I have Discovered Something. Bugged about my test still, I remembered that no matter how fast or slow I breathed, the oxygen uptake did not change and the RER did not improve. In fact, the only thing that determined my oxygen use was heart rate. When it went up, the O2 use went up. So I decided to run a progressive treadmill (start at 9.1, .1 increase per minute) and try to up heart rate the whole time. I concentrated on my heart and the place in my brain that lights up when my heart rate increases and pushed. Hard. Before I knew it I was at 20 minutes (11.1) but still breathing 2 in 3 out! 22, 24, 25 - usually I really start to feel it here but no problems. 2 in, 2 out, no hard breathing, totally easy. Even minute 29 (11.9) was a nothingburger. I took minute 30 to 13.2 and it was still Easy! (well not easy but not the desperate run it has been in the past) I immediately jumped off the treadmill and grabbed my neck to check heart rate and it was 180! But after 5 beats it fell to 160 right away. Also my heart was very jittery all morning until I sucked energy back out of the place I pushed earlier, then it returned to normal. I can hardly wait to try intervals on Monday :)
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