Hi, I have been running for a couple of years and last year have been using a HRM, by using the formula I have been running supposedly 70-80% of MHR. I am a 39 year old woman. However I have caught my Heart rate at 220, 230 and even 232 not the supposed 230-age = 187 maximum. I have read somewhere that if you happen to catch your heart rate higher than the calculated one you can use that for your percentage calculations. Is this right? It seems my MHR is very high compared with other people. I don't want to be dangerously pushing myself. I haven't done a specific stress test as I never seem to be in peak condition - had a baby 3 years ago who only started sleeping well last year. So all my running has been a very careful plan of getting a run in and getting enough sleep to stop me coming dowm with endless colds and flu. If anyone has any advice on this or anywhere to read about what high Max HR mean I would be very grateful. Thanks
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would i be right in guessing you are not tall ?
we had a similar thread somewhere on this
and us 5ft type ladies all came out with much higher Max HR than the standard
i'm 38 and i've definitely caught mine at well over 200
I would think that you'd be able to feel your heart pumping like anything at that kind of level - and you'd be flat out.
Whats it like for a steady run ?
but i could be a hamster
No I am not a hamster! I am 5 foot 6. I wasn't running flat out either and I am usually shocked to see such a high reading on my moniter, I know I am going a bit faster than usual but its not pushing me - admittedly the 220 - 230's are usually on the down hill, I live in North Wales Snowdonia so there are no electricity pylons anywhere to be seen, as they are not allowed and mostly I am in the mountains so there are not even any ordinary electricity cables. It is bizarre that my heart rate is so much higher than usual....should I be worried? I don't imagine I am turning into a hamster! LOL Would a low energy level generally mean higher MHR? I guess not as its supposed to be a genetic thing, I worry its the foreteller of illness. When I first got the moniter last Christmas I was often running at 212 and a week later I came down with a 2 month long flu type thing. I kind thought it was due to me overdoing it - though again I wasn't going fast and I only run 15 mins 4 times a week through the winter. Any other ideas - should I just accept it?
I would borrow another HRM or get a cheap one just to see if it gives the same readings, or even go get a max HR test done by someone else.
Don't answer Jj's question, she's only looking for lunch...
If it was getting higher as you ran up the hill - 180s, 190, 200s, 210s then its a possibility, but other than that - its a false reading.
My max Hr is 189 and when I'm near it - its all i can do to focus on a watch and I'm near to dropping... If you aren't like that, then you aren't hitting a max.
I take your point and will watch the uphill progression without trying to slow down (like I normally have do to keep in the range downhill I get carried away with myself as I love it so much!!) - also I will try another moniter and see if that makes a difference.
Thanks for your comments
But yeah - borrow another monitor to check.
you may just be a "high beater"
or you migght be pushing yourself a bit too hard ...lots of people find they are when they start training with a HRM and have to really slow down to kep within an "aerobic" level
you might find having a look at John L Parkers book (cant remember the name now! Heart rate training for idiots"?) as its very useful for getting used to training with a HRM and getting the best out of it
and slow down on those downhills ...you arent sprinting down the side of Snowden are you? ;-))
Have had it up to 232 before too!
I may have a look at that thread.
Deffo suggest try another HRM.
Am certainly going to try another moniter, though I was sprinting downhill - love it!(not Snowdon today though - too icy - Cwm Penaman) I have to say - it seems less work on my lungs but I guess my legs have to go round faster so my heart goes faster....hmmm ameater sports physiology thoughts on it here! I suspect from what you are all saying there is something amiss with my moniter. I doubt I am 12 sec miling! LOL
emma
my hr has been 205 without me feeling like i am gonna be sick and keel over (which i think is true max hr type feeling)
i guess i could be a 210 or even 215 max
but i haven't ever pushed it up to that
and
i can't imagine being in the 230's ever
and mine is always on the uphill not down
one thing though
sometimes you're on the downhill by the time you look down at your hrm
and hrm can sometimes lag a few secs behind actual hr
but if you're seeing that several minutes later then it is a bit weird
maybe underground elec cables?
or you've found the bermuda triangle/the "force"/ some other scifi zone
or if you carry a mobile phone or something ??? but that wouldn't explain why it keeps happening in the same place
very interested to hear results of trying another hrm