My name is Peter Paterson. I’m a 51 year old man, with a full time day job and an interest in keeping fit, healthy and enjoying life. I like to cycle and run when I can. I developed an interest in Zone 2 training in early 2022 when I started training for a multi day endurance cycling event.
Having never having cycled two days in a row. I went on to complete a 1500 km cycle in 142 hours. I put my success in completing the event down to the Zone 2 training. More importantly I learned so much about training. Much of it was counterintuitive and contrary to most of what I’d been told in the last 30 years.
This website as a way of sharing my new found knowledge. As I continue to attempt to improve my fitness, speed, endurance and overall health using Zone 2 training.
The New Year often brings a wave of motivation to set ambitious fitness goals, and while goals can be a powerful tool, they’re not the ultimate prize. What really matters is consistency. Showing up for your training week after week is the secret sauce that leads to improved health, fitness, and longevity. Goals serve as… Read more: Zone 2 Goals for the New Year: Consistency is Key
Starting a fitness journey can feel daunting, especially if you’re new to structured exercise. I remember how overwhelmed I felt the first time I walked into a gym, unsure of where to start or whether I’d be able to stick with it. That’s why I’ve found Zone 2 training so transformative—it’s simple, approachable, and sustainable… Read more: From Couch to Endurance: A Beginner’s Guide to Zone 2 Training
The 8:15pm start wasn’t ideal. I would’ve preferred starting earlier to avoid riding all night when visibility is limited. But leaving in waves with hundreds of riders was cool – we could draft off each other to maintain pace. Spectators cheering loudly as we departed Rambouillet pumped me up. The gentle roads initially spread out… Read more: My Epic Journey. Conquering the Paris Brest Paris Audax
My July Zone 2 project metrics show a big decrease in volume at about 50% of volume in May and June. This is in part due to me having no more qualifiers for my big event in August. And having a break where I mostly ran and hiked rather than doing big cycling miles. My… Read more: July Progress, a change is as good as a rest
My June Zone 2 project metrics show continued high volume with an almost exclusive focus on low intensity work. My Vo2Max hasn’t improved but my fat oxidation seems to have improved a lot. You can find details on my latest Vo2Max test and DEXA scan here. You can also find more information on training plan here,… Read more: June progress, improved aerobic capacity and fat oxidation
I woke up early on the morning of my cycling adventure, feeling excited and nervous. I had trained hard for months, and I was finally ready to put my skills to the test. I had a big bowl of pasta the night before, and for breakfast, I had my new favorite pre-ride meal: two fried… Read more: The unexpected adventure on The Fifth Continent 300Km Audax
I decided to do a maximum heart rate test today. The main reason was that I had set my maximum heart rate at 191 beats per minute a few years ago. Whilst that was accurate at the time, the highest I’ve seen my heart rate is 178 bpm in the last year or so. I’m… Read more: How I did a Max Heart Rate Test
I took a VO2Max test and DEXA scan recently and compared to my results from the same tests 6 moths ago. The tests give me an overall view of how my fitness and body composition has changed over the 6 months and to check that my progress is on track. My previous results can be… Read more: Vo2Max test and DEXA scan. Fitness and weight benchmarking
My May Zone 2 project metrics show a step change in volume. You can find the details of my training plan here, my goals and metrics here. May was a big increase in volume, which is expected to continue through June. Vo2Max and strength has remained consistent, due to me not giving them the focus… Read more: May progress, a step up in volume
I woke up early for the Wander Wye 600km Audax, my biggest ride this year. I ate my standard pre-ride breakfast of two fried eggs and a bagel (500 calories), along with oatmeal and coffee for an extra 250 calories. I felt fueled up for the challenge ahead. The first 60km to Henley-on-Thames were fairly… Read more: What I Learned Preparing for Paris-Brest-Paris on a 600Km Audax
