In this two-part episode, I break down why I feel heart rate training is overrated, and why focusing on RPE combined with pace or power leads to better training and racing decisions. We’ll cover why heart rate data can be misleading, how elite athletes actually train, and where heart rate does provide real value for long-term progress and recovery.

In Part 2, I talk about practical winter running advice, sharing simple strategies to reduce injury risk when conditions are crap, from treadmill use and pacing adjustments to warm-ups, footwear, and smarter decision-making.