[tomjakubowski]

What do you normally do to get to a 155 bpm heart rate? Not an expert but when I've done HIIT workouts, they've always started with a mild warm up to elevate the heart rate. Maybe you'd benefit from something more strenuous to start.

[swader999]

Sprint up hill or grab onto straps and try repeated jumps into the air from a deep squat. Try adding a weighted vest if this isn't enough. If that doesn't work you should join the Navy Seals.

[tomjakubowski]

Thanks, however I have no issue getting my outta shape heart to 155 bpm! Was wondering if OP needed a stronger warmup to get their heart rate in the "target zone" for the HIIT work.

[johnohara]

Continuous fartlek style running will get you to 155+ bpm. Back off the pace to actively recover to 120 bpm, then go after it again.

Problem is, you need to be fit to do this right, reducing the risk of injury. Always preferred fartlek to repeat intervals on the track. Both have their place however.

[hluska]

If anyone is new to fartleks, it’s a Swedish word that means ‘speed play’. They’re an excellent tool for training.

Maybe be careful the first few times you type that on a phone - my poor running coach got a lot of text messages about ‘fart leaks’ when I was trying to report on my training. They are not the same.

Edit - If you’d like to try one, Mona fartleks are pretty well known.

https://www.runnerstribe.com/features/the-mona-fartlek-a-cla...

[tomjakubowski]

Oh yes, I remember giggling at Fartlek in high school.

[johnohara]

Few terms are more perfectly suited to the high school mind.

[Swizec]

2 hours of running at 4:45/km keeps your heart rate nice and high.

When I ran a marathon in 3:24:xx my average heart rate was 170bpm.