Travel day, so did nothing but drive to work and perform gluttony to replenish used up fuels.
On another note, coach noticed a red flag with my HRV measurements. The LF/HF ratio should be below 2.0, but mine has been hanging way above that at 8.0 for the past 4 measurements. The thing is, I never had a ratio anywhere near 2.0 in the history of HRV testing. My low frequency (LF) power reading fluctuates according to the workout intensity and volume as it should since it is the sympathetic branch of my nervous system, activating fight or flight. My high frequency (HF) power reading, which relates to the parasympathetic branch of the nervous system that activates rest and digest, has consistently been low, hovering between 500 and 1,500 with occasional blips above 2,000. Despite the blips, LF/HF ratio never nears 2.0, let alone the balanced holy grail of 1.0. So what this data suggests is that with my high LF I’m always on edge, ready to fly, and my body is not recovering well enough as my HF is consistently low. Hence my inability to improve, so to say.
Alright, going into a rabbit hole with this one now…
Question: Why are my High Frequency (HF) power readings consistently low?
Near History, First Picture: June/July 2015 – January 2016
Looking at Sweetbeat Power Frequencies Over Time, HF has occasionally peeked above 2,000 since the start of marathon training back in June/July to October 2015. Most HF in the 500-1,500 range with infrequent spikes above 2,000.
Total History, Second Picture: June/July 2015 – January 2016
Looking at total history, HF consistently below 2,000, but LF increasing over time.
So what does that say about me?
Off-Season, Second Picture after Oct 27
Even after my marathon in October 2015 when I was in my off-season with infrequent workouts just to keep current, HF is below 2,000 with LF edging higher compared to when I was marathon training between June and October. Work was a bit more stressful then than now, but nothing debilitating.
Previous tests have been in bed right after waking up, but the last few HRV tests have been at my office. I’ll return to testing right after waking to compare apples to apples.
I don’t think I’m stressed out. I’m not a worrier. I konk out worry-free minutes after my head touches the pillow and can sleep through kids screaming. My only explanation short of technical issues is that, despite having good sleep and waking up quite fresh, I do wake with a stiff thoracic back with dull pain if I sleep longer than 6-7 hours. But that pain disappears within half an hour once I start moving around getting my back mobile. And it has been improving with strength training. Or try another HRM?
Assuming technical aspects are not an issue, I’m going to focus on relaxing and recovering if that’s what it takes to improve. How to get even more relaxed? I’ll get a massage then take this test to see how I respond. And really let things go and be present as much as I can. But I really don’t know how else to relax some more.
Diet-wise, I was requested by coach to use MyFitnessPal to monitor what I ate for the past week on MyFitnessPal. Is it too low carb/low calorie? I’ve been more satiated this past week than before, but that has translated to better energy and concentration at work. Eating too much last week, perhaps?
Or can we just say that this is simply how I’m built? Or perhaps there is something physiological, though my normal set point feeling now seems perfectly fine. Resting HR is stable below 60 which is the best I’ve seen. Overall, I can’t complain about life. Enjoying the training, enjoying work, enjoying life.
theRUNS.net 