ZONE 2 EXPLAINED
Why Zone 2 boundaries differ between running apps
“Zone 2” is a label within a zone system. To compare it meaningfully, compare the system and its inputs first.
A label needs a definition
Two apps may divide heart-rate intensity differently, use different profile values or allow custom boundaries. The label alone does not tell you which method produced the range. A zone based on a percentage is also not automatically an individually measured physiological threshold.
Start with the displayed method, maximum heart rate, resting heart rate where applicable and any custom limits. Check the date of the settings. Comparing only the colored band can hide all four differences.
Follow a 145 bpm example
For illustrative profile values of maximum 190 and resting 50 bpm, Runome's checked default Easy zone begins at 60% of reserve plus rest: 134 bpm. Its next zone begins at 70%: 148 bpm. The displayed inclusive Easy range is therefore 134–147 bpm.
| System | Relevant whole-number ranges | Label for 145 bpm |
|---|---|---|
| Runome reserve-based defaults | Easy: 134–147; Aerobic begins at 148 | Easy, zone 2 |
| Hypothetical five-zone maximum-only system | 60–70% band: 114–132; 70–80% band: 133–151 | The next band, zone 3 |
The hypothetical system is included to show the arithmetic, not to describe a named competitor. The measured value did not change between the rows. Only its classification did.
Do not copy boundaries without their context
A screenshot from another runner leaves out their settings and how those settings were established. Copying the numbers does not make the range appropriate for you. Likewise, matching a watch's zone colors requires matching the actual boundaries, not just renaming the bands.
If a time-in-zone chart changes after settings are edited, check whether the app applies the new definitions to past activities or only future ones. That behavior is product-specific; do not assume every history chart recalculates in the same way.
Use the chart to describe the defined record
In Runome, default zones use the reserve method, while custom boundaries require Club. Keep the profile inputs and the selected definition with your interpretation. A statement such as “12 recorded minutes in my configured Easy range” is clearer than treating a color as a universal training verdict.
The percentage calculation guide explains the underlying formulas. For access decisions, compare Free and Club by task. The arithmetic here does not prescribe how long an individual should train in any zone.