Is it okay to workout with a heart rate of 160?

EatWholeFoods

I have been working out for 4 years, but kept my hwart rate 120-145 for workouts. I started running again which I used to do for 10 years but 10 years ago. I have a heart rate monitor and feel great. I just feel pushing like its hard but not too hard, but my heart rate gets to 160 and stays there for awhile when I run. Is that okay if I feel fine during and after workouts? I did the max heart calculation and I am training 85-90% often. I have been running many days a week for a few months and so far fine. Do I work on trying to be slow and keep the heart rate slower?

professionalHobbyist

That is pushing it quite hard.

I would try and check with a different heart rate monitor if possible

If
You are at a gym with cardio equipment, go at it hard on a cardio glide

See what a similar level of exertion feels like

Happy exercising!

DopeItUp

Depends on the person but that sounds pretty normal to me.

brianpperkins

EatWholeFoods wrote: »

I have been working out for 4 years, but kept my hwart rate 120-145 for workouts. I started running again which I used to do for 10 years but 10 years ago. I have a heart rate monitor and feel great. I just feel pushing like its hard but not too hard, but my heart rate gets to 160 and stays there for awhile when I run. Is that okay if I feel fine during and after workouts? I did the max heart calculation and I am training 85-90% often. I have been running many days a week for a few months and so far fine. Do I work on trying to be slow and keep the heart rate slower?

What formula did you use to calculate max HR? 220-age produces wrong data as often as it produces correct data. There are other ways that involve actually pushing yourself while using a HRM and using real data to derive max HR.

If you feel fine during and after, it is probably not an issue. A 10 year break in running means you're not going to be as efficient now as then. Perceived exertion is a useful tool ... use it.

ibamosaserreinas

Depends on your age. Most max heart rate charts and training zone charts are based on how old you are. I regularly hit the 160's doing interval training but I don't stay there for sustained periods.

MakePeasNotWar

I hit 180 fairly often, which would theoretically be 100% of max (I'm 40), but clearly isn't. I got up to 204 during HIIT last year and nothing bad happened.

My doctor said as long as I feel fine and don't get dizzy or have chest pain I'm ok at 170-180bpm. You might want to double check with your doctor to see what he or she says.

brianpperkins

At 42 years old, the 220-age formula puts me at a max of 178. Testing puts me at 197. I'll take the test over the generic formula every time.

My last race was a 4 miler on the 4th of July .. avg HR 164 on a hilly course ... no issues.

Maleficent0241

brianpperkins wrote: »

EatWholeFoods wrote: »

I have been working out for 4 years, but kept my hwart rate 120-145 for workouts. I started running again which I used to do for 10 years but 10 years ago. I have a heart rate monitor and feel great. I just feel pushing like its hard but not too hard, but my heart rate gets to 160 and stays there for awhile when I run. Is that okay if I feel fine during and after workouts? I did the max heart calculation and I am training 85-90% often. I have been running many days a week for a few months and so far fine. Do I work on trying to be slow and keep the heart rate slower?

What formula did you use to calculate max HR? 220-age produces wrong data as often as it produces correct data. There are other ways that involve actually pushing yourself while using a HRM and using real data to derive max HR.

If you feel fine during and after, it is probably not an issue. A 10 year break in running means you're not going to be as efficient now as then. Perceived exertion is a useful tool ... use it.

This. The formulas are rarely accurate. If you care enough you can field test yourself to find your max hr but unless you are seriously concerned, perceived exertion should be just fine (assuming you are otherwise healthy)

Tucker145

For the first few months of running, I found my heart rate up there. 160-170 I bought a heart rate monitor to see if it was real. Some equipment are not accurate. At 5 miles per hour for 30 min or more it has come down to 150 after months. The heart takes a while to condition. Blood pressure is nice and low also now.

BusyRaeNOTBusty

Sure. Those formulas don't mean much.

scottb81

If you are really at 85 to 90% for most runs then yes that is too hard. You are running a Lactate Threshold effort every day. You should only run that hard once or twice a week and the rest of the time run at less than about 77% max. These guidelines are for best improving performance.

To be sure you need to do a max HR test or run a hard 5k and see how high it gets in the last 400m sprint.

I don't know how old you are but for comparison I am 55 and run most of the time with my HR under 130 for an easy effort. My Lactate Threshold runs are between about 143 and 155.

MeanderingMammal

EatWholeFoods wrote: »

I did the max heart calculation and I am training 85-90% often. I have been running many days a week for a few months and so far fine.

My theoretical MHR is 175, in practice I peak at about 200bpm and during a half marathon I'll run at an average of 175 for the duration.

Essentially, the 220-age calculation of MHR is so rough an estimate as to be pointless.

Do I work on trying to be slow and keep the heart rate slower?

You'll get more endurance benefit from staying at a lower range HR for longer. So whilst nothing inherently wrong with pushing yoruself, you're not going to make significant fitness gains.

I appreciate that it's counterintuitive, but that's how the system works.

Becky_charles29

My heart-rate often is around 150-165 when running at around a 9.5 min mile and I feel fine

EatWholeFoods

I can sustain thebheart rate for 7 or 8 miles and still can keep running, but I stop because of my running plan. So i can do long distance with it that way ans endurance, but was wondering if I should force myself to keep heart rate down lol. I read last night if you are sweating out sodium, it can make your heart rate faster. I am going to try the articles sodium recommendations and see if it helps. Its really hot when I run sometimes too

EatWholeFoods

I am 30 years old. Also I do not get sore after running 8 miles.

