If Your Heart Rate Drops Below 150bpm, You LOSE!

How steady can you keep your heart rate? Watch as our team of plucky runners tries to stay within Heart Rate Zone 4 - if they go outside of this, they’re OUT!
↓↓ Have you tried this challenge before? Would you like to give it a go? Let us know in the comments ↓↓
With thanks to our friends at Garmin for their support in making this video.
What’s in this video?
00:00 - Intro
00:23 - Here's Rick with the rules
04:12 - Update from Freddie
09:19 - Update from Rick
12:12 - Anna takes the p...
14:00 - Disaster strikes
MUSIC licensed by Artlist and Epidemic Sound:
• Thrill Her by Heyson
• Lasers and Stuff by Tigerblood Jewel
• Smoking Lounge by Trio Leo
• Wilshire BLVD by Liru
• Defenders Unite by Niklas Johansson
• Night Rider by Ian Post
• Sunny Days by Raz Burg
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[@yonatan1myers]

It looked like only Anna understod the chalange.

[@SeeChadRun]

I don't understand why the other runners simply didn't slow down (or take a brief walk) as their HR started to approach zone 5...?

[@jassaljs]

Nice to see Rick actively involved. I am certain he is dying to be one of the runners👍

[@runningchannel]

He was dying to get on the track that day. We might have to do the challenge again when he's fit!

[@FooFloyDon]

Why didn’t they almost run near Zone3? Way easier to slightly increase the HR than reducing from almost Zone 5.

[@erics7226]

I was surprised to see everyone maintaining a hr on the edge of zone 5. Why not hold in the middle?

[@adamdejesus4017]

I've been following this channel for years, at my age I strictly run heart rate not speed or splits. I'm 48, 160lbs and I just completed a half marathon at 160-175 bpm...and it felt great the whole time!

[@runningchannel]

That's really interesting to hear that Adam. How long did the half marathon take you?

[@adamdejesus4017]

@@runningchannel 2hrs15mins...nowhere near PB but who cares?

[@daffels96]

I ran my half marathon completely in zone 4 too! Really wondering if my zones are right now 😂

[@adamdejesus4017]

@Ex troll Now living clean life You are correct I ran it *cold* not fully trained. Fully trained I would have had same heart rate, but 1 minute faster per mile (approx).

[@erics7226]

Well done! I'm 46 and my max is lower than your half marathon zone.

[@aznkdz]

i don't understand how they don't know to slow down when their heart rate is close to going over except for Anna. it was fun to watch though

[@mikecaseyoshea3594]

One of the best Vids in a while - that challenge really levelled the playing field.. or track, which are level anyway... eh, anyway great stuff TRC Team and awesome to see Rick involved!

[@davidarana3232]

Sarah slams Rick and Rick lifts up Sarah? I love the competitive nature of people, even when their opponents are down. Runners are a special breed.

[@katiepillar]

Loved Freddie’s interjection (one of my favourite films) and Rick’s really got that commentator voice down. A fun challenge, well done Anna!

[@runningchannel]

Thanks Katie!

[@sarahmc]

As the slowest runner, but possibly most competitive, amongst my running friends loving all the inspiration for races that level the playing field!

[@runningchannel]

You might be really suitable for this one Sarah, why not lay down the challenge!

[@sarahmc]

@@runningchannel we're actually going to try your staggered start 5k race first, but this could be the next challenge!

[@nathalieasselin2251]

So glad to see you out there Rick! I would have had such a hard time with this challenge 😅. Kudos to all!

[@runningchannel]

Thanks for watching Nathalie. Hopefully we'll have Rick on a challenge again soon!

[@pauldavidson9120]

Great challenge!!! Loved Sarah's reaction to Anna winning, priceless!!!

[@heikostock9959]

That was the best and funniest competition so far. Well done!

[@brookeworm18]

YES ANNA! We love to see our #1 Boston marathoner win! Great video team! I'm definitely going to be doing this on one of my runs this week!

[@Writin2insanity]

This looked like so much fun!!! And this is perfect for my training!

[@bigdaff]

I love these challenges! Definitely sets this channel apart from all the other running centered ones

[@runningchannel]

Thanks Dan! We love making them 😀 Any challenges you want to see us take on?

[@koproinsias]

A masterclass in commentary by Rick

[@lovetorun8517]

Congratulations Anna on your track win as well as your Boston finish!

[@fatrunner]

Great video, Anna is the endurance queen!

[@robertfarris7375]

Congrats Anna!! Way to keep it in check.

[@jonesynet]

Great challenge! Oh, and more of Freddie, please.

[@MarieRossiter]

Each video just gets better!!! And tomorrow I think I'm going to add a HR workout, which is something I haven't done in a long time! Thanks for the inspiration!

