3rd post grad run today

[VictoriaRuns]

Can't pinpoint if it's gremlins or this is actually still physically hard, but it's not getting any easier yet. I know it will take more than a week, but still. At least I'm doing it!

My heart rate is at about 170 still (I'm 26) when I'm running, and I'm not overweight and I'm working out on other days to build my fitness. Does this seem alarming to anybody else? Keep waiting for it to start coming down, considering I started the programme 13 weeks ago now. It recovers really fast but you guys all seem to have much much slower bpms than me

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Patience.

Many of us have much lower heart rates than you because maximum heart rate decreases with age and we are considerably older than you.

Unless you have had your maximum heart rate accurately ascertained, then you are probably looking at average figures for comparison, which may or may not be accurate for you.

You might be better off just using your breathing as a guide to pace, rather than heart rate. Conversational pace is your aim for 80% of your running.

The improvements are not quite as rapid from here on in, but in six months you will definitely see huge improvement.

[VictoriaRuns Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thank you, yes my breathing is mostly fine! I can't think of anything more annoying than having a conversation whilst I'm running, but I suppose I could do fairly easily. I will try not to worry then, but maybe I'll bring it up with the doc next time I am in for something else in the future. Thanks again

[Whatsapp Graduate]

Your heart rate will be relative to your speed. Try a couple of nice slow paced runs. A run will always be hard if you are pushing yourself. If you're running 3x per week, keep two nice and comfortable pace wise and the third for a bit more speed.

It sounds counter-intuitive but it will make you a faster runner in time.

[VictoriaRuns Graduate in reply to Whatsapp]

Oh I am going slow, believe me! Not pushing myself at this point, just trying to consolidate, as I know, slow runs build legs. Going to work on my pace once I get these 30 min runs down and try the 3rd run of the week a bit quicker, but not doing that yet. Breathing is fine, just a worryingly high heart rate.

[Whatsapp Graduate in reply to VictoriaRuns]

As always IannodaTruffe has pretty much coevered it.

But, this might also help: runnersworld.com/run-faster...

[davelinks Graduate]

Wouldn't worry about HR, go by breathing, slow down if getting too puffed, you're still a new runner, it takes time, some runs feel harder than others, you're doing so well, keep at it!😊

[roseabi]

This is not the first post I have seen where people have been worrying about their heart rates. It makes me think that folk should switch their heart rate monitors off! Or throw them away I would go with IannodaTruffe 's suggestion if I were you.

I understand that heart rate zones can be useful for race training. You need to spend time monitoring your heart rate as you run at different effort levels, so that you can calculate what is normal for YOU. Everyone is different, and everyone has a different heart that works differently to everyone else's heart.

You should also be aware that heart rate monitors have their limitations - have a read about the one you've got, and check out what you need to do to calibrate it properly. I expect you would need to take a number of readings over time to establish the accuracy of the monitor before you even think about calculating your personal heart rate zones.

If you are still worried, see a doctor. But really, don't worry!!!

[VictoriaRuns Graduate in reply to roseabi]

I run on a treadmill so it's just the built in hr monitors they have. If I was running outside, I'd be none the wiser as I have never been tempted by the likes of a fit bit and ilk. Has just been quite alarming (literally sometimes when the machine comes up with a warning message) to see how high it gets. But yes, seems as I feel fine, I'm just going to bring it up with the doc next time I'm in. Thank you

[roseabi in reply to VictoriaRuns]

Well, it doesn't hurt to get it checked out, although you should bear in mind that treadmill monitors are the least accurate of the lot

[VictoriaRuns Graduate in reply to roseabi]

I have read that, but they do give me the same sort of readings as all the other machines in the gym, so if they are inaccurate, the cross fit, exercise bike, weight machines etc must all be exactly equally inaccurate at least!

[roseabi in reply to VictoriaRuns]

Yes!

[Hidden]

I think if it were an issue I would certainly be dead: i'm nearly 71 and mine has been known to go up to 168, when it should supposedly only be 150 tops. No warning sound, just what my Garmin tells me. That reading is when I'm running up steep slopes I hasten to add; when I ran on the treadmill it was way lower. But do you set the treadmill in the gym by age? If not, then it is just an average. My daughter is a fit 37 years old and I see from her latest run on Strava that she averaged 170bpm and topped out at 183bpm.

I would guess that if you feel fine and are not massively out of breath, then you are ok. when i told my GP how high mine went under exertion she was extremely unworried. Also it can only improve over time x

[VictoriaRuns Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thanks!

[Hidden in reply to VictoriaRuns]

just did the 220 minus your age thing VictoriaRuns and you are WELL within the safe limit for your age

[VictoriaRuns Graduate in reply to Hidden]

That's true I guess!

[pinkaardvark Graduate]

I've done about 6 runs since graduating and haven't noticed it getting much easier, but I do 3 run days and 4 gym days a week and when at the gym I add 10 mins on the dreadmill at the end of my workout, so I am probably overdoing it. Maybe if you give yourself an extra recovery day you'll notice the difference.

As has been said by others, don't bother with the HR on the treadmill. Take your hands off the bar and don't worry about it.

[VictoriaRuns Graduate in reply to pinkaardvark]

Yes my hands are off the bar for the running parts, just the warm-up and warm downs, so when I plonk them back on, bang on the 30 minute mark, I see my heart rate. But thanks, that's reassuring that it's not just me who hasn't found consolidating to be magical just yet. it does sound like you are certainly going very hard at it!