HIIT & Heart Rate Q

vitaminn

I'm an old 45 (birthday in a few months),195 lbs and 6’1”.

When I'm doing HIIT on a treadmill, it takes about 30 seconds for my heart to jump up to ~165. (incline 10%, speed at 10.)

I then slow the treadmill way down (speed ~2) and let my heart rate back off to ~140 before I do it again.

Thing is, it's takes about 2 minutes for my heart rate to get down to the 140 range; That feels like a long time!

Am I normal!!? ha. ))

MeanderingMammal

Given that you haven't been lab tested to determine your max HR, threshold HR or oxygen uptake rates, there's no way to tell.

For me, at 48, I wouldn't consider 165 to be high. That's about threshold for me. Rate of recovery is an indication of fitness, so as an ultra runner I'd expect a drop to about 115 in the time you've seen.

Essentially, you're not me... You'll see a reduction in recovery time as you get fitter.

Fwiw you'll see faster improvements in aerobic capacity by working towards a 30 minute steady state run.

sijomial

Best guess (that's all it can be) is that you are really unfit as that slow recovery is "normal" for an unfit person.
If that's the case then you are probably doing the wrong exercise (unless your interval training is just a very small part of your overall routine).

Exercise doesn't have to hurt or be unpleasant to be effective!

As your CV fitness improves your recovery time should vastly improve. You will probably also see your resting HR reduce too.

CarvedTones

Old? I would love to be 45 again. It's all about perspective. As others have said recovery gets quicker. What's a pain is it also goes the other way - trying to do "real" HIIT once you are in reasonable shape is difficult. Kick it high gear for a minute or so and your muscles are screaming and your heart is yawning...

vitaminn

Thanks for the input everyone. I figured it's incredibly individual but though I'd get a bell curve of answers that I could glean info from.

Cheers.

CarvedTones wrote: »

Old? I would love to be 45 again. It's all about perspective.

Sorry, it was my play on words. I just mean that I'm closer to 46 than 45; Could be an "old" 20 year old. ))

It's indeed perspective and I feel pretty damn good at 45. ))