Heart rate while running - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

maul · 08-23-2006, 01:07 PM

I have been running on and off for about 2 years now. I have one of those Polar running whatches with the heart rate monitor and foot-pod. I recently started using some programs that the Polar website offers. It sets targets for you, do a certain distance in a certain time at a certain heart rate. I have never had a problem finishing the distance in the allotted time. Its my heart rate that is always way over what the program say what it should be.
For example for a 3 mile run done in say 25 mins they say my heart rate should be around 150 max (I am 27 years old). My heart rate is usually in the high 170-180 range. Am i pushing my self too hard? Its not like I am ever totally exhausted or completely out of breath after a run and while I run I feel very comfortable. The program on the website is for beginners. What can I do to reduce my heart rate while running? what is your heart rate when you run?
I should point out that I used to smoke quite a bit but I stopped smoking 2 years ago. Well there this one time when I had a couple but that dosent count.

Sage · 08-23-2006, 04:23 PM

Heart rate monitors are great if you're just starting out, but basically cardio is about getting your heart rate up and keeping it up for long periods of time. My fitness guru (who's the greatest teacher on the planet) back in college believed in the talk test- you know you're doing it right when you're exerting yourself hard enough that chatting is an effort, but not so much that you don't want to do it. So you want to be at the point where you can carry on a conversation, but just. I've seen plenty of other litature to back this up.

The main thing is being at a pace that you're comfortable with. Everyone's heart is different and will handle stress differently. If you want to reduce your HR, reduce your pace. Less effort on your part means less effort on your heart's part. Also, since you used to smoke your heart probably isn't as strong someone who never smoked, so it has to work a bit harder.

maul · 08-23-2006, 05:02 PM

Quote:

If you want to reduce your HR, reduce your pace

The thing is I dont know if I should.

Quote:

you know you're doing it right when you're exerting yourself hard enough that chatting is an effort, but not so much that you don't want to do it. So you want to be at the point where you can carry on a conversation, but just.

Like I mentioned, I dont feel like I am pushing myself over the limit. What you described is exactly what I feel like when I am running. I was just confused that the beginner program said my HR should be around 150 and mine was actually around high 170-180.

thingstodo · 08-23-2006, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sage

Heart rate monitors are great if you're just starting out, but basically cardio is about getting your heart rate up and keeping it up for long periods of time. My fitness guru (who's the greatest teacher on the planet) back in college believed in the talk test- you know you're doing it right when you're exerting yourself hard enough that chatting is an effort, but not so much that you don't want to do it. So you want to be at the point where you can carry on a conversation, but just. I've seen plenty of other litature to back this up.

The main thing is being at a pace that you're comfortable with. Everyone's heart is different and will handle stress differently. If you want to reduce your HR, reduce your pace. Less effort on your part means less effort on your heart's part. Also, since you used to smoke your heart probably isn't as strong someone who never smoked, so it has to work a bit harder.

All true. I think a monitor is important for everyone.

The talk test is a good one. You can look at your monitor when you get to that point. I'll attach a link to a pretty good chart you might like to use. The second page of the charts explains how to find your own heart rate zones. The talk test is mentioned on there in a round about way.

You can control your heart rate with breathing techniques. That's also another measure like the talk test. If you can breath in through your nose and out your mouth you're OK. If you can breath in and out your nose your probably need to pick up the pace. So go with breathing in/out the nose until you can't do it like that and then switch to in the nose/out the mouth for a majot portion of your run. It's also good to mix in higher intensity intervals probably every 3rd or 4th run. That's where you can only breath in and out your mouth.

It's OK for your heart rate to be higher than a standard age measure. Some people are 20-30 beat over those ranges. I know I was about 20 over when I first started to seriously measure things and try to improve. I got it to 30 over after about a year or so.

Here's the link:

http://www.lifetimefitness.com/modul...ning_chart.pdf

This article might help or confuse!!:

http://www.trifuel.com/triathlon/tri...ate-000574.php

Good luck!

newtx · 08-23-2006, 06:43 PM

I agree with the olde school talk test. If you can carry a simple conversation than you are not pushing yourself too hard.

