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Training Status: Unproductive!

April 25, 2022 Leave a Comment

I absolutely love my Garmin Fenix 6S! It collects so much data and turns that into information about how training is going. I have been trying to take this information and make sense of it so that I can improve my running. Recently, I have started to pay attention to the training status that Garmin displays at the end of my run. Usually, it lets me know that the status is either “maintaining” (yellow) or “productive” (green).

Garmin training status graph
My Training Status from Garmin

Both of these ratings seem acceptable to me being that I am just building a base at this point, but then I got this display of info at the end of my run on Wednesday (orange above).

Unproductive training status on Garmin watch

I was a little bit annoyed by this! I am trying to build a running base so that I can start marathon training so every run, in my opinion, counts! As in…, they are all productive! Garmin and I apparently have different definitions for productivity.

Garmin’s explanation is that my runs are all “high aerobic” meaning that they are all high intensity and that I need to add “low aerobic” activity like easy runs. I feel like my runs are super easy! I could continue to run after I am done most days, but I am trying to stick to a specific program and not overdo it. Still yet, after receiving that unproductive status, I ran slower on the next day’s run. A whole minute slower, and I still received an unproductive training status.

Instead of trying to understand the reasoning behind this, I decided that I would run how I felt on Saturday (my Mom would call me “stubborn” ha!) and it was not a slow easy run. In fact, it was probably one of the fastest (higher intensity) runs that I have done in this training cycle. Garmin bumped up my training status to maintaining from unproductive. Hmmm…was the fact that I was off on Friday have something to do with that. Maybe I was recovered? It’s all so confusing.

According to Garmin, the training status feature lets you know how your training affects your fitness level and performance which can change based on your overall training load and V02 max. Below are the training states that can be assigned.

Garmin training status states
Garmin Training Status States

Training load lets you know whether you are have gained or lost fitness over the past week. As the graph above shows, my training load was falling out of the green zone as the week progressed which lets me know that my fitness is decreasing. Once I took a day off, I had a more effective training load.

Being that my VO2 max has stayed relatively stable (see graph above) I feel like my main problem is recovery. It’s hard to improve fitness if you are not recovering well. There are many symptoms that you may experience in this state such as fatigue, irritability, heavy legs, &, etc… But even when you are not picking up on these signs, looking at the relationship between heart rate and pace can give some feedback about training status and recovery.

On the first unproductive day, my heart rate zones were way less than ideal. I should be running mostly in zone 2 or 3. Keep in mind that I run a lot of hills (just part of my route) but even though my heart rate may increase going up these hills, it is never in Zone 5. My pace on that day was about 30 seconds per mile slower so you would expect that I would be running more in the lower zones. Looking back on that day, I realized I was feeling a bit fatigued and not as excited about running as I usually am. Most days I can’t wait to get out for my run! And the second graph was from the following day when I ran at a much slower pace but the heart rate was still a bit high relative to how slow I was running.

Heart Rate Zones 1-5

Garmin also displays how long I need to recover after the run. On the first unproductive day, it stated that 36 hours were needed. I had a short 2-mile run scheduled the next day so I just ignored that little bit of advice and ran about 24 hours later. That obviously did not help my case.

Now that I have looked into this a little more and have a little better understanding, I can use this information to make better decisions on the run for the day. I don’t think that all of my runs need to be run at a super slow pace but I do need to include some easier runs. Maybe I should actually drive to an area without so many hills so that not all of my runs are of such high intensity, and so that I am not beating myself up so much. I could do that for about a week just for comparison? Maybe..?

Running and Strengthening

  • Monday Walk 2 miles + Postural Exercises
  • Tuesday Run 2 miles + Light Strengthening Exercises
  • Wednesday Run 3 miles + Postural Exercises
  • Thursday Run 2 miles
  • Friday Strengthening Exercises
  • Saturday Run 4.5 miles
  • Sunday Easy Hike 2.2 miles

Given the data that I have looked at this week, maybe I should be taking a full rest day during the week.

Week 6 of Hal Higdon’s Novice Supreme Marathon Training is completed. Next week is a down week with no increase in miles and then the following week I finally get to move up to 5 miles for the “long-run”.

I decided to take a little hike up Flat Top Mountain Trail on Sunday instead of the 30-minute walk that was scheduled. It was a super easy hike (zone 1 and 2) and I did not go all the way to the top. The mountain is still pretty much completely snow-covered and the area had some awesome views.

Flat Top Mountain

Para-gliders coming off of the mountain.

Paragliders off of Flat Top Mountain

Plus, on Monday I took a short walk on the Eagle River Nature Center Trails and discovered that the swans have arrived.

Swans at the Eagle River Nature Center viewing deck

And finally, we have had some pretty awesome sunsets…

Alaska sunsets

So right when I was finishing up this blog, I got this notification on my Garmin. This is so funny to me!!

Garmin recovery time display

Guess I am good to go for my run tomorrow!

Until next time…

Happy Running!

