Absolute Beginners running

Took a bit of time out after the half marathon, climbed snowdon though. Back on it again now and got my 5k down to 21 minutes and my 10k down to 44. Think I need to back off a bit now though and concentrate on distance as I've entered the Stafford half marathon in March

Anyone got any tips for running in the cold? Tonight my breathing was quite laboured and my throat is a little sore, it's also hard to work out what to wear because a slight change in pace seems to equal a huge change in temperature. Currently wearing long sleeve cycling tops so I can open the zip if too warm and roll up the sleeves.

EDIT: I also got a HRM strap, but I think my heart defect is making it play up. Its fine at rest but when I start to run I hit about 175bpm within the first few minutes then stay between 170 and 180 all run. For my age thats pretty much the maximum I should be able to go and there is no way its sustainable, so it must be reading wrong.

 

I don't think your heart rate is massive high. I hit about 160 max, OH averaged 170 on his 7 miler at the weekend.

Are you wearing it on your breastbone? Should be below the nipples!

 

Interesting, my garmin app insists I'm running in zone 5 for 95% of my run which shouldn't be possible on a 10k? Yeah, it's just below the nipples. I have an issue where my heart is not in the right place, which throws off ECGs quite badly so was wondering if that was an issue. That said tonights 10k averaged 171 so maybe it's not that bad? I was told my max is meant to be 220 - my age so in theory my max is 177 but I exceed that quite often albeit only by a little.

I suppose there are no spikes, it's all very constant, so maybe I should just go with it. Interesting to see tonight was my first time without my left knee support and I've gone from favouring my left slightly to my right. You get loads of extra data with the strap!

 

You've got the detailed strap then, I've just got the bog standard one I got with my Edge.

Here's my data from the last time I properly pushed it. It takes me a while to get my heart rate up though.

 

OK, that makes me feel better. Its just so different to what I got with a wrist based monitor, but if yours paints a similar picture I'll trust it.

These are from last night:

 

I have a Garmin watch and have stopped using the wrist based monitor for exercise. It is fine for day to day, but the monitoring can't be as good and forums are littered with people's complaints.