Originally Posted by
terrymorse
So what's everyone's opinion about zone 3?
If you do a google search, you'll see it called the "grey zone" or the "mediocre middle". Not much love for zone 3 from the coaches.
The argument against zone 3 seems to be that it's not hard enough as zone 4 to elicit adaptation, but it is more fatiguing than zone 2.
I tend to do a fair amount of zone 3 on long climbing days, and it seems to improve my muscular endurance and the ability to spend more time just below my threshold.
On a weekly basis, I'm doing roughly equal amounts of zones 2 and 3. I figure that's decent training. Change my mind?
Just redefine your Zone 2 so it's really wide, spend almost all your time in Zone 2, and avoid talking specifics with the Zone Nazis.