Heart rate high …

[Nubird]

Anyone else have a high heart rate when running? Mine seems to average 180?! Can go up to 200 … should I be worried ? Resting rate is 66/70 ( all this is according to my Apple Watch..,)

[Instructor57 Graduate10]

Most wrist worn HR monitors are not that accurate!The most important thing is how do you feel !

Or 'Perceived effort'

Maybe this post will help .

healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

[Nubird Graduate10 in reply to Instructor57]

Thanks so much I will take a look … 😊

[Ian5K Graduate10]

I’d measure it by hand, to rule out any issues with the device. Sorry if I’m teaching you the obvious but place your finger tips on the underside of your wrist and count the pulse beats for 15 seconds, then times it by 4. They say it’s best to do before getting up in the morning for a resting HR, providing you’re not stressed. Then do it again after a run.

Max HR is roughly 220 minus your age. It’s not good to run near this level for extended periods.

Have you had a medical recently? Might be an idea just to reassure yourself.

[Nubird Graduate10 in reply to Ian5K]

Thank you, not had a medical but will try your idea of taking pulse 😊

[Cmoi Graduate10 in reply to Ian5K]

I have to say that the 220 minus age MHR formula just doesn't work for 61 year old me. I much prefer to go by how I feel.

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Cmoi]

Same here at 65, I’d barely start a slow jog and be at max

[Benben21 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Yup, me too (69). My runs are always in the 150 bpm range which is according to the normal calculation in peak for the whole period. But I'm comfortable and can talk/have a conversation and the HR settles down very quickly so I've stopped worrying about it!

[Mormor1 Graduate10 in reply to Benben21]

I'm about the same at 70.... Doesn't seem to be a problem for me.

[BradC in reply to Cmoi]

There are a number of formulas around. I am 74 and using these my theoretical maximum heart rate ranges from 146 to 169. It seems the commonly used formula is not necessarily accurate for over 50s.

[John_W Graduate10]

Can you post a screenshot of a heart rate graph from a run from when it's as high as 180?

[Nubird Graduate10 in reply to John_W]

👍

Strava

[John_W Graduate10 in reply to Nubird]

OK, nice one. Look closely at the big increase in the 1st kilometre - a huge increase to around 206 and the an almighty fall back down 180. First of all - how did you feel? That's always the most important question. Does the heart rate correspond with how you actually felt at the time?

That big decrease does not look natural - that's not how the heart works - it looks like an error on the watch's part. And then if you look at your pace graph below, there's no reason why your heart would spike to 206 and stay there for a good few minutes. Your pace was nice and steady.

Do you have the cadence graph for the same run? That would be handy to look at too.

In summary - don't believe everything your watch tells you. Take HR stuff with a huge pinch of salt.

[Nubird Graduate10 in reply to John_W]

Thanks so much !

[Nubird Graduate10 in reply to John_W]

👍

Strava

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

My first run my heart rate hit 186 which felt a bit scary now the highest is about 165 but wrist heart rate monitors are not that accurate so as others say it’s about how you feel, if you are gasping for breath feel dizzy or sick you are running too fast if your breathing is ok and you feel ok it’s more than likely fine

[Yesletsgo Graduate10]

When I first started monitoring my heart rate it was constantly in zone 5 (and I could still hold a conversation). As I've progressed I'm forcing myself to start slower and this means that over say 5km I'm only in the red zone for the last km or so. I feel so much better at the end of the runs, less exhausted, more energised and Mr Garmin has knocked 15 years off my age 😁

[oaprunner Graduate10]

My PB a couple of weeks ago was a proper parkrun in 33min 33sec. The final push took my heart rate to around 170bpm for a very short period which is the highest I've ever seen for me. I'm 70 now.

My daughter has a heart problem which has taken her rate to well over 200bpm without medication control. That has dire consequences when it happens.

[Ian5K Graduate10]

There are other formulae but they’re not so easy to remember off the top of the head. 😆

I think the Tanaka formula is more appropriate for people over 40 and does give them a higher HR max to go by. The Fox formula (220-age) gives me 157 while Tanaka (208 minus (0.7 x age) gives me 164.

However, this isn’t a target goal to maintain on runs (or workouts). The advice is not to work at a heart rate more than 50% of max HR for beginners and 85% for experienced athletes (there should be a gradual increase between the two as we improve).

Well, it’s okay, I believe, to reach max HR for short bursts - providing you’re sure of your cardio health - say a sprint to the finish line or a burst up a hill.

I understand what some comments are saying. I’ve run on and off throughout my years since leaving school and only since doing C25k have I found out about max HR, VO2 and all this other “sports science” stuff. Before, I just got out and did it, basically running in ignorance, and I survived! However, I seem to be more prone to injury now so I tend to be more careful. 🙂

[Maz1103 Graduate10]

I've always panicked about high heart rate. I am 57 and reckon my max is about 180...resting 53. (I have a chest strap). I used to always run as if I was being chased but nowadays I have slowed down and can keep it in check until it naturally drifts up later in the run. As long as I feel comfortable I tend not to worry.

[nowster Graduate10]

Firstly, don't get yourself worked up about it. Wrist based monitors often record cadence as heart rate by mistake. Also, the formulas for max HR are averages and many folks don't fit the average.

I don't fit them.

For instance, my resting HR overnight last night got down to 51bpm, but during the finishing push in a hard 10km run this morning my HR peaked at 180bpm. I wasn't gasping for breath ready to keel over at the end and recovered very quickly. I was using a chest band HR monitor, so it should be reasonably accurate.

I'm 53. I've recorded a max HR of 195 a month or two ago.

As always, if you are really concerned, get proper medical advice, not just some anecdote from a random guy on an internet forum.