The Heart Rate Guidebook to Heart Zone Training (Paperback)

~ Sally Edwards (Author) "Physical activity is one of life's most individual pursuits..." (more)
Key Phrases: Healthy Heart, Adaptation Explanation Information, American College of Sports Medicine (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...contains information that will enable you to maximizethe performance of your heart rate monitor and your exercise program..." -- Neil Craig

"[This book] is the most complete aid yet to assist getting full value from heart rate technology." -- Mike Nunan

Product Description

This is the leading edge resource for anyone wanting to take that next step by learning advanced information on heart rate based monitoring and measurement. It focuses on the bodies physiology during exercise as well as how it recovers, implementing heart rate technology into all aspects of training. This book is geared toward the fitness trainers, coaches, and instructors who wish to apply heart zone training to their own programs as well as their clients.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: VeloPress; 4th printing edition (June 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0970013027
• ISBN-13: 978-0970013026
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #596,486 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not just a cookbook - sells HRM use, provides background..., March 22, 2003

By	George Silver "A Reader in ..." (Belfast, ME USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

on heartrate monitoring, the monitors themselves, and on principles of training. Also suggests submaximal and maximal tests to determine maximum heartrate and provides suggestions about putting together training programs for everyone from those seeking weight loss to those who are competitive athletes.

The first five chapters present basic heart zone training principles and also outline some useful tests of max heart rate. This section presents a mainstream understanding of heartzones and the training effects of different intensity levels. The percentages used to define the various zones are "simple" percentages rather than percentages based on the difference between resting heart rate and max heart rate--the Karvonen method. This section is somewhat repetitious, but the occasional organizational lapses didn't get in the way of my understanding the material.

In the next few chapters, Edwards treats the zones one at a time, explaining the usefulness of training in each zone. As someone interested in high performance, she pays good attention to the highest zones, but stresses the dangers of overtraining and suggests ways of avoiding it. Unlike authors such as Maffetone ("The Maffetone Method") who recommends more time in lower zones she recommends Zone 3 (70-80%) as the best all-round zone, the one that gives you "the most bang for your buck."

Other important parts of the book are the "Ten Step Program"--designed to help you create your own training programs using a point system of Edward's own, a weight loss training plan, a chapter for highly competitive athletes, and even a chapter on "Sex and the Heart Zones." All of these are useful or interesting, although none of them are outstanding for their organization or the clarity of the details.

Throughout the book, there is a need for more careful editing and typo checking. There is also no index.

All in all this is a B+ effort in a field of books that's not distinguished by first-class writing, organization, or editing.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent heart rate monitoring book, February 23, 2002

By A Customer

As a 40 something physician/triathlete/marathoner I found this book to be full of common sense advice, very informative and an easy read. I had used a heart rate monitor for about 6 months before I read this book and feel I have a much better understanding of how to get the most out of my monitor and train smarter rather than harder. This is an excellent book not only for the competitive athlete but for anyone interested in fitness. After reading the book I'm not sure it would be necessary to attend Sally Edwards' well known weekend seminars given around the country.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Heart Rate Guidebook to Heart Zone Training, June 7, 2002

By A Customer

I LOVED this book! I have been competing in Triathlon and running for 4 years and have read quite a few books on Heart Rate training. I have always had a hard time understanding heart rate training completely. This is the first book that put everything simply, and is for the person who is just starting an excercise program to elite competitive athletes. I'm very impressed, totally psyched to start my own Heart Zone training program. I started reading this book and couldn't put it down. Before I was finished, I had to order 2 more copies for friends. If you are interested in learning about training with a Heart Rate monitor, this is the book for you!