advice on the internet to never go faster than Zone 2 and the value of very slow running. But Nadine was feeling better at slightly faster paces! I figured it'd be more helpful to record a conversation about these topics as a follow-up to our episode with Brady, and Nadine agreed. In this episode, we talk about: Zone 2 for non-elite, less experienced runners How and when to increase the speed of easy/long runs Is there such a thing as too slow? What if "too slow" corresponds to the right heart rate? Benefits of Zone 3 running for low-volume runners Polarizing training and recovery runs Running in the heat and heat adaptation How do you determine your easy running pace? If you like what you hear in this episode, send it to a friend who runs! Links & Resources from the Show: Make sure you've followed or subscribed to the show-- I'm planning another episode with a performance PhD to talk more about the significant value of Zone 3 running. The episode with Brady Holmer Follow @jasonfitz1 on Instagram Get free injury prevention tips Thank you AG1! We're also supported by AG1, the greens superfood mix. This is a category-leading greens mix that has 75 vitamins and minerals, prebiotics, probiotics, antioxidants, and adaptogens. It's recommended by professional athletes and has over 7,000 positive reviews. One scoop per day is what I've been doing to help me fill in any nutrition gaps in my diet. It also provides a nice boost of energy and focus throughout the day. 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