Max heart rate

canary_girl

I did a max heart rate test Friday at my gym. It was done before a spinning class and the tester said she'd discuss after class, which I can't stay for.

So she measured my max heart rate at 210. Is this good/bad/neither? For the record, I my heart rate up to 160 feels pretty easy. 170-175 is starting to get tough, I'm getting out of breath, 180-185 is my "I can only do this for a couple of minutes ".

I feel like I'm in relatively good shape. I run sprint intervals for 20 minuters and cycle an hour each weekday. But someone saw my heart rate recently and asked if "my doctor knew my heart rate got so high".

So, any thoughts?

dewd2

How was your HR tested?

210 Does seem a little on the higher end for someone your age but there's no reason it couldn't be normal. From your description it does seem normal to me, but I am not a doctor. If you are concerned you should ask your doctor.

Do you ever feel dizzy or faint when your HR gets this high?

Azdak

Your max HR is within the normal population distribution. You may be a couple of standard deviations from the mean, but nothing abnormal. HRmax prediction equations have a standard deviation of 10-12 beats/min, so you can be 30+ beats above the age-predicted figure and still be "normal".

This will, however, affect any HR-based programmed workouts or any submaximal fitness tests. These all assume a "220-age" HR max or similar, so you will be off the charts, so to speak. Just don't let any undertrained trainer or instructor tell you you have a "problem", or that you aren't "burning fat" or any such nonsense.

Pay attention to your perceived exertion, let that be your guide, and, if your are interested, observe your HR numbers and learn YOUR heart response pattern.

Problem solved.