heart rate question

L

laura35

Cathlete
I know the formula for figuring out your heart rate but does that alway ring true heart rate? I was running the other day with a friend and his heart rate was 142 and mine was 186. I know it goes according to age ,sex and weight at least that is what I had to program in for my heart rate monitor. I was working hard but was able to hold on a conversation and I ran 11miles with my heart rate at that number. He said he wouldnt be worried unless I couldnt carry on a conversation. I also know that just walking around my house that my heart rate is in the 90's,so I have a normally high heart rate anyway. when I figure out my target heart rate according to the formula it say my max is 156 or so. should I worry about training in the 180's or can that formula be off for some people? this is without adding your resting heart rate in also. I have read something about figuring that in which will get you a higher target rate than without it. anyway and help I could get with this will be appreciated. I dont really want to slow down with my runs as like I said I can sustain them in that zone. thanks
 
That formula can be way off...it is with me. My max heart rate is much higher than the formula gave me. Therefore when my HR monitor says I'm "too high" it's not really the case.

You can always try and see if you can figure out your max heart rate by running as hard as you possibly can for a few minutes and see what it gets up to. Once you think you have your highest number then multiply that by 60%, 70%, 80%, and 90% to get all of your "zones".

Honestly, I've ditched the monitor as it really wasn't telling me much. Instead I now just used perceived exertion and go by the good 'ol "talk test". If I can carry on a decent conversation, or say the pledge of allegiance, without huffing and puffing I assume I'm in a good training zone.

Deni
 
thanks, I was thinking the same thing. If I was out of my target heart rate, there is no way I could maintain in that zone for that distance. I have a normally higher heart rate anyway, I dont know if it is because I have asthma but I am usually around high 80'-90's just walking around my house or standing still. my friends is 60 something. much lower than mine.
 
thanks carole that helped makes sense. I think my max is more in the 180's which is where I am usually at. Now is that okay for running or should I be training in a lower range? I would like to shed some more fat so I dont know if I should on some days train lower than at the 85% range.
 
I also have a heart rate that doesn't correspond with the charts! When I run in the range of moderate (based on perceived exertion) my heart rate is between 176-183 (treadmill readout). After looking at the links that Carole posted (thanks!), it seems that I may be training too hard to shed fat! I am going to slow down to the 160s and increase run time to see if this will shed the fat. (Hey and it will be easier to boot!:))

Since you are running long mileage couldn't you do part of the run at the higher end of range and part in the fat-burning range so that you can get both the aerobic and fat burning benefits?
 
I probably could run it that way. i am trying to increase my speed for the races I am going to do so I didnt want to hinder my progress with that. I did drop my time down at least one minute from last yrs times(at least with my first race of the yr) hopefully I continue to see improvements but I also want to lose another 4pds , so being in the fat burning zone would help more with that. darned if you do,darned if you dont. to lose wt ,I probably need to slow down and to become faster as a runner I need to speed up. you would just think as long as you move and get your heart rate up that you shouldnt have to worry about the rest of it.no fair!!!!
 
Laura and Yas...you know from what I have read, the best way to shed fat is with interval training. So for example, I run a 5 mile course and run fairly slow the first 15 min, and then push hard for 90 secs, then recover running slower for 3 mins. That is one interval, I try and repeat the 90 sec sprint and 3 min recovery in my run 4 or 5 times. The downside ( to prevent an injury) is that you should not try this more than 2 days a week, and NEVER 2 days in a row!

Also I have never experienced much weight loss in the so called lower heart rate "fat burning mode"...I don't think that works for all of us...:)
 
that is sort of like doing sprints,right? I did 3 800's on wednesday. I ran the first one then jogged,slowly another 800 then repeated it 3x's,that all my body would do that day. but I run each 800meter within 3min40secs and then recover with another slow jog ,800meters. some days i do hill repeats too. did you lose any weight doing that carole, the interval training that is? You also count that as your speed work too dont you? did you pace drop in any of your races doing that? I really want to better my times in the short races, I dont expect to drop 5minutes or anything like that but would like to drop another minute or so. thanks again!!!
 
Yes Laura...it is just like doing sprints or 800's like you have done. I do intervals this way because I don't go to a track. Yes this is speedwork too...:)..I do this when I marathon train and have normally dropped 5-10 lbs if I needed to...:)...
 
I agree on the interval training,Carole! I only do 3-4 miles per run, so what I do is run the 1st mile at an easy pace, then do 1 min. intervals for the 2nd mile+ and then do last couple of miles at an easier pace. But, still what I perceive as an "easier" pace (11:30 min/mile), my heart rate is still in the high 170s!?

Because my knees are complaining & I want to avoid injury, I will try your suggestions and do 2 days of interval runs with the 90 min sprint/3 min. recovery formula and then do 2 days of running at an easier pace keeping heart rate in 160s for the "fat burning mode".

Overall, I think bodies adapt pretty quickly to any one activity and may need crosstraining for fat loss (also injury prevention)!

