Heart Rate

lmcginley02

Just wondering about what safe or optimum heart rates are for exercising? I am new to fitness and usually alternate walking and running but when running my heart rate can get to 180-190 very quickly

BrianSharpe

When you're running are you gasping for breath? Off the top of my head it sounds like you're trying to run too fast (and sprinting with push anyone's heart rate) Slow down to where you can speak in full sentences and do most of your running, especially while you're still building your base, at an easy pace.

As you fitness improves your heart rate will normally drop too (it's a gradual thing).

If it's something of real concern (you're getting dizzy etc) see your doctor.

lmcginley02

Thank you for your reply! I'm not trying to sprint but I have not consistently worked out in probably over 2 years. I run on the treadmill for 90 seconds at a time and the. Walk to get my heart rate down then try again job again, usually walk about 5 minutes in between but keep my heart rate up still over 130 or so (readings all from the treadmills reader) I really want to get back to the shape I was in when I could just run for a few miles no issue but don't want to push and hurt myself either.

On a side note i recently had an ekg and it was normal

Cherimoose

lmcginley02 wrote: »

On a side note i recently had an ekg and it was normal

Why did you have an EKG? If you have a pre-existing cardiovascular issue, you should ask your doctor or cardiologist what HR to exercise at. For other people, a high HR is not a problem.

lmcginley02

No pre-existing cardiovascular issues, i went for an ulcer and they did the ekg as a precaution to rule out heart trouble, especially since my heart rate at the Drs was high, which was due to anxiety

michellepearson224

Try the couch to 5k programme if you want to build up to running? I started with this 4 months ago and ran my first competitive 10K race at the weekend.

Someone told me that your max heart rate should be 220 minus your age.

MeanderingMammal

michellepearson224 wrote: »

Someone told me that your max heart rate should be 220 minus your age.

That's a very outdated and gross generalisation, that's not really useful to most people. In the absence of a pre-existing condition there's nothing wrong with working at high HRs, it's just a question of diminishing returns. As one gets into high HR ranges then ability to work for a reasonable length of time becomes very limited, so it's of little value.

As an example for me, using 220-age would give me a Max HR of 175. I'll run a 10K and maintain 175bpm for the duration, so that's more like my lactate threshold. I've measured 195-200 doing sprint intervals, although it should be noted that in that range the level of error on my HRM is quite high so it may have been higher, or lower.

Merrysix

I found a certified heart rate coach to set my 65% maximum heart rate, and 75%, 80%, 85% 90%, 100%. When I train, I try to work up to being able to hold my 80% (everyone has different numbers) for long periods of time (for example for the 8 hours it took me to go up and down Mt. St. Helens, or running a 1/2 marathon). But at first I could just hold 65%. I also will train some times taking it up to 80% for as long as I can and then slowing down and bringing it down to 65%. Anyway I really enjoy playing with heart rate while exercising. I also do cross fit which is high intensity interval training -- the heart rate gets very high for short periods (same with spinning). Running for me pushes my HR up the fastest though, and takes the most training.

michellepearson224

I've obviously been misinformed - I'm 46 and during a 10k at the weekend my heart rate went as high as 170 - I thought this was high, for me.

hekla90

Have you actually taken and measured your pulse or just gone off the treadmill? Trying accurately measuringly your pulse first and see if that's even anywhere close to the real number especially if you aren't symptomatic. I stopped exercising one time due to feeling funny and my pulse was up around 230-240 just from squatting due to some pre workout I took lol, I had to take a carotid because my radial was so thready, I was also probably dehydrated and your body will compensate fur volume depletion by increasing pulse rate. Otherwise I don't know because I don't wear a heart rate monitor.

hill8570

You're young and don't have any pre-existing medical conditions...don't worry about your heart rate -- you're not going to be able to exercise hard enough for it to be an issue.

lmcginley02

Thank you all for your advice!