Athletica scheduled a MAF run. Per the guidance, I should run at 130bpm (I’m 51 years old). However, it programmed my watch to run at 138-158. I ran at 130. Afterwards, the app said my load was too low and I’d failed to reach the target heart rate. Did I fail to add my age to a place that matters? In future, should I run the 138-158 or manually adjust the HR zones?
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Hey 
was it MAF test run?
Please adjust your hear rate zones in your Garmin connect settings so that your Garmin watch mirrors what your zones are set to in Athletica.
Also, highly recommend doing the test week tests 5kTT specifically if your haven’t lately to calibrate your zones.
Best, MJ
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Hi Marjaana - I am doing the test week. Been with Athletica for a while but recalibrating after an injury and down time. The MAF was part of my test week. Question about your recommendation - Garmin was telling me the same as Athletica. However, Althetica was telling me two things. It said 180-age, and if over 50 stay at 130 (“Run as close to 180-age (bpm) for the full 5 miles (8km). Expect pace to slow. To be clear, if you are 50 years or older, run at 130bpm for your HR pace”) but then had me programmed as 138-158 which is what it sent to Garmin. That was the issue. So when I ran at 130, I was told that my load was too low and I hadn’t complied. Since it’s not possible to comply with both instructions, which should I follow?
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Hey,
thanks for the clarification. Yes, you are supposed to target 130 if over 50 years. Is your Critical Pace Heart rate set recently? I assume 5KTT is coming up next 
and that will take care of the Critical Pace HR, and calibrate your training zones.
I would not worry too much about the “load is too load” as the system is calibrating your settings during the test week.
Best, MJ