ridecamp@endurance.net: Re: Speed in hilly terrain/ training question

Re: Speed in hilly terrain/ training question

Tivers (Tivers@aol.com)
Thu, 30 Oct 1997 17:35:28 EST

In a message dated 97-10-30 07:13:12 EST, fmechelh@c-s-k.de writes:

<< I have a long hill here where I use to galopp, exactly 1500m long and
100m altitude difference total. If a horse is capable to go this hill in
3:06, what would it be on flat terrain ?
I do this "measuring hill" not regulary, ca.every 2 weeks, at some of
our fun or fartlek-type rides (8 mls), with trot, canter and some walk
breaks (depending on the terrain). Overall speed is 6-8 mph.
The horse is 4 1/2 yrs. young, 700 miles ridden totally, in 1 yr.
I'm a little bit afraid to let her run on flat terrain, or too fast,
because I think she *is* fast and want to avoid any injury. She acts
professional, has fun at speed, no problems to rate her, no need to
drive her up. On the 3:06 she wasn't blowing much afterwards, and I
estimate her heartrate was about 180.
She is not big (15.2) but quite sturdy and good musculed. no real fat.
has to carry 200pds rider & saddle weight. I feel some speed work would
be good for her, because she's no "slim runner type".
Everything here is hilly, there is no flat "test" course, and it would
be difficult to join together some hills of this length. Maybe her
max.speed could be 2:20 on this hill, but I have no experience here.
Should I continue ? What do you think ?

Frank
>>
2:20 is really cooking for a hill. I've gone faster than that, but only for
short (300m) distances--multiples, though, 4-5 shots up the hill in a workout.
Yours is a very long hill and my gues is that if you galloped the same speed
on the flat, you'd be working at a heartrate somewhere around 145--so you are
right on the edge of getting some real cardiovascular work done.

BUT! You have to be careful zeroing in on what level of work gives benefit
while avoiding injury or exercise intolerance. I'd say you're approaching the
threshold and that you'd best tread cautiously as you progressively load the
work. If you get up around 200 working heartrate, that's about as far as I
would go. If you can't go fast enough to get that working heartrate, then
don't press your luck.

Also, the faster you go, consider breaking the speed work into shorter heats
with partial recovery between. A recovery heartrate (taken at the plateau that
occurs 60-90 sconds after a heat) above 125 is an indicator that you've
probably done enough. A recovery of under 100 indicates that you've done
nothing. Still, if that is the case, continue to bring on the work very
gradually.

ti

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