Heart Rate Monitor Users Question

Lynn M.

Lynn M.

Cathlete
Hi all-

I just recently purchased a Heart Rate Monitor ( a Polar FS1) and wore it for the first time yesterday to see what my heart did during a run. I've not used one in over 10 years, have always been of the mind that the self perceived exertion test was accurate.

Based on the formula 220-age (42) my HR should be 178.

Then, if I understand correctly, when doing cardio, the ideal zone is to be between 65%-85%. Which, at my age puts me between 116 (65%)- 151(85%)

During my run, my heartrate was at or slightly above 85% the majority of the time. Yet, I was not gasping for air, or feeling stress whatsoever.. I felt like I was at a comfortable aerobic pace.

I'm pretty cardiovascularly conditioned, but I've always thought at an 85% work level, you should be gasping for air.

Is my heart rate monitor off, or is that normal for someone who is used to cardio?

Thanks in advance, Lynn M.
 
Lynn M. said:
Hi all-

I just recently purchased a Heart Rate Monitor ( a Polar FS1) and wore it for the first time yesterday to see what my heart did during a run. I've not used one in over 10 years, have always been of the mind that the self perceived exertion test was accurate.

Based on the formula 220-age (42) my HR should be 178.

Then, if I understand correctly, when doing cardio, the ideal zone is to be between 65%-85%. Which, at my age puts me between 116 (65%)- 151(85%)

During my run, my heartrate was at or slightly above 85% the majority of the time. Yet, I was not gasping for air, or feeling stress whatsoever.. I felt like I was at a comfortable aerobic pace.

I'm pretty cardiovascularly conditioned, but I've always thought at an 85% work level, you should be gasping for air.

Is my heart rate monitor off, or is that normal for someone who is used to cardio?

Thanks in advance, Lynn M.
Click to expand...

Lynn,

I have the same question. I talked to my DD's coach (figure skating). She said the hear rate zone published is more for regular people. If someone is athletes, she expects to see in higher % zone. Also, she expecs to see after intense anaerobic workout, althlets should be recovered within 1 min.

I have Polar F4. 85% is too comfortable for me. I don't feel heavy laboring. For me, my hear rate % had to be around 95%, I would not be able to talk.

Sorry, I could not give you an answer.
 
I think its normal. I used to use a Polar F4 and I wasn't gasping for breath at 85%. Once, when I did IMAX 3, the HRM went to 101! I can say I was out of breath then. I was consistently in the 80s doing Cathe's workouts. I was the same age as you when I was using it. Usually when it got into the 160s, I was getting out of breath which was about 90% and above.

Marcy
 
I recently tried to figure out what mine is because I started doing cardio coach and when I used the perceived exertion, I always tend to push myslelf too hard because, like you I figure, otherwise I'm not working hard enough...

I googled calculating target heartrate and there was one link that had an alternate way of doing it. It requires you knowing your resting heartrate, which is best to take before you get out of bed. Mine was 51. As you enter all your stuff it will calculate how many beats is 55,65,75, etc% for you so you know each increment.

I have used it that way, it works me hard but I'm not as exhausted as I would be if I guessed my own exhertion... if that makes any sense...:)
 
More Accuracy

To really get a good target heart rate not only do you need to have your resting heart rate but also when you are at full exertion. When I was training for a half marathon I run hills and looked at what my highest rate was then and figured that into the equation. I can put the equation in tonight. It was way higher than what the published number was.

If you can't wait until then check some running websites.

Heather
 
Thanks for the input!! I'll try the more specific formula for figuring HR out! Glad to know its probably not my HR monitor and others have experienced this as well.

Take care, Lynn M.
 
My HRM came with a booklet explaining the target heart rates. One section used the basic 220-age deal but said that a more accurate way was to use the resting HR plus you also did a couple of things to get the HR up (all the directions were in the booklet) and then figured it out using all that info. I doubt it's your HRM, you may just need to find a more accurate target HR...you could probably do that online and then manually enter your info.
 
Hi there-

Thanks for the reply and info!

Judi, that formula is very helpful.. just plugged my numbers in and it appears to be much more accurate!!

Thanks again, Lynn M.
 
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