[@runningchannel]

Glad you're enjoying them Marie! Let us know how the HR workout goes 😀

[@steveblake3102]

Fantastic guys...using the heartrate monitor on slower runs is such a great gage of ability and to slow a runner down. ❤️❤️❤️ Keep up the amazing broadcasting from a Sheffield Steel City Strider 💛💚❤️💚💛

[@Merik_silba]

You guys/girls look so at ease in zone 4 when ever I do tempo runs in zone 4 I struggle to hold conversation Excellent video

[@fidget918]

I actually just did this for the first time last week! I was on a long run, so I kept my heart rate in zone 3. It was actually enjoyable!

[@mostlyrunchat6132]

Should you aim for zone 2 not 3?

[@kurtwerder6327]

Great to see Rick back and the new guy is great!

[@AO-wg3pt]

Team Anna! Anna you were the reason I started running a year and a half ago! First half marathon next month!!

[@stmtom2811]

So many reasons I enjoy your channel 👍 Thank you!

[@runningchannel]

Thank you 😍 Which of our challenges would you most like to try?

[@kevinlance1813]

Congratulations to Anna. Looking forward to hearing about Boston.

[@Kelly_Ben]

I loved the even playing field!! Congrats to everyone, but especially the winner... totally deserve it!! 😆

[@frankweber3432]

Great to see Rick walking around! Go Anna!!

[@denbriggs82]

What a great idea for a challenge. Brilliantly carried out. Great to see Rick involved and the cast of the running crew is expanding but still good quality. James is hilarious. Sarah is fantastic. It was great to see Anna win with slow and steady. Well done team. I really enjoyed that.

[@zulkhaireesulaiman8575]

I love love loveeee this video!

[@mikebenson7732]

Love this challenge!

[@JeffreyADavis-vy5qy]

Great job Anna! I will give this a try.

[@runningchannel]

Nice one Jeffrey, let us know how you get on.

[@owenlindley8014]

Excellent episode thanks

[@ulrikejul7723]

Actually I used the alarm for the first time ever today, alas I had to choose zone 2 after recovering from covid 😷. I think I will use it more often from now on, it was fun! Of course the video was more fun, really enjoyed watching! Keep those brilliant ideas coming!

[@colincoleman1907]

Very well done Anna. That was a really good challenge. I started running to HR Zone 3 (111-125bpm for me) more than a year ago when I was training for the 2021 London Landmarks HM. I used it as a way to run slower as I was running and supporting my daughter whose best time was at least an hour slower than mine. Part of my training most weeks since then has involved easy runs trying to keep within my zone 3, not always being successful! Today I surprised myself with a 8:42 mile (that's quick for me) with a max HR of 155bpm when I felt sure it would be in the 170's. It is beginning to prove what I have read that says the more you practice with HR the quicker you get at a lower rate.

[@geofftoscano6804]

This was a great video! Well done Anna. This is the opposite of what I, now age 69, do in most of my training, which is MAF. Exactly the same issues of keeping your heart rate in a zone, but with me it’s trying to stay below 130. I never succeed 😂

[@virtuocitygowf7272]

Awesome pedantry from the vid editor!

[@Leeroy49]

Congratulations Anna :) and well congratulations as well for that Boston finish :)

[@jacksonm.6549]

I've used the heart rate alert feature on the Garmins I've owned over the years (all Forerunners) and initially I hated it. I loved doing all my runs fast, and it would beep to let me know to slow down. As I slowly transitioned to marathons and ultras, I appreciate it more and love it these days. It forces you to run your easy days at easy pace. In the beginning I used to have a chest strap linking to my Garmin via ANT+ (there was no wrist based HRM when I got my first Forerunner). Nowadays it's much easier with the monitoring done via the watch.

[@pepperminttea2460]

Amazing to see Rick again, cannot wait until he’s back on the running side. And come on Sarah and Anna, represent for the lasses 💪🏻

[@ItsYaBoi888]

lasses = women (in the UK), right?

[@pepperminttea2460]

@@ItsYaBoi888 That’s correct 😄🌻

[@hairyairey]

@@ItsYaBoi888 Northern UK to be precise.

[@ItsYaBoi888]

@@hairyairey I need to go to the UK. A nice jog over there would be THE BEST EXPERIENCE

[@avinashbhogun]

Battersea Park Track? Good to see Rick and some new faces! Congrats to Boston Champ, Anna!

[@LeeSmales]

Seems that everyone aside from Anna lost sight of what the goal was? Did anyone actually try to slow down?!?! 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@JimmysGarden]

Never done it, sadly I haven't got a watch, Nice video and well done Anna 👍👍🏃‍♀🏃‍♀

[@runningchannel]

Thanks Jimmy, glad you enjoyed it!

