Is it okay to workout with a heart rate of 160?

That is pushing it quite hard.

I would try and check with a different heart rate monitor if possible

If
You are at a gym with cardio equipment, go at it hard on a cardio glide

See what a similar level of exertion feels like

Happy exercising!

I hit 180 fairly often, which would theoretically be 100% of max (I'm 40), but clearly isn't. I got up to 204 during HIIT last year and nothing bad happened.

My doctor said as long as I feel fine and don't get dizzy or have chest pain I'm ok at 170-180bpm. You might want to double check with your doctor to see what he or she says.

brianpperkins wrote: »

EatWholeFoods wrote: »

I have been working out for 4 years, but kept my hwart rate 120-145 for workouts. I started running again which I used to do for 10 years but 10 years ago. I have a heart rate monitor and feel great. I just feel pushing like its hard but not too hard, but my heart rate gets to 160 and stays there for awhile when I run. Is that okay if I feel fine during and after workouts? I did the max heart calculation and I am training 85-90% often. I have been running many days a week for a few months and so far fine. Do I work on trying to be slow and keep the heart rate slower?

What formula did you use to calculate max HR? 220-age produces wrong data as often as it produces correct data. There are other ways that involve actually pushing yourself while using a HRM and using real data to derive max HR.

If you feel fine during and after, it is probably not an issue. A 10 year break in running means you're not going to be as efficient now as then. Perceived exertion is a useful tool ... use it.

This. The formulas are rarely accurate. If you care enough you can field test yourself to find your max hr but unless you are seriously concerned, perceived exertion should be just fine (assuming you are otherwise healthy)

Sure. Those formulas don't mean much.

EatWholeFoods wrote: »

I did the max heart calculation and I am training 85-90% often. I have been running many days a week for a few months and so far fine.

My theoretical MHR is 175, in practice I peak at about 200bpm and during a half marathon I'll run at an average of 175 for the duration.

Essentially, the 220-age calculation of MHR is so rough an estimate as to be pointless.

Do I work on trying to be slow and keep the heart rate slower?

You'll get more endurance benefit from staying at a lower range HR for longer. So whilst nothing inherently wrong with pushing yoruself, you're not going to make significant fitness gains.

I appreciate that it's counterintuitive, but that's how the system works.

The Maffetone 180 formula may be a better way of estimating your target heart rate zone.

http://philmaffetone.com/180-formula/

I'm 43 years old and have been running for a long while. I use 142 as my target ceiling based on the Maffetone formula.

Running in heat will elevate your heartrate 10 to 15 beats per minute because a lot of the blood is going to the skin to cool you instead of taking oxygen to the muscles. The ideal running temperature is 55 F. By the time it gets to 80 the heartrate is significantly elevated. Humidity makes it worse.

Generally, in the heat you will need to run slower, but the training effect is still there.

I can average 160 for over 2 hours. I would guess that's normal.

Using Phil Maffetone's formula your MAF heart rate would be 150 (180 - age = 150). If you've been running a year injury free, add 5 BPM.

Google him. You might want to try out running between 140-150BPM for a couple of weeks. Bet you'll see your pace improve from the start where it will of course be somewhat slower than what you run now.

Actually, you can start with this 181 as your max, (I'm guessing that you will push it a bit higher in a race, it's okay, mine is 184 and I'm in my 40's)

Next you need to work out your resting heart rate, the very lowest that it goes. Some people say testing that first thing in the morning but if I'm stressing about getting ready for work it is lower relaxing in the evening, lying down. This will vary as your fitness increases and is a good indicator of if your are over training and need to ease off or if you're maybe coming down with something.

I adore geeking out with numbers...
Take your actual max, so 181 (update as you find it higher)
Subtract from that your resting heart rate - this number is your range so for me it is 184 - 56 so my range is 128.

Now you use this range to find your hard run eg 1 mile warm up at less than 70%, 1 mile hard at 80% and 1 mile cool down at less than 70%. The hard effort will be very hard! On easy days you try to stay at less than 70% for the whole run. This will initially feel horribly, horribly slow but will speed up in a remarkably quick time frame.
It's best to alternate hard days and easy days, in fact I only have 1 hard run day a week.