07/10/2026
HOW TO FIND YOUR ZONE 2
Zone 2 is supposed to feel relatively easy.
That’s where people often get it wrong.
I see a lot of casual runners head out for a run and automatically assume they’re supposed to be huffing and puffing.
So they end up running above Zone 2 for no particular reason.
There’s nothing wrong with training harder, when training harder is the purpose of the session.
But if the goal is easy aerobic work, turning every run into a moderately hard effort doesn’t make it better.
So how do you find Zone 2?
A heart-rate monitor is useful. As a rough starting point, Zone 2 is often estimated at around 60–70% of maximum heart rate.
But don’t obsess over the number.
Use the talk test.
You should be breathing harder than you are at rest, but still able to speak in complete sentences. The effort should feel controlled and sustainable.
Think around 3–4/10 effort.
If running pushes you above that, slow down. Walk for a bit if you need to. There’s no rule saying that because you went out for a run, you have to run continuously.
Walking uphill, cycling, rowing, jogging or using a SkiErg can all do the job.
Have a reason for the intensity you’re training at.
Don’t just go harder because exercise feels like it’s supposed to be hard.