Is cardio load more important than zone minutes?

[LindaMtl]

For the past 5 years I have almost always managed to achieve or exceed my goal of 75 daily zone minutes and my cardio score is excellent for my age (I'm 69).  Meeting cardio load targets on the other hand has been challenging, simply because the timing does not fit with my schedule. As a result I get notices of under or over training on a regular basis. Not exactly a morale-booster. I've played with the cardio load goal, but regardless of how I set it, it still does not fit my life. My questions. 1_Is cardio load of value only to those whose life revolves around training (such as athletes)? 2_Is cardio load more important than zone minutes in ensuring cardio health? 3_If you are having trouble with cardio load, how are you maintaining or improving cardio health? FYI, my workout schedule consists of strength, cardio, balance and mobility sessions...2 to 4 times per week for each. Thanks.

[lalan45]

Cardio load suits athletes more, which is why it feels off. Zone minutes are the better indicator for general heart health, and your routine already supports that well.

[YachatsMike · Accepted solution]

Zone Minutes is an objective measure of exercise intensity.  I judge the value of my exercise session by how many zone minutes I generate.  I use HHS guidelines and my exercise history to tell me if I am getting enough exercise in a session or a week.  I have session and weekly goals for Zone Minutes that I try to meet every week.

Cardio Load is advice.  It looks at your history and your current performance to set a daily target range to strive for to either maintain your current fitness or improve.  It's coaching to help you avoid two exercise errors -- under-training or over-training.  It's not really meant to be an objective  measure of fitness, it's a meant  to be a guide to  help you set your daily exercise goals to meet your personal goals.

I take Cardio Load with a grain of salt.  The targets it sets don't seem to take into account rest days very well.  I think it will be more valuable when they switch to weekly targets instead of daily targets.

[LindaMtl]

Thank you for confirming what I suspected. 

[LindaMtl]

That makes so much sense. Thank you.