Ooooh I feel your frustration, and know it so well!!!  Have you set up your monitor for you...not based on a calculation?  When I first got my monitor, I had looked at all the equations and picked what was spouted to be best....NOT!  We are unique animals, and can not fit into a mathematical equation.  Our hr will be different than our best running buddy (even when our results are similar).  I found the best way to set up my hr monitor was to do hill repeats, with equal efforts unitl the last one where I pushed it as hard as possible.  My heart rate was way higher than the formulas outcomes, and I had a very low resting rate.  I read "Heart Rate Training for Dummies", and found it very inspiring.  You have to find the max for yourself, and then make sure you use high and low days... push the into the high on the Tempo's, and stick to the low on the resting or easy days.  Eventually you will find it easier to stay in the low (without walking), and it will be harder to stay in the high zones.  You have to be commited!  I really do feel your pain!  I hope that you give it a try, and keep me posted.

RunninUgly,

You don't say how long you've been running or your average weekly mileage or whether you've increased your mileage recently.

I found that I was regularly pegging out my heart rate when running when I wasn't in running shape.  I'm finding that again as I get back to running after an injury.  Slow runs now seem hard, and my heart rate shows it.

Another thing that bears note is that most of runners run too fast on their long runs.  Typical training advice calls for running the long run at 1:30 to 3:00 minute / mile slower than the goal pace for your race.

Finally, you don't say if you are hitting 90 -95% early or late in the run.  If you are just building up to 10 miles, the extra mileage could cause your heartrate to climb as you get to the end of your runs.

Good luck,

Surfing Vol