Health benefits of running

[Steve_L]

One of the reasons I took up C25K was that I had a high resting heart rate to go with high blood pressure. Before I started running, in January, it was above 100 bpm.

I just measured it.

73!

[Miss_slinky Graduate]

That's fantastic Steve - great achievement to get it down that much! It's such a fantastic thing to do for your health!

[Steve_L Graduate in reply to Miss_slinky]

Last time I measured it, a couple of weeks ago, it was 84, which was good. I'm amazed at the improvement. Mind you, I do feel like a superman lately - so much fitter and able.

[Miss_slinky Graduate in reply to Steve_L]

That's great Steve, massive achievement in a relatively short time! I'm sure you'll be feeling amazing!

[misswobble Graduate in reply to Steve_L]

Well done Steve. We get out of it what we put in. So pleased you're feeling like a new man

[poppypug Graduate]

Well done Steve !

Very positive news . Totally agree with Miss W. It doesn't come for free we have to work at it just like you have and the benefits are immense .

Absolutely marvellous ! xxx

[Steve_L Graduate in reply to poppypug]

Thing is, it's such a blast of a way to be healthy. It must be one of the few things that are good for you that give you such a buzz!

[poppypug Graduate in reply to Steve_L]

I know , good innit ? xxx

[Steve_L Graduate in reply to poppypug]

Fan-bloody-tastic!

[Tomas Graduate]

Wow, that is GREAT!

[Steve_L Graduate in reply to Tomas]

I feel pretty gratified by it!

[Peter_B Graduate]

Steve how did you measure it?

[Steve_L Graduate in reply to Peter_B]

I have a Mio Link HRM that I use in conjunction with my Garmin. It also connects via Bluetooth to my tablet.

[islandrunner Graduate]

That's awesome.

[ViaM Graduate]

That's brilliant!

Don't we need to take resting HR first thing in the morning, before we even get out of bed for five consecutive mornings and work out the average?

[Steve_L Graduate in reply to ViaM]

Perhaps that's the way to take it to get a precise measurement, but I've done it in a consistent way over the months. Before today, I hadn't seen it below 84, which itself was a brilliant improvement.

[ViaM Graduate in reply to Steve_L]

Very pleased for you, it is a huge achievement!!!

[Northernspirit Graduate]

Wow that's incredible! Have you noticed any change in your BP as well?

[Steve_L Graduate in reply to Northernspirit]

Yes, though I'm also on medication for that, so it's hard to tell

[Northernspirit Graduate in reply to Steve_L]

Yes me too. Main thing is maintaining running and knowing you are so much fitter than before. I wonder if beta blockers affect my speed, I'm slow and can't seem to up the pace but I can do distance now

[rmnsuk Graduate]

I had my bp and heartrate done a few days ago, BP was on the high side, but resting heart rate was 44. He had to measure it twice because he didn't believe it the first time, "That'll be the running" he said - He'd seen my bit on the company magazine a few weeks ago

[Steve_L Graduate in reply to rmnsuk]

You're almost in suspended animation!

[Dunder2004 Graduate]

Wow. That's a massive change in just a few months.

Really positive.

[Susieruns Graduate]

Brilliant Steve!

[Peter_B Graduate]

I've got a Scosche Rhythm+ heart rate monitor on the way dcrainmaker.com/2014/05/sco...

I've been using the chest strap that came with my Forerunner 220 but it's a bit of a faff and no good for casually checking your heart rate.

I considered the Mio Link following Steve's post, but decided I didn't have enough wrist room to accommodate it when running - with the Garmin on my left wrist and a sweatband on the right.

The Rhythm+ can be worn on the upper arm, so would be out of the way.