Heart rate question!

Lennonluv2

So I've been noticing when I'm on the treadmill my heart rate goes down when I INCREASE my speed. I'll be at 3.3 and then I up my speed to 3.5 or 3.6 and down it goes....Any thoughts???

PureAdamic

Stop running on a treadmill and start running up hills?

rocky503

how are you measuring you HR, is it your own strap and monitor or using something built in to the treadmill? When you increase your speed causing more bouncing maybe you are losing good contact on your skin with the monitor. I second running out side! (I can't stand a treadmill)

Azdak

Sometimes, at lower workloads, a small increase in speed can actually mean a more efficient gait, depending on your biomechanics.

It can also be that you are comparing speeds early in the workout. It can take up to 5-6 min to reach steady state during cardio exercise. So if you are comparing HR response at a speed in min 1-3 vs a little later in the workload, that could be the answer as well.

Hard to say for sure w/out more detail.

Lennonluv2

I am using the HRM that's built into the treadmill and it's usually about 15 minutes into the workout that I've noticed it. I've worked myself up to a decent incline usually between 5 and 7 percent. I started on the treadmill in January and was at a 3 percent incline with my speed at 3mph. I will do a slow jog and up the speed to 4mph a few times during the workout but mainly I'm walking at about 3.3---3.6 max speed. I also use the recumbent bike at my gym but there is no HRM on it. Thinking of trying out the arc trainer next, I'm at the gym five days a week, I do about 40 minutes of cardio and strength train twice weekly.