Week 5 run 3 - Done. Ran at 6.8 mph for all but the last 2 mins where I dropped to 6.3mph. Very high max heart rate 190 should I be worried

[GettingFitter]

Great sense of achievement in running for 20 mins non-stop but max heart rate went to 190 and average was 157. Should I be worried? Having never really been able to run before I`m trying to get to 3 miles in 27 mins before I'm 52 which is 4 weeks away. Loving the programme but was really apprehensive before today but I surprised myself. I'm tracking my progress(?) in a spreadsheet and before today trends were improving ie expending less calories per mile. I run on a treadmill with an incline of 2 so am hoping I will cope with the great outdoors once I've finished.

[carole01 Graduate]

Well done for completing wk 5 and now you are running 20 minutes might be worthwhile trying the great outdoors sooner. I run along a canal towpath which is flat scenic and very long!! I throughly recommend it, it's great for eating those miles up by the beautiful distractions! Good luck with whatever you decide and hope you achieve your 27 soon

[GettingFitter Graduate in reply to carole01]

Thanks I may try outdoors sooner I just find it easier to control my speed on the treadmill

[Becca66 Graduate]

No idea about heart rate but VERY impressed by your speed! Well done.

[GettingFitter Graduate in reply to Becca66]

Thanks Becca66

[XFNutty Graduate]

I did a gym assessment once and my heart rate got to 200-210 and I asked the gym instructor the same thing and he said I'd be fine, but to be honest I was 18 at the time. Probably doesn't help, but I don't think you should be overly concerned

[turnturtle Graduate]

Oh dear. I was feeling really good after my run today but you have well and truly pricked my bubble! Your time is amazing. I have no idea about heart rate except that there is some complex mathematical formula to do with youyr age which supposedly tells you what your max should be. Since all these medical guidelines (especially those about what to eat and drink) are getting overturned every day, I personally take no notice. But I did have a medical to check my heart was in good nick before I adopted this attitude.

[GettingFitter Graduate in reply to turnturtle]

Sorry turnturtle you should feel really good as you have graduated. I agree with your view on guidelines. Favourite views " What doesn't kill you makes you stronger!" and "Pain is only temporary and is weakness leaving your body"

[Anniemurph Graduate]

I think you should go and get it checked out by your GP - at least then you know there aren't any problems. Different people have different heart rates, recovery rates etc. so no one can say that's right or wrong just looking at numbers, but your GP will do tests if necessary and then you will feel reassured. All the best

[GettingFitter Graduate in reply to Anniemurph]

Thanks I may ask him to.

[GettingFitter Graduate]

Thanks all. I did have a health assessment before Xmas that included an ECG and there were no issues there so I think I'll ignore it as there isn't any pain. I certainly found the 20 mins tough but think I'll try week six and see if the max drops again

[Rignold]

Wow! that's a cracking pace! I'm one run ahead of you and by my calculations am not doing more than about 5mph. I also run along a canal towpath, through a nature reservation in fact, and hugely recommend getting out into teh great outdoors. I do gym cardio sessions as well but all my running is outdoors. Makes it much more enjoyable.

[GettingFitter Graduate in reply to Rignold]

I set my walk pace at 4mph so with the 10mins walking each session it brings the average down overall to about 5.3 so far. Interesting that the overall miles was 3.1 today in 35.5 mins (I add 1.5 mins at 2.5mph and 1.5 mins at 1.5 mph to really recover after Laura's 5 mins). This programme certainly seems to be working but not being an experienced runner I don't feel I know what a steady pace is - hence I use a treadmill. Hopefully I can do the course and hit my target then take it outside and enjoy the countryside. Tree pollen seems bad at the moment though and running outside wouldn't be as enjoyable with hayfever

[frannyfran Graduate]

well, if you can make sense of this, good luck!

runnersworld.co.uk/general/...

[runner56 Graduate]

There are a number of different formulae that calculate your max heartrate.

digifit.com/heartratezones/...

Hope this helps

[Hidden]

My max is always 180-190 and averages 160-170...by the formula my max should be 172. So long as you feel fine (no chest pain, not on the verge of collapse) I think you're fine... The formulas are "one size fits all" and not generally reliable... Do what's comfortable for you... Sometimes tempting to get locked into analyzing numbers. 20 years ago we didn't have this tech and people still ran!

Having said that - if you're in any doubt then seek medical advice! Before any programme we all should really... That's the only way to be sure for YOU that its okay. My view is in no way medical advice!!

I had a proper stress test a few years ago so I have no issues pushing hard as I know there's nothing dodgy with my ticker...