019 Metrics Mini Series: Why Heart Rate Sucks for Running (...sometimes)

Be A Badass Every Day Podcast · Jul 30, 2026 · 11m

Kicking off a new mini series on the metrics we lean on for training —

starting with the one everyone loves to argue about: heart rate and running.

In this episode, Coral and Britt break down when heart rate is actually a great tool (hint:

it's not always), and when it's flat-out lying to you. They unpack the “lagging measure”

bit, why heart rate is a solid ceiling on easy days and a real target on sustained hard

efforts, and why it falls apart completely on short intervals and max efforts. Plus: how to

use heart rate alongside RPE and pace instead of picking a favorite, what "decoupling"…