CaliLivChick · 08-23-2006, 06:59 PM

Maul - I'm the same age, and my heartrate is in the same range when I'm really pushing myself. If I'm just kinda going, my heart rate is 155-160. I don't know what my resting rate is. I've never smoked. I don't have any medical opinion on this, just wanted to let you know that you're not alone. =)

maul · 08-24-2006, 06:12 AM

@Thingstodo: Thanks for the links, they were helpfull. It was nice to find out that its ok to be working out and have your heart beat at more than 80% of its max

Quote:

Maul - I'm the same age, and my heartrate is in the same range when I'm really pushing myself. If I'm just kinda going, my heart rate is 155-160. I don't know what my resting rate is. I've never smoked. I don't have any medical opinion on this, just wanted to let you know that you're not alone. =)

Thanks

fatbob · 08-27-2006, 10:48 AM

my heart rate gets up to 170-180 when i am pushing it at bit on longer run but sits at about 155 when i'm taking it easy. my resting heart rate is 52.
like people have said, the guides are just that, guides, everyone is different. use the monitor to monitor your own averages.
oh and agreed the talk test is a good one...

08-23-2006, 01:07 PM	#1 (permalink)
maul Upright Location: New jersey	Heart rate while running I have been running on and off for about 2 years now. I have one of those Polar running whatches with the heart rate monitor and foot-pod. I recently started using some programs that the Polar website offers. It sets targets for you, do a certain distance in a certain time at a certain heart rate. I have never had a problem finishing the distance in the allotted time. Its my heart rate that is always way over what the program say what it should be. For example for a 3 mile run done in say 25 mins they say my heart rate should be around 150 max (I am 27 years old). My heart rate is usually in the high 170-180 range. Am i pushing my self too hard? Its not like I am ever totally exhausted or completely out of breath after a run and while I run I feel very comfortable. The program on the website is for beginners. What can I do to reduce my heart rate while running? what is your heart rate when you run? I should point out that I used to smoke quite a bit but I stopped smoking 2 years ago. Well there this one time when I had a couple but that dosent count. Last edited by maul; 08-23-2006 at 01:22 PM..

08-23-2006, 04:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
Sage hoarding all the big girl panties since 2005 Location: North side	Heart rate monitors are great if you're just starting out, but basically cardio is about getting your heart rate up and keeping it up for long periods of time. My fitness guru (who's the greatest teacher on the planet) back in college believed in the talk test- you know you're doing it right when you're exerting yourself hard enough that chatting is an effort, but not so much that you don't want to do it. So you want to be at the point where you can carry on a conversation, but just. I've seen plenty of other litature to back this up. The main thing is being at a pace that you're comfortable with. Everyone's heart is different and will handle stress differently. If you want to reduce your HR, reduce your pace. Less effort on your part means less effort on your heart's part. Also, since you used to smoke your heart probably isn't as strong someone who never smoked, so it has to work a bit harder. __________________ Sage knows our mythic history, King Arthur's and Sir Caradoc's She answers hard acrostics, has a pretty taste for paradox She quotes in elegiacs all the crimes of Heliogabalus In conics she can floor peculiarities parabolous -C'hi

08-23-2006, 06:59 PM	#6 (permalink)
CaliLivChick In Transition Location: Sanford, FL (between Daytona and Orlando)	Maul - I'm the same age, and my heartrate is in the same range when I'm really pushing myself. If I'm just kinda going, my heart rate is 155-160. I don't know what my resting rate is. I've never smoked. I don't have any medical opinion on this, just wanted to let you know that you're not alone. =) __________________ Don't trust anything that can bleed for a week and not die. Oh wait, that's me... nevermind... you can trust me.

08-27-2006, 10:48 AM	#8 (permalink)
fatbob Insane Location: Edinburgh	my heart rate gets up to 170-180 when i am pushing it at bit on longer run but sits at about 155 when i'm taking it easy. my resting heart rate is 52. like people have said, the guides are just that, guides, everyone is different. use the monitor to monitor your own averages. oh and agreed the talk test is a good one... __________________ change happens when those who don't normally speak get heard by those who don't normally listen.

08-23-2006, 06:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
newtx Addict	I agree with the olde school talk test. If you can carry a simple conversation than you are not pushing yourself too hard.