Zone 2 Training for Typing
As I have mentioned on this blog before I am a running hobbyist and thanks to the likes of Youtube and some running blogs, I have learnt quite a bit about running. There is a surprisingly large amount of knowledge required to get somewhat descent at running all the way from effective training plans, what to eat and even how much sleep you should get.
As I wrote in this article, I have also become a little obsessed with keyboards and the role they can play in me becoming a really good/productive software engineer. Not only in terms of speed and accuracy but also ergonomic considerations over the long term. I have chosen the Glove80 and its going well but the progress is slower than I anticipated. Not only did I change to a keyboard with thumb clusters but I also changed my keyboard layout quite considerably.
This has lead to me being somewhat slower in typing than I was used to and this is immensely frustrating especially as I know at any time I could revert back to my original keyboard with it’s QWERTY layout. But I am doing this for the long term benefit and I am convinced it will pay off (I really really hope it will pay off!).
Therefore I have been thinking what kind of deliberate practice and training could I do in the short term which could help speed up my typing. After all, as a software developer you spend quite a bit of your day to day typing. This is where I think running training philosophies could come in useful.
Running Training Philosophies
I am sure there will be many running philosophies out there but one that is persistent across the internet at this time is ‘Zone 2 training’. This refers to your heart rate and it basically is saying a large part of your training should be done by running with your heart rate in this ‘Zone 2’.
There are 5 zones and they can be explained like this:
Zone 1: Very Light (Recovery Zone)
- Heart Rate: 50–60% of maximum heart rate
- Description: Very easy, comfortable pace; used for warm-ups, cool-downs, and recovery runs.
2. Zone 2: Light (Endurance Zone)
- Heart Rate: 60–70% of maximum heart rate
- Description: Easy, conversational pace; ideal for building aerobic endurance and improving overall fitness.
3. Zone 3: Moderate (Aerobic Zone)
- Heart Rate: 70–80% of maximum heart rate
- Description: Steady, moderate effort; improves cardiovascular fitness and overall endurance.
4. Zone 4: Hard (Lactate Threshold Zone)
- Heart Rate: 80–90% of maximum heart rate
- Description: Challenging, but sustainable pace; increases lactate threshold and improves high-intensity endurance.
5. Zone 5: Very Hard (VO2 Max Zone)
- Heart Rate: 90–100% of maximum heart rate
- Description: Maximum effort, very hard pace; used for short bursts and interval training to improve speed and anaerobic capacity.
Zone 2 Training Related to Typing
As you can see from the description above Zone 2 training is ‘Light’ training. It’s the type of training that you should be able to keep up for a long time. Going slow to build up your bodies aerobic capacity.
If we take this philosophy over to typing then it basically means typing deliberately slowly but making sure you’re accurate.
The whole idea here is you’re slowing down in the short term in order to speed up in the long term. You are deliberately going slow to help build up really good muscle memory which is needed in order for you to eventually go very fast.
If you try to type as fast as you can all the time then you will inevitably make lots of mistakes. This is not only frustrating but it also doesn’t help you build that muscle memory that will eventually help you go really fast. Therefore by slowing down you are increasing your accuracy and also building a solid foundation upon which you can grow to become quicker and quicker.
You Will Naturally Speed Up
As with almost anything, the more you do it the better you will become at it. With running, I have found that over time, by doing lots of Zone 2 training, my pace has naturally increased whilst remaining in the Zone 2 heart rate zone.
The same will be for typing but I still think it is important to go slow most of the time when learning a new layout. It can be frustrating but it’s about focusing on the long term picture here. This slow and steady approach will really pay dividends.
Conclusion
Changing keyboards takes some getting used to. Changing keyboard layouts really takes some getting used to. Changing both at the same time is just stupid. However, if you do, it is a great way to not only train your patience, but also to peer a little deeper into the depths of your soul.
Frustrations will arise often. You will be tempted to dump everything and revert back to your old tedious ways. But you mustn’t be discouraged. You must persist! Not only did you spend a hell of a lot of $$$ on that keyboard (which your wife still can’t believe you would do such an irresponsible thing when you have five mouths to feed!) but also there is your whole reputation in question here. Are you really the type of person that gives up in the face of a little adversity? Are you really going to back down from this challenge and crawl meekly back into your scroungy little hole and say ‘I give up’?
No! You will persist! You will go slow into the night of painful truths and one day… one day you will reach that glorious, seemingly elusive pinnacle of being able to type over 100 words per minute. And on that day my friend, you can finally rest easy knowing the game has been won.
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