Still thinking strategy
I have limited HR data from past long endurance events to analyze. Before the 2006 Jacksonville Marathon, I used a barebones Polar S150 to track HR data. I could look at average and max HR information, but not in a graphical format like I can with the Garmin Forerunner 305. I am still trying to decide how fast I can go in the Florida 70.3.
I went back and looked at the '06 Jax Marathon, and my average HR was 165 and I kept the HR north of 160 for the entire race, 3:42:00. I know HR max for running and cycling can be very different. I'm wondering if I could maintain a 150. Or maybe do 140 for the first hour or so, see how I'm feeling, and then start ratcheting it up. The other wildcard is my inability to stick to a pre-race strategy once I get caught up in the heat of competition. However, I do want to be very methodical this coming Sunday and race smart.
Weather looks favorable. There is a front coming through and there will be isolated T-storms through Saturday. The high for Sunday is going to be 83. Project for the wind is out of the NE at 15 mph. That might make the first half of the bike challenging, but we'll have a tailwind coming home. Maybe another reason to start at 140 bpm.