Carlton Palmer

[MichaelJH]

The former England footballer Carlton Palmer has revealed he had a "suspected small heart attack" during the first mile of a half marathon. During the race he pushed his HR to 232bpm. His wife is, unsurprisingly, not happy with him for doing that. All us hearties should seek guidance from our heart team on maximum HR appropriate to us. The basic guide is 220 - age but mine is set rather lower and I can only achieve this figure on an exercise bike!

[Hidden]

Apparently Carlton Palmer had extensive unspecified surgery for a heart condition in 2016. I have to say anyone over 50 who allows their heart rate to achieve 232 for a potentially sustained length of time with or without a heart condition is asking for trouble. And as for CP he is probably fortunate to be alive.

[JulianM]

I would take the claim about his heart rate with a large pinch of salt (over the shoulder, not on the food) especially when it happened early in the race.

My (limited) understanding of cardiac incidents in endurance events is they are most likely at the end, when people attempt sprint finishes. So, having an issue in the first part of the race is quite unusual.

Exceptionally high HR figures could be down to heart rhythm issues giving rise to false readings.

Also, when I was competing in half marathons, marathons, 10K races, duathlons (run-bike-run), and also just going out on training runs, I would sometimes get apparent early spikes in heart rate to ridiculous levels - despite setting off at an easy pace - because of poor electrical contact between the strap and my skin. After a few minutes it would settle down ...

Wrist-based heart rate monitors are even more open to artefacts, as I understand it.

So, who knows what was really going on?

Years of training with heart rate taught me that the 220-age formula is unrealistic for older athletes: its only value is for people who haven't exercised much before and have no idea what to aim for, to keep them (very) safe.

Actual maximum heart rate is totally individual and often well above the formula - but still likely to be well below 200 - in older athletes with decades of endurance training.

There's a great and encouraging 'Alive and Ticking' webcast from the BHF on Sports Cardiology, with Prof Sanjay Sharma and former elite athlete Roger Black, which I strongly recommend.

I think it's great that he was pushing himself at least a bit, glad that it happened where he had access to prompt treatment, and wish him a full recovery - though I'm sure he'll be more cautious in future.

[Hidden in reply to JulianM]

You have put forward some interesting points. However the fact of the matter is that that CP had extensive heart surgery 2016 followed by a heart attack in 2023 whilst running in a marathon. If I were him I would be seriously looking at my exercise regime and reviewing the amount of strain I was putting on my heart. As I said earlier he is lucky to be alive, next time he might not be. And surely the same applies to all those with known heart conditions, in that exercise is necessary for a healthy heart but overdoing it not.

[JulianM in reply to Hidden]

Well, the reason I recommended the webcast is precisely because Professor Sharma challenges the idea that people with heart problems should avoid or seriously limit exercise: yes, there are real risks attached, to be discussed with a doctor who has the fullest picture of relevant health issues, but common assumptions may be wrong. People who have had heart problems may stand to benefit more from exercise than those who have not.

[Hidden in reply to JulianM]

I suggest we both agree that for people with heart conditions, appropriate exercise is good and perhaps necessary, whereas 'overdoing it' is the opposite