Polar fitness test and max heart rate ?

maegmez

I just got a Polar RCX5 and completed the fit test. It came back with a good rating at 37 and an estimated max heart rate of 179

According to all the online calculators, my MHR should be 180. After 9 months of lots of running, my resting heart rate is 46-47, could this be the reason it has changed?

I'm assuming that will change my heart rate zones. I have just started running at 6.1 mph and my average heart rate was about 53, I couldn't have a conversation but could speak a few words and I'm huffing and puffing. According to the online calculators my target heart rate is 152 so I think that sounds right.

Has anybody that has taken the fit test get a max heart rate that differed from the typical calculators? I'm worried my calorie count will be inflated.

I'm 41, 5' 4 3/4" tall and weigh 168 pounds. I ran 10.1 kilometres on Friday in 1 hour 4 mins with a calorie burn of 980. That was with my basic garmin and the max heart rate was set at 177 with RHR at 46. Does that sound right? Before I put my RHR in and max, the garmin would say I burned about 800 cals.

I know none of these will be exact and that's fine but I don't want it to be overly inflated.