[@clairhardywynn5620]

Omg Anna walking like she needs a poo to bring her heart rate down 🤣🤣 totally something I’d do - gr8 vid guys such fun 🤩 xx

[@logginsirl]

Finally a win for Anna!! 👍👍 and great to see Rick 🙏👍

[@angeljohnson234]

This was a great video. I learned something new. I didn't know Garmin could alert you when your heart rate reached a certain level. I'm going to try it today.

[@runningchannel]

Glad it was helpful! Let us know how you get on with it.

[@lovetorun8517]

I use this heart rate zone challenge on training runs to keep myself from going too fast - it's easier to focus on heart rate "pacing" - if it goes too high, I have to walk to pull it back in and since I don't want to walk, I've learned to tether my run pace up and down to stay within the zone. Great video!

[@michaelgoode9555]

I do a regular session with high and low and go out for an hour and for my regular long session I set a max HR at the top of zone 4 to keep me aware of what is happening. Great challenge and so good to see Team Anna smashing it. 😎 🏆

[@alicedeacon6255]

Was totally rooting for Anna right from the start, I knew she'd smash it 💪

[@ivylovesrunning]

I love seeing the heart rate challenge. Was it just a watch or chest band amd watch pairing? Congratulations Anna!

[@runningchannel]

Chest band and watch pairing 🙂

[@gwilymeades]

I really enjoyed that!

[@susanheneghan5879]

Great to see Rick back.

[@christopherbrand5360]

Nobody going under?!?! That is so funny, what a competitive bunch :)

[@gretchenw2613]

This was an awesome challenge.

[@eddiegaul1903]

Fun video. Definitely an interesting challenge. My heart rate monitor occasionally goes wonky, where it'll put me way over max once in a while. So you really have to rely upon the accuracy of it. But definitely a fun challenge.

[@carlospagos89]

great challenge idea!!

[@Dilja0001]

Loved the videoographer clip 😅👏🏼

[@bzat2024]

👍😂😂great group …great challenge :-) hilarious

[@summerphilhorenstein2598]

Great challenge idea! I know my current run goals of trying to stay in zone 2 is way tougher than I expected haha. I wonder if trying zone 5 is more difficult or less.

[@summerphilhorenstein2598]

Or zone 4 rather

[@ians3983]

Great video guys

[@doc5avage]

Zone 4 for me is absolutely brutal. If my HR is above 160 bpm, I’m in pain and no chance of talking. I’m 39 and my resting HR is 41-43

[@TheSlickpt]

What's you max hr? I'm betting 160 is pushing zone 5 for you based on your description of perceived exertion

[@doc5avage]

@@TheSlickpt I have seen it get to 180 on hills and high 170s in swimming races

[@twold4this]

That was good! There used to be a lovely shop near me. Sold only meat pies and pasties, both delicious and both made on the premises. They opened at 7.30am and closed when they had sold all of their wares... 11am or so. Their memorable advertising slogan? "everyone a winner, everyone a dinner!" Well done Anna! (nearly forgot, well played on finishing the Boston Marathon) Great stuff! Rick in full "It's a Knockout" commentary mode 👍

[@dresden_slowjog]

Great to watch. Not gonna spoiler here but I enjoyed the result! I regularly lock zone 2 (me: 122-141 BPM) on 80 per cent of my weekly runs to keep my easy runs really easy. Particularly helpful in summer heat, uphill or in headwind. Then my POLAR watch vibrates as I drift outside zone 2.

[@runningchannel]

Do you find by staying at that level, you can run longer distances?

[@dresden_slowjog]

@@runningchannel Yes, firstly I feel much fresher and injury-free after my run and thus happy and can run a higher weekly mileage. Secondly, as soon as my watch" slows me down" back to Zone 2 I check my stance, "stand nice and tall" (JamesDunne(TM)) running form, breathing, minimal lateral movement, cadence, etc. so I will automatically make it good habit. Instead of sprinting in Zone 3/4 but neglecting my form and crashing onto the couch half-dead.

[@claudiopiccoliromera2646]

@@dresden_slowjog Same here!

[@ggman3000]

I think marathon runners definitely have an advantage on this type of challenge as they can tweak there heartrates a lot better than shorter distance runners. Great challenge, good to see Anna win!! Zone 5 challenge would be a completely different story i think.

[@JUNIMAN1994]

Why run at 180+ bpm all the time when all you have to do is run above 150? Don't get it

[@sandyhumissouri5131]

The video game sounds! Brilliant!

[@sandyhumissouri5131]

Funniest thing ever!

