General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Max HR-confused! Rss Feed  
Moderators: k9car363, alicefoeller Reply
2017-11-20 9:32 AM


249
10010025
Subject: Max HR-confused!
Hi,
I'm 59 yrs old. I've have predominately trained using RPE. Recently I got a Garmin Vivoactive HR.

I know that the 220 minus age method of determining max HR is not very accurate. Last week however, I ran a 10K and got a PR. It was a difficult effort but I wanted the PR. As I looked at data, I saw that during the last 2.8 miles, my average HR was 176 and max was 182. Now I am confused!! Is this even safe? Are these way too high for my age? Yesterday I went for what I thought was just a tempo run-I could still speak in sentences-ave HR for run showed I was in Z4 the whole time at 159 average. I felt like it was a Z2 on RPE.

So, I have 2 questions
1) Should I just rely on LT testing to establish max HR?
2) This one may sound dumb, but over time, shouldn't max HR drop as fitness increases??

I think I am in shape-my RHR is 54. I have been running on RPE for 4 years, so whatever I have been doing hasn't killed me yet I guess.


2017-11-20 9:42 AM
in reply to: Burchib

User image

Veteran
1100
1000100
Dayton
Subject: RE: Max HR-confused!

I think 182 is pretty reasonable for a max HR.

2) Over time, if you're using HR, your fitness at a certain HR will increase.  Meaning, if you keep the same pace, your average HR will drop.  Your max HR would not drop because of increased fitness.

It would be interesting to look at your recent runs and see where your fitness levels are and what your HR is doing.  If you're on Strava, we could check that out and give opinions on HR.

159 seems high for Z2, but I do have a small number of friends that just run higher HRs than typical.

2017-11-20 3:38 PM
in reply to: ponderingfox

User image

Expert
2373
20001001001002525
Floriduh
Subject: RE: Max HR-confused!
I don't think 182 is at all wacky. I'm 58 and a couple of years ago really pushed the last 0.5 miles of an Oly race, I left it all out there. When I looked at my HRM at the finish line I had a 174. That IS my max.
2017-11-21 7:13 AM
in reply to: Burchib

User image

Expert
2852
20005001001001002525
Pfafftown, NC
Subject: RE: Max HR-confused!
I don't see anything weird. So as not to invite naysayers, I won't tell you what I've seen on my 935 (Stadium/track workout).....but, it's (by several) higher than anyone else has posted (I'm 53).

My avg. HR was almost 170 for my last OLY. It was over 160 for the run portion of my last HIM. Avg. HR was 141 for IM Louisville.
2017-11-21 9:04 AM
in reply to: nc452010


249
10010025
Subject: RE: Max HR-confused!
Thanks everyone. Appreciate the insight!
2017-11-21 10:23 AM
in reply to: 0

User image

Pro
6582
50001000500252525
Melbourne FL
Gold member
Subject: RE: Max HR-confused!

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/cms/article-detail.asp?articleid=633

Forget max HR, its definition is many.  If you want to dabble with HR it was often recommended on this forum to use the field LTHR test linked above.  BT has the HR zone calculator for LT as one of its options buried under your Name / Settings / Training log settings / HR Zone manager.  Also attached is a spreadsheet for calculation the same for running.

FWIW, I did 1 or so field tests per year from 2005 to a about 2 years ago (age 50), I was always 173-176 HR avg for these regardless of my fitness level.  My one 10k race where I set PR and had HRM on, HR avg was 178 which was skewed a bit as it had an bridge over and back on the 2nd half.

oh, I always manually set the HR zones in my watch base don the field test, defaults zones were always way off.

 

 

 



Edited by Donto 2017-11-21 10:25 AM




Attachments
----------------
LTHR Run Zone Calculator.xlsx (15KB - 5 downloads)


New Thread
General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Max HR-confused! Rss Feed  
RELATED POSTS

RPE/Watts/HR/and Numbers, and winging it

Started by jhaack39
Views: 1452 Posts: 24

2017-03-12 10:00 PM Donskiman

HR monitor interference

Started by Burchib
Views: 583 Posts: 6

2017-01-13 9:13 AM brigby1

HR Zone Question

Started by scottficek
Views: 980 Posts: 7

2016-12-12 8:37 PM brigby1

Stem raising question What's the max limit?

Started by dnewman84
Views: 913 Posts: 5

2016-11-28 4:14 PM audiojan

Need Some Help: My Garmin Forerunner 210 & HR Monitor Is on The Fritz

Started by TheCrownsOwn
Views: 810 Posts: 4

2016-11-23 5:16 PM brucemorgan