W6R1 Heart Rate

[JuJogger]

Heart rate went to 177 in the last run according to Apple Watch. Average over the whole run was 145. Came down ok but is it ok for your heart to go that fast - I am 64 ?

[Annieapple Administrator Graduate]

🍏Great question but difficult to answer.

It's not easy to pinpoint a normal heart rate when running, since heart rate varies from one runner to the next. What’s normal for me may not be for you. It’s recommended that we stay within 50-70 percent of our own maximum heart rate.

If you are not out of breath and enjoying your runs then don’t put too much emphasis on the figures of your watch. If in any doubt then consult your GP

Happy New Year 🥳

[javo123j Graduate]

I'm not too sure how accurate watches are. I sometimes wear a chest monitor as well as a watch and HR is always lower on the chest monitor sometimes by over20 bpm. I do think chest monitors are more accurate but it's difficult to prove. The main thing is how you feel during your run.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

If you are comfy and breathing steadily and your heart rate returns to normal as you walk down... don;t worry... There maybe a tendency to focus too much on tech stats and this may make things out to be problematic , even when they aren't

Well done you! I began at 65!

[Bluestreek Graduate]

Hi JuJogger, best to get a proper heart rate monitor, watches are notorious for locking onto your steps so that was probably what the 177 is. Having had a heart problem it’s a bit of a bug of mine that watches are sold as heart rate monitors when actually they are only pulse monitors. I was wearing both when I went into VT and the chest monitor was showing my heart rate stuck at 220, confirmed at ER, but the watch was dropping down to 60. At that rate the blood can’t get into the heart fast enough so it can’t do a measurable pulse.

Please always exercise with a chest monitor and if your heart rate sticks at over 200 call an ambulance, don’t just wander in to the local miner injuries. They tell you off and call one! Ps I was the same age as you!

[MissUnderstanding Administrator On a break Graduate]

My garmin had my heart rate at 194 today as I was gently plodding along at a comfortable pace. Out of interest, I checked it manually and my pulse was 120. Watches often aren’t great at this sort of thing.

[Over60sRunner Graduate]

I would agree with other posters on this thread. Watches are notoriously inaccurate in terms of pulse rate. I have worn a chest band heart monitor and my Fitbit watch at the same time and they are nowhere near each other. If I check manually, the chest strap is far closer to the mark than the watch.

I don't worry to much about my heart rate. I'm a not particularly fit, somewhat oveweight, 64 year old (now in my 65th year) and tend to use my breathing as more of a guide when I run - if I feel out of breath, I slow down or even Jeff for a while.

As long as you feel OK, not too out of breath and not feeling faint, I wouldn't worry to much about what your Apple watch is telling you.