Howdy, Stranger!
Categories
Options
Calculating my max HR
... they took the search facility away!
I'm puzzled. Just bought a basic HRM. Two ways to calculate max - 220 minus age or do it yourself. First method equals 177 (I'm 43).
Then had a go at DIY. After warming up and 2 miles or so at steady pace did a sequence of short (50-yard) absolutely flat-out sprints with same distance recovery. Could do no more after half a dozen. Max reading - 167.
Got my breath back and jogged home. On the way - a 100-yd hill, not steep but decent gradient. Approached it at steady pace, went flat-out to top, back down at steady (not recovery) pace to do second pass still slightly panting. Repeated, and on third pass got nearly to the top before calling it a day. Reading - 167.
I thought the usual complaint was the 220 calculation underestimated.
So is 167 a credible figure? Seems low. Am I doing something wrong? Or not pushing hard enough to find the max? My resting HR is 40 to low 40s.
I'm puzzled. Just bought a basic HRM. Two ways to calculate max - 220 minus age or do it yourself. First method equals 177 (I'm 43).
Then had a go at DIY. After warming up and 2 miles or so at steady pace did a sequence of short (50-yard) absolutely flat-out sprints with same distance recovery. Could do no more after half a dozen. Max reading - 167.
Got my breath back and jogged home. On the way - a 100-yd hill, not steep but decent gradient. Approached it at steady pace, went flat-out to top, back down at steady (not recovery) pace to do second pass still slightly panting. Repeated, and on third pass got nearly to the top before calling it a day. Reading - 167.
I thought the usual complaint was the 220 calculation underestimated.
So is 167 a credible figure? Seems low. Am I doing something wrong? Or not pushing hard enough to find the max? My resting HR is 40 to low 40s.
The materials in this website are in no way intended to replace the professional medical care, advice, diagnosis or treatment of a doctor, qualified personal trainer, therapist, dietitian or nutritionist Runners's World, Part of the Hearst UK well-being network © Copyright 2017
Comments
if you really want to get a decent estimate without entering a short race, try (on a day when you feel well rested) 800m hard, 1 minute recovery, 800m flat out.
- and it's best done on a track or a flat course, preferably with someone faster or on a bike to pace you.
I'll recruit my boy to cycle just in front with a bag of jelly babies taped to his back. That should spur me on.
The age formula gives an estimated average, not aware that there is a systematic error. therefore there should be some folks who have a real max that is higher - like me - and some folks who's real max is lower - like you?
I don't think you tend to see much posting from folks with low maxHR's - that's beacuse they'rr too knackered from training too hard whne using the age formula.
Missed a chance this morning. Just had a filling at the dentist's. If I'd thought to put on the HRM ... doh!