Tracked W8R2, and now I feel uneasy about my p... - Couch to 5K

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Tracked W8R2, and now I feel uneasy about my pulse

14 Replies

Yesterday I tracked myself for the first time, just to see how far I run in 28 minutes. During the run everything was fine, I was holding a conversation with my partner and felt good.

BUT back on the couch I checked the numbers and saw my average pulse was 183.

Isn‘t that way too high? Or is this a normal rate for an unfit person like me? I‘m 37, my BMI is 21 and I don‘t smoke.

Like I said, I felt great during the run, but now I am a bit unsettled. Any opinions?

14 Replies
Maz1103 profile image
Maz1103Graduate

I am older than you (56) but have constantly worried about my heart rate going too high. I have slowed down exactly for that reason and keep my average to about 150-155. I have to force myself to slow down as my feet seem to like going faster than my heart rate enjoys 😂. Like you, I feel fine when running, I can talk ok, I am not overweight and don't smoke. I am trying to not stress too much as long as I feel ok. I have noticed as I get fitter my heart rate stays lower for longer if that makes sense!!!.. It takes longer for it to start creeping up so that's progress.

John_W profile image
John_WGraduateAmbassador in reply to Maz1103

There's nothing with your heart at a seemingly very high heart rate. Your 'rule-of-thumb' maximum is 164 but it's perfectly possible that it could be higher than that, maybe 175. Many people reach their maximum when sprint finishing at the end of a parkrun for example. Or when doing interval training on a steep hill. If you're otherwise healthy, there's nothing to worry about. Your heart is another muscle that can grow stronger and bigger by being 'stressed' with strenuous activity.

Maz1103 profile image
Maz1103Graduate in reply to John_W

Yes I have noticed at the end on an incline it creeps up but that's understandable. My resting is 54 which I believe is good, but it always seems like a big jump.

John_W profile image
John_WGraduateAmbassador in reply to Maz1103

Heart Rate Reserve (HRR) or Working Heart Rate (WHR) are useful concepts to help understand how many beats you have to play with. The more beats you have the better.

It's the difference between your maximum and resting HR. So e.g a 'fit' person with a max of 170 and a resting of 50, has a HRR or WHR of 120.

But if that person has a resting HR is higher (cos they're unfit), say 70, then , the reserve is only 100 - so less beats to use for exercise.

So having a 'big jump', may, to the lay person, seem scary, but it's all completely normal for someone who exercises.

Maz1103 profile image
Maz1103Graduate in reply to John_W

That makes sense and is reassuring thank you. Just looked at my stats. Resting 54, max 170 (recently at the end of the run on an incline), average over 35 mins 153bpm. I feel better now 😁

AlMorr profile image
AlMorrAmbassadorGraduate

Not too sure but your BMI seems fine for your age, maybe the pulse is a little high just because you are fairly new to running, if you had been running for years that pulse would be a little lower.

I don't know if comparisons are useful or not as you can worry yourself into a right state but I'm 47, I am overweight but never smoked. My BMI puts me in the overweight range and my heartbeat on a 30 min run is between 147 and max 165 when I push. But then I could be too low. 🤷‍♀️ never really gone higher than that I don't think....

As it's a one off I'd be inclined to see if it's consistently higher over time...give yourself something to measure against and then see

John_W profile image
John_WGraduateAmbassador

What was your cadence towards the end of your run? And what distance did you cover in the 28 mins?

in reply to John_W

The distance was 4,58 km and my cadence was 155. Unfortunately, my app is not designed to show a more detailed view on cadence. Or at least I‘m too stupid to find it. 😬

Maz1103 profile image
Maz1103Graduate in reply to

That's a good distance in that time.

John_W profile image
John_WGraduateAmbassador in reply to

So you're going quite quickly. How was your breathing rate at the end of 28 mins?

in reply to John_W

I wasn‘t out of breath or gasping at any time and continued to the fast cool-down walk without a problem. The last four/five minutes were harder, but doable. So I slowed down a bit.

IannodaTruffe profile image
IannodaTruffeMentor

Can you speak clear ungasping sentences as you run?

That is the simplest way to make sure that you are running at an appropriate pace.

in reply to IannodaTruffe

As long as there‘re no upward slope, I can hold a conversation properly without gasping. During an uphill run I prefer silence. 😊

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