EatWholeFoods

How do I field test for my max heart rate? Also I have a garmin forerunner heart rate monitor. I care enough to even pay for a stress test etc. I think my max heart rate nay be higher than the equation and that's why I don't get sore or a lot of lactic acid build up.

EatWholeFoods

Thanks everyone. Also I don't feel weird unless it reaches 181.

lporter229

The Maffetone 180 formula may be a better way of estimating your target heart rate zone.

http://philmaffetone.com/180-formula/

I'm 43 years old and have been running for a long while. I use 142 as my target ceiling based on the Maffetone formula.

scottb81

If you are 30 then a heartrate around 150 is an easy run. So, assuming your max HR is ballpark average running at 160 is not terribly high but is higher than you need to get aerobic benefits from your run. The benefits of running easier are that you can run longer with less fatigue and can recover faster and run more.

Google max heartrate test for several ways to figure it out. They all involve running really hard to the point of passing out LOL. Or just run a hard 5K and sprint as hard as you can the last 400 meters.

scottb81

Running in heat will elevate your heartrate 10 to 15 beats per minute because a lot of the blood is going to the skin to cool you instead of taking oxygen to the muscles. The ideal running temperature is 55 F. By the time it gets to 80 the heartrate is significantly elevated. Humidity makes it worse.

Generally, in the heat you will need to run slower, but the training effect is still there.

pianoplaya94

I thought 160 is usually the number quoted on the machines as the mark for "high intensity". I hit 160 often (based on the machines' sensors... which are probably fairly innacurate). But 160 should be fine.

Hornsby

I can average 160 for over 2 hours. I would guess that's normal.

scottb81

Also, assuming your HR is ballpark average your lactate threshold runs should be at a HR between around 160 and 175. Right now you are doing a lot of running in "no man's land" where you are running harder than needed for aerobic development but not hard enough to develop lactate tolerance.

Easing up a little on your easy run days will improve recovery and allow you to do more if you want to.

mwyvr

Using Phil Maffetone's formula your MAF heart rate would be 150 (180 - age = 150). If you've been running a year injury free, add 5 BPM.

Google him. You might want to try out running between 140-150BPM for a couple of weeks. Bet you'll see your pace improve from the start where it will of course be somewhat slower than what you run now.

EatWholeFoods

I used to run with I 144 to 150 til it got hot or til I tried improving pace. I will look up the Maffetone formula thank you

EatWholeFoods

Lol the max heart rate tests are too crazy for me but I googled the equations. I can do 2 hours at 150 to 160 and I don't get sore. Maybe its OK but I think my Dr should stress test me. I don't sweat a lot but its not comfortable but not uncomfortable enough to want to slow down.

JAHodgkinson_uk

Hi, max heart rate varies enormously, the formulas are 'okay' but if you are really wanting to know your HR max there's no need to pay for a doctor to do a stress test, just go for it on a 5k timed run / race. Not sure where in the world you are but http://www.parkrun.com/ is fantastic for inclusive, encouraging and free 5k's every Saturday morning at 9am. If you wear your HR monitor you can see where you max out, usually in the last few minutes. Beware of false early spikes, they're very common early in a run before you have a good connection. 160 sounds pretty normal to me, it depends what it is that you are aiming for in running. Do you have a race or distance in mind?

JAHodgkinson_uk

Actually, you can start with this 181 as your max, (I'm guessing that you will push it a bit higher in a race, it's okay, mine is 184 and I'm in my 40's)

Next you need to work out your resting heart rate, the very lowest that it goes. Some people say testing that first thing in the morning but if I'm stressing about getting ready for work it is lower relaxing in the evening, lying down. This will vary as your fitness increases and is a good indicator of if your are over training and need to ease off or if you're maybe coming down with something.

I adore geeking out with numbers...
Take your actual max, so 181 (update as you find it higher)
Subtract from that your resting heart rate - this number is your range so for me it is 184 - 56 so my range is 128.

Now you use this range to find your hard run eg 1 mile warm up at less than 70%, 1 mile hard at 80% and 1 mile cool down at less than 70%. The hard effort will be very hard! On easy days you try to stay at less than 70% for the whole run. This will initially feel horribly, horribly slow but will speed up in a remarkably quick time frame.
It's best to alternate hard days and easy days, in fact I only have 1 hard run day a week.

JAHodgkinson_uk

http://www.amazon.com/Heart-Monitor-Training-Compleat-Idiot/dp/1891369849 This is an 'old' book but really useful. Clearest that I've read on the subject.

Sued0nim

lporter229 wrote: »

The Maffetone 180 formula may be a better way of estimating your target heart rate zone.

http://philmaffetone.com/180-formula/

I'm 43 years old and have been running for a long while. I use 142 as my target ceiling based on the Maffetone formula.

That seems wrong and gives me a max HR of 137

I generally train at around 145-150 and HIIT will bring me peaks of 165-168

I just focus on "can I talk" and does it come down quickly when I slow down

lporter229

rabbitjb wrote: »

lporter229 wrote: »

The Maffetone 180 formula may be a better way of estimating your target heart rate zone.

http://philmaffetone.com/180-formula/

I'm 43 years old and have been running for a long while. I use 142 as my target ceiling based on the Maffetone formula.

That seems wrong and gives me a max HR of 137

I generally train at around 145-150 and HIIT will bring me peaks of 165-168

I just focus on "can I talk" and does it come down quickly when I slow down

It's not intended to give you your max HR. It's intended to give you your optimal training zone for developing aerobic fitness.