It Is What It IS sign

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Sharing the challenges that I face while training for marathons in my 60s! I'm determined to reach these goals while also meeting life's demands and spending time with my awesome and very supportive family! Read More…

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Oh these hills!! I have advanced on my run/walk cy Oh these hills!! I have advanced on my run/walk cycles to a 4:1 ratio and my 4 min runs were up the hills!! Good training right? Swipe to see what happens every single time I put my mat down to do my exercises.  #ilovetorun❤️ #runalaska #runnersover60  #hillrunningishard #runningpartnerneedsarest
The wind died down today so we took a nice little The wind died down today so we took a nice little snow shoe up the mountain. The scenery was beautiful, just hard to capture it.  #snowshoeingadventures #snowshoealaska  #chugachmountains  #crosstraining #opt outside alaska
It’s been hard to get anything done or even thin It’s been hard to get anything done or even think about running with all that is happening in the world🥲 but I managed to get down my icy driveway to run on the dry roads. Super windy!!! I had a really hard time on the hills  against that wind. But I got it done and I increased my run/walk to a 4:1 ratio x 7 so I am happy about that. #runnersofalaska #runalaska #runwalkrun #runnersover60 #ilovetorun #buildingarunningbase #windyalaska #crazywinterweather
Sonja - @nurse_sonja_ak - and I had planned to cel Sonja - @nurse_sonja_ak - and I had planned to celebrate in memory of my Mother on her birthday but I had minor surgery that left me down and out longer than I had expected and Sonja ended up positive for Covid. But, despite that look what she did! She is so talented and creative. She remembered Mom as someone who was always stylish. She took pride in her appearance. A specific memory inspired Sonja to make these beautiful clay earrings! How special is that? My Mother would have loved these. #inmemory #rememberingyouonyourbirthday  #neverforgetyou  #bestdaughterintheworld❤️ #talenteddaughter❤️ #clayearrings #madespeciallyformom  #thelittlethings❤️
I’m obsessed with the sun finally clearing the m I’m obsessed with the sun finally clearing the mountains. Haha sunshine during my run is so nice. It wasn’t that bright today but it’s still shining ❤️#sunnydaysarehereagain #runningonsunshine #run #runnersover60 #runak #optoutside
My running views have just been awesome. I am inc My running views have just been awesome.  I am increasing my running time 3:1 this week. Keeping my fingers crossed that it goes well🤞 #runwalkrunrepeat #runnersover60 #backtorunning #buildingarunningbase #myrunningviews #runak #kneeosteoarthritis
Running with knee OA is interesting. Take yesterd Running with knee OA is interesting.  Take yesterday, my knees were bothering me a little, to the point that I wasn’t sure if I should run. But, I thought… give it a try, see how it goes. I can always just walk. And it went great! I even added an extra run/walk cycle to the program. And today I have absolutely no knee pain. I’m even running up and down stairs (when I need to go up them) trying to create some pain (I know sicko) but nothing??? Go figure! Nothing has changed. But hey, I’ll take it! #runningwithosteoarthritis #kneearthritis #runnersover60 #runwalkrun #kneepain #nokneepaintoday
Yay, the sun was briefly above the mountain for th Yay, the sun was briefly above the mountain for the first time since November! We will be gaining about 37 minutes of daylight this week! It’s the little things 😂  It was a beautiful Alaskan day but it was very cold!  I took a rest day today.  #restdayforrunners  #runnersover60 #olderwomenrunners #runak #winterwonderlandalaska #winterwonderland #readyforspringtime #optoutsideak
I wasn’t feeling like getting out today but my h I wasn’t feeling like getting out today but my hubby convinced me to go out for a ski. I did need to get in some cross-training so off we went. It actually was really nice to get out. Isn’t that usually the case?  #skiak #skieagleriver #crosstraining #optoutside #getoutside  #getfit #winterwinderland❄️
My running views today. I think I am finally settl My running views today. I think I am finally settling in to being back home and appreciating the beauty of the state. Don’t get me wrong though, I would be in a flight back to HawIi given the chance!! #runak #myrunningviews #buildingarunningbase #backtorunningagain #runwalkrun #winterwonderland #chimarathon2022
I’m not sure that I should go on vacation especi I’m not sure that I should go on vacation especially if I am going to have such a hard time adjusting back to the cold!  I’m beginning to believe that the cold and dark is not good for my health. It was soooo nice in Hawaii!! I’m still getting out for my runs and bike rides but I have been slow to get back to the exercises and stretching.  I’ll get there! #backtothecoldweather #runak #buildingarunningbase #crosstraining🚴#winterbiking🚴❄️ #fattirebiking #runnersover60  #keeponkeepingon🏃‍♀️
We are back to snow and ice. While we were away th We are back to snow and ice. While we were away the temps warmed up to in the 40s causing everything to melt just so it can freeze over once the temp drops!! Please send me back to #mauisun . We did get out for a bike ride today so it wasn’t too bad I guess. The new snow made conditions a little tolerable.  #winterinalaska #snowandice #fattirebiking #winterbiking #ilovemyfattirebike #ilovetorun #running2run #getfitalaska #optoutside
Hawaii Vacation Hawaii Vacation
Another awesome day in Hawaii with @nurse_sonja_ak Another awesome day in Hawaii with @nurse_sonja_ak  and fam! #vacaywithfamily  #familytimeisthebesttime💕  #hawaiiansunsetsnevergetold
Fun day at the beach! Even found a boardwalk to ge Fun day at the beach! Even found a boardwalk to get my run in. #familyfun❤️❤️ #spendingtimewithfamily❤️ #familyiseverything
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