Heart Rate Monitor Question

revjames
revjames Posts: 75 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Quite new to running witha HRM so have a question!

I am 49 years old, male, been running a couple of years. I have been a bit on the heavy side hence my decision a couple of years ago to start running. I do a lot of training on my treadmill. When I say training - I just run, usually at a fairly uniform rate and generally half an hr to an hr.

I have done a few half marathons now and the last couple have been in the sub 2 time which I am pleased with but wanted to improve things. I decised to start doing the 13 week training plan in the magazine you get when you dont get a place in the London Marathon. This has several zones such as 'easy run', 'steady run', threshold run' etc etc all of which have a max % figure next to them.

I recently had an op and when I was being prepped had blood pressure taken. They were concerned at my resting rate which was only 38bpm. I decided to get a HRM to keep an eye on things. my max HR should be about 171, using 50 as a RHR (its usually 40 - 50 when I wake up), I end up with a 60% rate of 122 and an 80% rate of 146.

Running on the mill at a gentle 'easy run' I end up at 131 and dont have to speed things up much to get up to 155

Walking around shops its only doing about 60 and when I stop walking it drops to about 53bpm so on one end of the scale my heart rate seems very efficient but at the other it seems to be going far too fast! What am I doing wrong or should I not worry too much?

Regards


James

Replies

  • RunBrew
    RunBrew Posts: 220 Member
    Quite new to running witha HRM so have a question!

    I am 49 years old, male, been running a couple of years. I have been a bit on the heavy side hence my decision a couple of years ago to start running. I do a lot of training on my treadmill. When I say training - I just run, usually at a fairly uniform rate and generally half an hr to an hr.

    I have done a few half marathons now and the last couple have been in the sub 2 time which I am pleased with but wanted to improve things. I decised to start doing the 13 week training plan in the magazine you get when you dont get a place in the London Marathon. This has several zones such as 'easy run', 'steady run', threshold run' etc etc all of which have a max % figure next to them.

    I recently had an op and when I was being prepped had blood pressure taken. They were concerned at my resting rate which was only 38bpm. I decided to get a HRM to keep an eye on things. my max HR should be about 171, using 50 as a RHR (its usually 40 - 50 when I wake up), I end up with a 60% rate of 122 and an 80% rate of 146.

    Running on the mill at a gentle 'easy run' I end up at 131 and dont have to speed things up much to get up to 155

    Walking around shops its only doing about 60 and when I stop walking it drops to about 53bpm so on one end of the scale my heart rate seems very efficient but at the other it seems to be going far too fast! What am I doing wrong or should I not worry too much?

    Regards


    James

    If you're already a trained runner as you indicate you are, having run a few Halfs, leave the garbage math and speculation out and just go run your heart rate up to max and find out what it is. A 5k is more than enough. You can probably reach HRMax in 3k. I know I certainly can.
    Once you get that number, multiply it by the percentage you seek.
    Easy-Peasy Lemon Squeezy.

    FWIW, my 'math' MaxHR is 187 (33y/o), but I have often ( at least once a month) recorded a HR in the 200-202 range.
    The real problem is every stupid formula hinges on the 220-age bulls$^t.
  • revjames
    revjames Posts: 75 Member
    I tried to max my heart rate by going flat out on my treadmill (16K) for a few mins and got to 165..... so you are saying do a 5K - a fast one I take it? or even 3K as fast as poss. will give it a go!

    the formula I used was 220 - age = 171 - RHR 50 = 121 x 60% - 73 + 50 = 123 @60% which works out at 147 for 80% which most people say is that max that should never never ever be exceeded!

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