Thanks for your input!
 
carole and yas do either of you do 5k's? have your times dropped from interval training? just curious as this is one of my goals this year,dropping my race times. my first yr I couldnt break below 27min, I was so frustrated. I did my first race this year and completed it in 26min14sec. I am hoping to drop my 5k times down to 25+. any tips you got I would appreciate. I do only one speed work a week. well I alternate one week I will do hill repeats running up and walking down for 30minutes and the next week I will do 800's, how many depends on how I am feeling. those really tire me out fast. should i add another day each week? I also run on the weekend with a couple of friends who definately get my heart rate up more running with them. my one friend can complete 5k's in 22-23min,fast!!!!! I would die at that pace. but running with them on the weekend has helped me out on my pace since i was trying to keep up with them,now its not such a struggle to do so.
 
carole and yas do either of you do 5k's? have your times dropped from interval training? just curious as this is one of my goals this year,dropping my race times. my first yr I couldnt break below 27min, I was so frustrated. I did my first race this year and completed it in 26min14sec. I am hoping to drop my 5k times down to 25+. any tips you got I would appreciate. I do only one speed work a week. well I alternate one week I will do hill repeats running up and walking down for 30minutes and the next week I will do 800's, how many depends on how I am feeling. those really tire me out fast. should i add another day each week? I also run on the weekend with a couple of friends who definately get my heart rate up more running with them. my one friend can complete 5k's in 22-23min,fast!!!!! I would die at that pace. but running with them on the weekend has helped me out on my pace since i was trying to keep up with them,now its not such a struggle to do so.
 
Laura...I did do 5K's a very long time ago, but now I focus so much on distance it is tough to train for a 5K. Although running a 5K for me would be good speedwork!!! Running with your friends who are faster is definitely the way to go Laura. You will get faster from that and doing one speedwork workout a week. Try not to set your goals too high. Cutting off any time from your previous 26:14 5K is an improvement....:)
 
Laura...I did do 5K's a very long time ago, but now I focus so much on distance it is tough to train for a 5K. Although running a 5K for me would be good speedwork!!! Running with your friends who are faster is definitely the way to go Laura. You will get faster from that and doing one speedwork workout a week. Try not to set your goals too high. Cutting off any time from your previous 26:14 5K is an improvement....:)
 
I am doing a 1/2 in april and may but I do alot the short races throughtout the spring,summer and fall. I know I will never be able torun a 5k in under 25+ but anything under 26min would be great!!!! at the end of these little races I am usually dying. but my friend that use to be faster than me (now we're about the same pace)said she can tell I am stronger.It is nice for someone else to be able to see and tell you because I didnt really realize that I am, so that helps. I have a sister in law though that competes with everyone and I know I shouldnt let her get to me but i want to beat her a couple of times just for spite. childish I know but even her own sister wont run with her anymore because she has to basically rub it into everyones face that she comes in ahead always and if she doesnt she is mad.the last race i did she knew my friend and I were right on her heels and she pushed as hard as she could to make sure we didnt go ahead of her and I thought I push myself but I am not going to kill myself just to beat the people I know. my friends and I dont care who finishes first but my sister in laws attitude is really getting to all of us. nobody wants to run with her anymore and my brother said her sister doesnt wan to because she is tired of losing to her and I wanted to tell him that isnt why it is how she acts about it. anyway i wont let her ruin my love for running though, just would love to beat her to tick her off. she finished 5seconds ahead of me by the way,so not much!!!!
 
I am doing a 1/2 in april and may but I do alot the short races throughtout the spring,summer and fall. I know I will never be able torun a 5k in under 25+ but anything under 26min would be great!!!! at the end of these little races I am usually dying. but my friend that use to be faster than me (now we're about the same pace)said she can tell I am stronger.It is nice for someone else to be able to see and tell you because I didnt really realize that I am, so that helps. I have a sister in law though that competes with everyone and I know I shouldnt let her get to me but i want to beat her a couple of times just for spite. childish I know but even her own sister wont run with her anymore because she has to basically rub it into everyones face that she comes in ahead always and if she doesnt she is mad.the last race i did she knew my friend and I were right on her heels and she pushed as hard as she could to make sure we didnt go ahead of her and I thought I push myself but I am not going to kill myself just to beat the people I know. my friends and I dont care who finishes first but my sister in laws attitude is really getting to all of us. nobody wants to run with her anymore and my brother said her sister doesnt wan to because she is tired of losing to her and I wanted to tell him that isnt why it is how she acts about it. anyway i wont let her ruin my love for running though, just would love to beat her to tick her off. she finished 5seconds ahead of me by the way,so not much!!!!
 
Laura...I can definitely relate to your competitive nature. You could try adding a push at the end of your runs and one day...you will beat your SIL. I held back in a very competitive race once. I went from 4th place to 3rd in the last 50 feet...:)
 
Laura...I can definitely relate to your competitive nature. You could try adding a push at the end of your runs and one day...you will beat your SIL. I held back in a very competitive race once. I went from 4th place to 3rd in the last 50 feet...:)
 
thanks, I usually try to sprint the last p;art of my runs, and a friend said I needed to come up on my toes more when sprinting and swing my arms back and fourth more, I am hoping to pass her one of these days but like I said that is only because of how she acts. thanks for all you help and advice carole, I appreciate it alot!!!
 
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