re: Why is my HR so high on easy runs?

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Just did my first "correct" HR run. 11:40/mile pace. I might blow my brains out before I go through a base building phase at that pace, but I'll give it a shot

Had to stop and walk a few times to drop it back under 160

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Summer in the south is an awful time to start this type of training. Not saying you shouldn't, just that it's very difficult to keep your HR down in the heat and humidity.

I had a coach when I trained for my Ironman and they threw HR out the window for runs due to the extreme variance with temperature/conditions. Relied on the Jack Daniel's method where there are tables to show your appropriate paces. You'd run a 5k at your best pace every 4-6 weeks as a test. Then reference the table to see what your easy, tempo, 10k, half, etc. pace should be. Most runs were easy. I ran a half at ~ 8:50 a mile and my easy pace was like 10:45 for reference. You obviously still tweak if it's super hot or something. But it gives a little more freedom to not have to shut it down if your HR is 5-10 BPM faster than normal. I saw my best results with that method. The Jack Daniel's book is a great read as well. Provides you with the pace tables as well as suggested training schedules for different distances.