What To Do

Categories

Social Bookmarks

Feeds

Runner's Training Tips: Heart Rate Question

Bottom of Page

1 to 8 of 8

  1.  
  1.  
    flanneryoneil

    Just started back up on the C25K program a few weeks ago and I need some advice. I am up to running 25 minutes straight and feel like I have a good pace, breathing, and I don't get winded. However, today I used a heart rate monitor and found out that I am averaging 185 bpm. Should I slow down my pace so that I only reach the suggested 160-170 bpm (I'm 25, female, and overweight)?

    Any thoughts and suggestions would be appreciated!!

    • CommentAuthorFree Membermcdlt
    • CommentTimeSep 14th 2007
     
    mcdlt

     

    take your age and subtract that number out of 220 then multiply by 70% to 80%, this is the number you should be at.  185 is to high for you.

    220-25=195 x 75%= 146bpm is a moderate #Laughing

  3.  
    watchmywake

    Thats a load of crap.

    im 17 and it doesnt matter whether im working my ass of when I run or not my heart rate is still above the '%' it should be. (i could be at 14 km/hr  pace or just doing a recovery run and it will stil at 175 to 180 regardless).

    If you feel good then keep running like that. Besides if i was to run at 75% bpm like mcdlt suggested then  i would be almost walking. (220-17=203 x 75% = 152).

    Each person is different and these bpm suggestions are just averages. If it feels good then keep running at 185bpm.

  4.  
    speedyguy17
    the person two up has no idea......first off...when you calculate the 70 to 80 percent....its 70 to 80 percent of the way from your resting heart rate to 120- your age.....so you take 120 subtract your age....then subtract your reasting heart rate....then multiply by .7 and .8 and then add your resting heart rate again....so that person was wrong there....so you are well within your target heart range......also the only reason you would be in trouble is if you were under your limit...again heart rate is NOT the best way to judge how you're working....the best way is how you feel....if you can run for 25 minutes at whatever pace you feel comfortable that is GREAT....there is no reason why you should slow down even if you feel good....thats just dumb......for some good training tips try bob glover's handbook for running or look on letsrun.com
    • CommentAuthorFree Membermgi11a
    • CommentTimeSep 15th 2007
     
    mgi11a

    In answer to your question. I think you should slow down back into your target range, and rather then doing 25mins at about 95% HR drop back to 80-85% and try to increase the length of your workout. The short sharp 25min will be good for your cardio, but you will burn way more cals doing 45min at 80% HR. There's a lot of theries about MHR and how to calculate it. Theres heaps of sites that do it for you, you just need to work out your resting HR. Do that first thing in the morning before you get out of bed, take it over 5 days and get an average.

    watchmy, if your recovery runs are 175 -180bpm at 17 your either going to hard or your getting some wrong readings, assuming your wearing a HRM. I'm 44 and did a 21km easy run this morning at 5min/km pace with an average HR of 154 and max 170.

    speedy, I agree with you on the calculations, your abviously way smarter then me , thats why I find a site that does it for me, I dont agree with not slowing down. If your goal is to run a sub20 5km you would probably be right, but I think flannery wants to burn some cal's, and there's no way you could or should keep your heart 95% for long periods.

    I have to say i'm no expert and may stand correcting on all or any or of my ideas, but at the end of the day the fact your out exercising is fantastic and you can fine tune it to suit your goals. Good luck.

     

    • CommentAuthorFree MemberTrotters
    • CommentTimeSep 16th 2007
     
    Trotters

    Flannery, I'm no mathematician, so I wouldn't know what my heart rate was anyhow; I often read about 'Heart Rate Monitors' and all the associated opinions of the buffs that use them and all the other technological gear - strikes me that it only serves to scare some people off, which is the last thing they were designed to do!

    I'd suggest you just run at the pace you feel comfortable at, don't push yourself too hard and don't frighten yourself with gadgetry which isn't really necessary unless you're thinking about winning medals, which from what I've read, you're obviously (like me) not.  I'm 50, I'm now at a reasonable body weight after running footpaths for two years - I've never used a heart rate monitor, nor would I dream of using one.  Make sure you've had plenty of liquid before you run, start off by running routes in a close proximity to where you live.  If you run regulary, it'll get easier week by week, you'll know when you can run further and it'll all fall naturally into place, the weight will come down and YOUR HEART WILL LOOK AFTER ITSELF!

    (Apologies to those who live and die by 'HRM's, splits, running races and owning the latest gear)  

    Just keep running to your own comfortable level - something in the back of your head will regulate how you're running, and will let you know when extra energy and effort is there to be tapped.

    • CommentAuthorFree Membergtaa12
    • CommentTimeSep 21st 2007 edited
     
    gtaa12

    I need to say one thing, those calculations are only useful for the average person. According to those I should have a maximum heart rate of 188 BPM but I can get it up to 209 BPM (I have maintained over 200BPM for 5-10 minutes before). 

    I thought that there was something wrong (and that I was due for a heart attack) so I saw a doctor and he said that there is no such thing as normal and I should start to listen to my body. If I didn’t feel faint and I felt good then there was nothing to worry about. I run quite happily between 164BPM-179BPM for an hour (12KM) when according to most target heart rate calculators I should be between 122BPM and 141 BPM.

    I have been running for 2 years at these levels without any probs. I was also initially 122KG when I started and am now 86KGs and my comfortable zone is still that high so I don't believe its a weight thing.

    I just think that people should be careful not to scare others by saying that something’s not right when they don’t know that for sure. Flanneryoneil, listen to your body but don't push too hard too fast and see a doctor if you feel that there is something wrong.

  8.  
    pattycake1356
    just a little reiminder: there is such a thing as sinus tachardia (this condition is NORMAL, but fast heart rate, usually runs in younger women 20-30, BUT as mentioned above, everyone is different.) I am a 51 yr. old female,approx. 135 #'s, at times it is not unusual for my hr to go over 200. Yes I feel tired and winded, so I slow the pace down and if necessary, walk until I feel better, my heart rate usually will drop back to 150's and I'm ready to roll again...I do wear a heart rate monitor, but have learned to listen first to my body, then I will check the reading which has eventually taught me more and more to learn more about MY body and what works for me.

1 to 8 of 8

  1.