Hmm- so much for HRM training!!!

[Bazza1234]

I made my official comeback to 5K parkrunning on 01 Jan - but have been consistently struggling to finish around the 34 minute mark - a few minutes slower than my usual "best". It has been very hot and humid during this time and each week I would finish with a t-shirt literally dripping!! Today it seems that Autumn has finally arrived - it was even a little "chilly" at the start, only about 17C. I still only managed to struggle a 34 minute finish - BUT my average HR was 10BPM less than last week and all the weeks for the past 4 months. My t-shirt was dry at the finish. So - what to do re HR training??? All my gathered statistics with consistent HR numbers alongside different paces are all now "inconsistent:!!!

[dindy Graduate10]

Hi Baz. I expect I have it all wrong but as the last 4 months has been hot so your HR has been higher. Come cooler weather 17C ( Hot UK summer weather!!!) your HB has dropped by 10BPM. If this lower HR continues to stay a bit lower when you run again providing it is cooler than this to me is correct and consistent with what it should be. Ha Ha,if you run in UK I am sure your HB will be a lot lower due to the weather. I do not think most of us could run in the heat you are used to,you must have a lot of stamina (-:

[Bazza1234 Graduate10 in reply to dindy]

No - not a lot of stamina - just the conditions we have !! Last year I still only managed to do the Fountains Abbey parkrun in around 33 minutes - I'll see what I can manage at Southampton this year

[dindy Graduate10 in reply to Bazza1234]

Blimey Baz I wonder what you would be like if you did have a lot of stamina. 5k in 33 mins and you did do it in 30 mins once is nothing short of fantastic. Most of us do not even bother to dream of 5k in 30 mins but just completing 5k without dropping. Your times are up with the much more younger generation who you would give a run for their money.

Out of curiosity you were a bit miffed once on your regular 5k park run as you used to win your age group regularly. One day some other "elderly" gentleman turned up and run the pants off you )-: and you were not happy. Never heard any more about it so was it a one off or is he still running at your park run??

[Bazza1234 Graduate10 in reply to dindy]

There have been too many since then to remember

[Bazza1234 Graduate10 in reply to Bazza1234]

We recently had a man turn up (in the 60-64 age group) and ran 19 minutes for the 5K!!

[dindy Graduate10 in reply to Bazza1234]

That was the man,19 minutes for a 5k!!!! It seems he was not in your age group but non the less a speedy runner,must be ex pro at that speed.

I

[APScotland Graduate10 in reply to Bazza1234]

Wow!! Seriously impressive!

[martinhermanus]

I take magnesium and have stopped cramping. I am taking vitamin C. It reduces inflammation and therefore could possivety push heart rate lower. Still doing the study. ☺

What average heart rate should you run the first km? The last km I am running close to maximum heart rate. I think if you run the first km too last you waste your energy. I want to work out heart rate versus speed and what is the most optimal speed. I use heart beats per km which one can see a drop over time as one gets fitter. I am sure you are aware at over 15 degrees you can subtract so many seconds per km. Try to rework your pervious runs and heart rate using the affect of temperature to get a faster time taking heat into account. I don't run the parkrun if it's hotter than 25 degrees. I think not having sufficient water can push up your heart rate. I have run park runs at the same time with an average heart rate of 168 and then a week later 155. The one Friday night I eat a few plates of chips and other junk food my heart rate that week was higher. It's a facinating subject.

[Bazza1234 Graduate10 in reply to martinhermanus]

Yes - I am thinking that the reduced HR I am experiencing is more to do with the drop in temperatures here than anything else.

[martinhermanus in reply to Bazza1234]

At what heart rate do you run 5 k at mine are 149, 163, 160, 165, 180, Ave 158.

[Bazza1234 Graduate10 in reply to martinhermanus]

Well, of course it varies according to the pace of the run . For runs between 33 mins to 36 mins over our summer period, I have been averaging 140 - with the spread over my last 8 runs from 134 to 146. The average maximums I have seen ( and I usually finish with a 200 metre "sprint" ) have been 155 - with a spread from 152 to 162. Absolute maximums that I have seen a few times over the last couple of years have been 165 to 167. Of course all of this is unique to me - a 71YO male My resting HR is around 48.

[Bazza1234 Graduate10 in reply to Bazza1234]

BTW - I also have Artherosclerosis - otherwise known as calcification or hardening of the heart arteries I think this has probably been the cause of my recent right eye problems.