I always run too fast and end up getting injured because of it. So to solve this problem I bought a garmin 305. Today I planned on doing a 4 mile easy run at around 9min/mile pace. Although I found it quite difficult to run this slow, I seemed to be getting the hang of it by the end of the run. However, although I felt really comfortable throughout the run my heart rate was really high, generally above 180 bpm. My MHR, calculated from age, should be around 185, so I really don't know what's going on. I realise that this method of calculating MHR is not the best, but it can't be totally out, can it? Any suggestions as to what's going on?
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My first reaction would be to double check your HRM.
Wear in when not exercising and compare it with a manual read of your pulse and see what (if any) difference there was.
It's a whilse since i have used one, but I used to find that you sometimes got bizarre readings if the monitor battery was on it's way out or that you hadn't fitted the monitor strap correctly.
PhilPub; I don't agree. A max HR of above 200 is exceptional. Youngsters will achieve this but it is not the norm.
HRMs can be unreliable. My treadmill console will display my HR when I am not wearing the chest monitor! When I do, the rate can fluctuate wildly. So they are not the beeznees but once they 'settle down' can be very informative. Many on this site use them and benefit.
I think the important thing is that the formulae do not work for everyone. As a 48 year old male, my MHR should be 172 in fact, it's 196. so there's a good chance that had I done a max test at 40 I too would have been over 200. I use a Suunto t6 HRM and find it to9 be totally accurate when compared to manual readings. Incidentally my RHR is 35 which is quite unusual at the other end.
As you said Faithfulred no alternative but head for those nasty hills!!
I've just started using a HRM and my resting HR is 60bpm
The MHR formula (220-age ) says i should have a MHR of about 180bpm but the most i can get it up to is 167bpm.
does this sound normal? The connections seem good and there are no fluctuations in the readings.
Its a suunto6.
Has anyone had problems getting this make to download training programs runs ect.. onto the computer?
your feedback would be much appreciated.
Hi all,
checked my HR 1st thing this morning and it was down to 50 BPM.
And sorted out the computer by downloading a program off windows web site.
Happy now.
faithfulred,
Check the strap, as you can get an innacurate reading if the strap is too loose or not sufficiently wet. My one gives an impossibly high reading if the strap is loose.
I also agree that the various age formulae is only a rough guide.
I'm 33 (for a few more days anyhow) and my max HR is 207!! My resting heart rate is around 50 and running at 8.30 min miles will giveme a HR of 185bpm and I'm comfy with that....start to feel a bit yuck at 195bpm though.
Hi
Am a newcomer to the site but interested on how you tested your max HR at 207. I am 36 yrs old and have hit a max of 208 on a rowing ergo about 2 years ago, used to row a lot then, but have started training for my first marathon and still messing about with my HR ranges..? I can run for an hour quite comfortably at 175, and hit 196 doing a sprint this morning, not so comfortable.
Would my max HR have changed in 2 years, I accept quite a lazy two years!!
J Hall - Your heart rate max is different for different sports, nothing to worry about
faithfulred - If you have a Garmin 305 I would disregard your HR completely and focus on pace instead IMO. HR readings can fluctuate so much dependant on weather conditions, how tired you are, how stressed you are, hills, descent etc that I would focus purely on pace. Setting yourself pace targets for your runs is much better as the Garmin allows you to see what your average is at any point and you can speed up or slow down accordingly. After a while I reckon you will have a good measure of what a certain pace "feels" like and you'll run more on "feel" and less with one eye constantly checking your GPS watch.
The Garmin is great for tempo sessions and long, steady runs where you need to run at a set pace for a set time period. Heart rate will lag behind effort too much to be completely accurate whereas you can see what pace you are at as it changes immediately....