Heart rate ok?

Lefitc
Lefitc Posts: 8 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi. Fitness pals. I'm from St. Louis. I've been running on the treadmill for about half a year, but I'm kinda confused now because I don't know how to control my heart rate. I've done some research and they said the ideal heart rate is around 140 but when I run at a speed of 5.7 miles an hour, my heart rate is always around 180.I wonder if this is ok. Your responses would be greatly appreciated.

Replies

  • Cherimoose
    Cherimoose Posts: 5,208 Member
    I've done some research and they said the ideal heart rate is around 140 but when I run at a speed of 5.7 miles an hour, my heart rate is always around 180.I wonder if this is ok.

    Probably, yes. The only times you need to worry about a high HR is if you need to pace yourself (for long distance races, etc), or if you have a medical reason to keep your HR low. Otherwise, it's better to go by how you feel. Google "Rate of Perceived Exertion" for more on that.

    If you have more questions, state what your goal is.
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    Many of the "target" heart rate calculations are based on the old (and pretty much discredited) 220-your age as MaxHR and then applying the appropriate percentage.

    Short of a stress test your MaxHR is pretty much guess work.

    Your heart rate is a reflection of both fitness level and genetics. Generally speaking as your fitness improves your heart rate goes down for the same level of perceived effort (eg my 5km run yesterday @ 6 mph I averaged 142 bpm - a couple of years ago the same run would have averaged closer to 160 bpm). Another indicator of improved fitness is a lower resting heart rate and faster recovery.

    While 180 does sound a bit high (is that max or average?) the question is how do you feel when it gets that high? Are you short of breath or feeling dizzy? If not you probably have nothing to worry about.

    In terms of building endurance one of your runs should be longer and slower (you mentioned 5.7 mph but didn't say what incline your treadmill is set at).

    If you're concerned about your heart rate or there's a history of heart disease in your family your doctor is the one to ask .
  • Lefitc
    Lefitc Posts: 8 Member
    Thank you so much! I seem to feel good unless I didn't sleep well the night before. Thanks again for your reply.
  • sydneybeachgirl
    sydneybeachgirl Posts: 209
    when your heart rate reaches 180 do you feel out of breath? do you struggle to breath? do you get that pinching pain in your side- above your hip- if not then it is probably fine for you...others might experience these symptoms at 180 which is the body's way of sending the message "Slow down whatever you are doing I need to rest"..:) If you can stop and get your heart rate back to your standard HR range then it is all good..but if takes more than 5mins to get back to normal range then I would looking at it. Also consider what your resting HR is..some people have a lower number some have a higher..
  • Lefitc
    Lefitc Posts: 8 Member
    These are great questions! Thank you so much! I feel fine and I'm not dizzy or out of breath (although I do feel cramps if I drink or eat right before I run but I usually go for the elliptical before running to solve that problem) but I was concerned because my research says
    that heart rates while exercising should not be that high. I also noticed that when touch those handles, my heart rate changed,
    first 185 or sth like that popped up and then 140 or something around that level. As it changed like this, I was confused which was my real heart rate.

    Also about METs, they say the ideal METs should be about like 5 but mine is often over 10 because I usually run at a speed of 5.7 or 6.1 with an incline of 3-7. I hope I'm not overdoing it.
  • hilts1969
    hilts1969 Posts: 465 Member
    These are great questions! Thank you so much! I feel fine and I'm not dizzy or out of breath (although I do feel cramps if I drink or eat right before I run but I usually go for the elliptical before running to solve that problem) but I was concerned because my research says
    that heart rates while exercising should not be that high. I also noticed that when touch those handles, my heart rate changed,
    first 185 or sth like that popped up and then 140 or something around that level. As it changed like this, I was confused which was my real heart rate.

    Also about METs, they say the ideal METs should be about like 5 but mine is often over 10 because I usually run at a speed of 5.7 or 6.1 with an incline of 3-7. I hope I'm not overdoing it.

    heart rates from machines are not accurate so don't worry, if your heart rate was too high you would feel it believe me, as a test for your peace of mind go on the treadmill run for a few minutes then increase the speed where you feel you are sprinting and run to just short of complete fatigue then check your heart rate and note how heavy you are breathing, this will give you an idea of what your max heart rate is
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,321 Member
    If your research is about the "fat burning" zone. Just disregard it as it does not mean you don't burn fat going at a higher HR. The important questions are how do you feel when you HR is high. I know as a 46 year old when I was out cycling and had a long hill to go up my HR would go up into the 190's, but I was not dizzy or excessively out of breath. Once done the hill it dropped back pretty quickly.
  • sydneybeachgirl
    sydneybeachgirl Posts: 209
    These are great questions! Thank you so much! I feel fine and I'm not dizzy or out of breath (although I do feel cramps if I drink or eat right before I run but I usually go for the elliptical before running to solve that problem) but I was concerned because my research says
    that heart rates while exercising should not be that high. I also noticed that when touch those handles, my heart rate changed,
    first 185 or sth like that popped up and then 140 or something around that level. As it changed like this, I was confused which was my real heart rate.

    Also about METs, they say the ideal METs should be about like 5 but mine is often over 10 because I usually run at a speed of 5.7 or 6.1 with an incline of 3-7. I hope I'm not overdoing it.

    get an HRM if you worry and monitor that...treadmill built in HRMs dont work well - and some also come with the warning that one shouldnt measure HR via holding those handles whilst running..it gives a false reading..I had treadmills showing my HR being 225 when my HRM watch was giving a more reasonable value of 169 :) I also had one treadmill displaying a HR of 53 once :):) it sounds like it more the machine playing up most likely because 5.7speed with an incline of 3 is interpreted as climbing :) not too fast with high incline...the machine is rightfully assuming you must be out of breath and struggling....
    I would recommend getting an HRM watch :) that will put your mind at ease
  • Lefitc
    Lefitc Posts: 8 Member
    Thank you so much! All your replies are so helpful! I truly appreciate it! I'll just ignore the HR shown on the treadmills and do stuff based on how I feel :) I suspect that the first HR shown is the HR assumed at that a certain speed and incline and the 2nd HR is probably my actual HR if it's correct? But I'm not sure.
    "some also come with the warning that one shouldnt measure HR via holding those handles whilst running"
    Why shouldn't one measure HR via holding those handles while running? It's because the HR shown is confusing or because it's harmful to hold the handles while running? If the latter, it makes me wonder why they designed those HR handles. I wish I could read the user manual but the treadmills are in the gym and they don't come with user manuals.
  • MelodyandBarbells
    MelodyandBarbells Posts: 7,724 Member
    You could always look around for the tread mills model # then go google for the manual and read to your hearts content! The information you're needing also seems pretty generic so you just might be able to find it in any treadmill manual
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,321 Member
    "some also come with the warning that one shouldnt measure HR via holding those handles whilst running"
    Why shouldn't one measure HR via holding those handles while running? It's because the HR shown is confusing or because it's harmful to hold the handles while running? If the latter, it makes me wonder why they designed those HR handles. I wish I could read the user manual but the treadmills are in the gym and they don't come with user manuals.

    It is because unless your hands are stable on the grips, the HR reading will be wrong, not to mention you are more likely to miss your footing and go crashing to the tread and shot off the back end of the treadmill. If you want to take your HR get a HRM with a chest strap, even a cheap one will do to monitor HR, it just needs a chest strap.

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