[@eviehawke]

this is a great challenge! well done, winner! (don't want to give it away) 😄

[@dilciaalvarezcrespo]

Congratulations Anna

[@vrobsa2698]

Way to go Anna! Love u girl!

[@carljones1498]

The difference between marathon training runners and the rest 🤩🔥

[@Baureo]

surprisingly nobody dropped out of their zone, but everybody was borderlining the upper threshold unnecessarily.

[@sarahwhittaker6965]

That looked like great fun 😄

[@runningchannel]

It was a lot of fun. Everyone was on top form that day.

[@bailiemer]

I really enjoyed the video! Although when I train monitoring heart rate (usually for zone 2) I know I'm in for an rage-fuelled session 🤣After an hour of beeps telling me my heart rate is off in some way or another, I can see the anger increase my bpms in real time. If you see someone running very slowly while yelling at their watch, that's me... (at least I know that if I can yell, I'm clearly in zones 1 or 2)

[@kylerobbins4794]

Rick's commentary is gold.

[@livewire1957239]

Really fun video! Curious how you determined the max heart rate for everyone - I’ve read that the ol’ 220 minus your age formula is really only a rough estimate: everyone is unique so for a really fair challenge everyone should get their max heart rate measured in a lab! 😄 Keep up the quality content! 👍

[@kierenkd]

Probably a ramp test or a 5K time trial

[@mattpotter8725]

I bet they've all had a test in the lab, it would be the only fair way to do this.

[@JonnyRunning]

fun challenges on this channel!

[@jenniferbraun2654]

Way to kick ass Anna!!!! Woohoo 🎉

[@bakerhalI]

When Rick is able to run again he should do all the challenges you guys have done since he's been out. I think it's only fair. In the interest of time, you could combine some of them... for example, Rick could run to heart rate while Sarah, in a massive SUV, chases him down. I'd love to watch that series... or even just spots in the monthly shows.

[@danieldunstone6128]

this is exact session i did as teen where on my long solo runs kept above 150 and then same for my 60m spin sessions and still do these exact sessions great for developing good aerobic capacity and to see on runs my time dropping while hr is the same 150s. but since i have a very low hr 30 rhr it can take 5mins on spin bike just to get hr above 100 and up to 10minuites before im up to 150

[@jmsanderson]

Confuses me why they didn't slow down when the heart rate moves up!

[@paultopham8626]

How difficult is it to run slower and anticipate cardiac drift? 😀

[@liamroche1473]

I was inspired by this in my run today and Garmin told me my VO2 max had gone up 1 point! Unfortunately the fact that my HR never got above 146 means no points for me in your challenge. :D

[@SimonWilliamsTutor]

I'm 43 and according to my Forerunner 45 my Zone 4 is 142 - 160bpm, which seems rather low! I'm going to give this a go though - how long did Anna run for by the way?

[@jennifermcbroom8471]

Way to go Anna!!

[@youngy76]

What a cool game. Im doing the Ironman 70.3 Stafford in 8 weeks time. Can you do a vid on endurance for heavy runners. Im 230lbs at the moment

[@ptlewis2000]

I don't mind the close up one bit. Is that ok to say?

[@Divedown_25]

Great challenge. Need to find my Garmin and Polar… and my runners

[@runningchannel]

You should! It was a lot of fun.

[@futebolefernando]

The watch icon on the bottom left side. Is it an editor trick or there is a way to remotely monitor the watch stats?

[@pennnnny]

Anna, did you film the marathon? Im SO KEEN to see it!!! :)

[@runningchannel]

There might be a video in the works.....🤔

[@mjuk1984]

I am an avid user of HR training (rather than pace) so this was a great challenge to see. I'm interested to know why there was so much difference in the Zone 4 range between the runners? My Zone 4 range is near Anna's at 150-168.

[@kierenkd]

HRR uses your resting heart rate which perhaps varies between the group. If you are untrained, its also easier to reach a higher max in a ramp test.

[@jamesmoore4023]

Hello from Cayman! Running while filming would be a challenge for me! Maybe we should all choose a day to run and film and make a worldwide compilation.

[@runningchannel]

The guys have to put in weeks of training, including intensive bicep workouts to ensure they are in peak condition for running and filming! 😂😂😂😂

[@aleksandarp3388]

Sarah? Speechless? What happened? 🤣

[@xrisc131]

What fun!

[@stephenb7098]

Could be a good to do this again but on a trail to make maintaining HR harder

[@cathywiser6911]

Definitely would like to give it a go, think I'll be walking though

[@runningchannel]

Let us know how you get on with it Cathy.

[@MrVaeron]

Really think about switching to HR Training as well. Pacing is so difficult at my place. Lots of small hills make it really hard to keep up the pace without going deep into Zone 5.