Don't Go Breakin' My Heart
Uhm...
I think my heart may be on the verge of exploding.
Tonight's run was intended to help determine my max heart rate. And....uhmm...my peak HR was 205. My overall average was 175. With the main set of the run sitting in the low-mid 190's.
But that 205 makes me nervous. I wasn't even going all out (probably about an 8.5-9 RPE)...so that can't even be my maximum.
So...what does all this mean!?! Do I have one super awesomely strong indestructible heart (likely formed from the boys who broke my heart back in the day? nah...who am I kidding, I did most of the heartbreaking.)? Am I going to keel over and die of a heart explosion on the running path? Or perhaps it's a sign I'm not pushing myself nearly as much as I should...and I really have the inner-workings of a superstar Kenyan who can take over the '08 World Marathon Majors standings?
Hmm. We'll wait and hear what Coach Mo has to say about this one.
I just don't want to end up breaking my heart. Literally.
I think my heart may be on the verge of exploding.
Tonight's run was intended to help determine my max heart rate. And....uhmm...my peak HR was 205. My overall average was 175. With the main set of the run sitting in the low-mid 190's.
But that 205 makes me nervous. I wasn't even going all out (probably about an 8.5-9 RPE)...so that can't even be my maximum.
So...what does all this mean!?! Do I have one super awesomely strong indestructible heart (likely formed from the boys who broke my heart back in the day? nah...who am I kidding, I did most of the heartbreaking.)? Am I going to keel over and die of a heart explosion on the running path? Or perhaps it's a sign I'm not pushing myself nearly as much as I should...and I really have the inner-workings of a superstar Kenyan who can take over the '08 World Marathon Majors standings?
Hmm. We'll wait and hear what Coach Mo has to say about this one.
I just don't want to end up breaking my heart. Literally.
Labels: Don't Go Breaking My Heart
posted by Iron Jayhawk at 11:17 PM
14 Camper Comments:
Heh - my max HR is about 204. It's fun to freak people out with that. Also: hasn't killed me yet, so I think you'll be OK :-)
I don't think I've ever done any kind of test like that. I wonder what mine would be.
Women are generally a bit higher in the max HR department as a rule of thumb. It means you don't have to stay under 136 to be aerobic. :)
You know what--I'll be interested to see what you find out. My heart rate seems to go really high also, and so either my monitor was off, or something's wrong with my ticker. Who knows?
Anyway, good luck with the tests...
my max is 205 also. Not unusual. For your RPE, were you using the 20 point scale? If so, then that's a problem! But I'm assuming it is a 10 point scale. If so, that is really not unusual because research shows that your HR may actually go DOWN (only by a couple beats) even when you hit your top RPE. That happened to me during my max VO2 test last year. I hit my max HR with still having 1 or 2 minutes left of the test. You're fine :)
I agree with the gist of the other comments; you should not be too concerned.
I have suspected for some time that the generally accepted heartrate guidelines are too low for runners, and I generally peak over my suggested maximum heartrate whenever I exceed a 10:00/mile pace.
My suggestion is that you monitor how you are feeling. If you have trouble speaking while you are working out--or especially if you feel any pain in your chest--then slow down. Otherwise, let your heart beat as it will.
Continued good luck in your training!
I agree with everyone. You should also check your Rest Heart Rate that is also a good indication of your fitness level. Whenever I am spinning, I usually have a HR and have been able to go beyond my MAX and still feel fine, as long as your are breathing normally.
Good luck on your training. GO YOU!!
Danny
I'll be curious to see what Mo has to say as well...I'm afraid to know my numbers!
I read this to Michael b/c this is sort of his forte and he agreed w/ Danny V that you need to check your Resting Heart Rate. He said based on your RHR and age, he can give you a more accurate picture of what your training heart rate mins and maxs are. He also wanted me to caution you to never run/workout at your max HR for more than a minute.
Keep us posted on what your coach says!
Kelsalynn
I bought a heart rate monitor but have never taken it out of its box because I really don't want to know what mine is after all. Bad, I know!
oh man. haven't done a max HR test yet but i know its in the books. i'm scuh-ared. mines probably 309.
i'll probably die.
we'll be awesome buddies in heaven together. never fear! ;)~
Barb, your maximum HR should always be 220 minus your age. That's something that I have always known from my personal experience and what I learned in college.
Actually Denise, that's the text book version. In reality everyone has different max HR's because we're not all cookie cutters of one another. With different body sizes and types, different health and fit factors, there is no one rule that is definite for all mankind. There is no way that I have the same max HR as an overweight/obese 26 year old male whose definition of working out it getting up to use the bathroom during a commercial break.
With the help of my coach we've calculated my heart rate zones, and what is considered to be my "max" hr. I'll probably post more on that this weekend.
So funny Barb...I was JUST thinking about this the past few days cause I have no idea what my max HR is. I'm thinking it's up there...just like yours. Hmmmm...food for thought.
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