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Post by GUTS Admin on Sept 12, 2007 9:02:58 GMT -5
Got a Suunto T1 Heart Rate Monitor for an early b'day present (thank you, honey). Ran with it for the first time this morning, and I'm hoping y'all can enlighten me on what was going on. According to it, my entire run was a near-death experience, hovering around 90% of max HR and higher, even though I was running a nice slow (much slower than normal) pace and breathing very easily. My target zone was 70-80% for aerobic training. I passed that almost immediately. I'm guessing my max HR is wrong, but here's the deal: it figures your max HR based on a variety of factors such as age, weight, fitness level, etc. So my theory is I over estimated my fitness level. I chose level 7, over 3 hours per week of heavy physical exercise such as running, which seems right for me. But perhaps my current level is less/more than that? If so, would raising my fitness level estimate raise my max HR? Anyway, it figured my max at 185, which seems right for a 40 year old female who weighs more than she should So my next theory is that I was actually working harder due to: 1) weather (around 90% humidity at 6:30 am) 2) bodypump yesterday am left the legs feeling "heavy". 3) haven't adapted to early morning workouts yet. Thoughts? Should I adjust my max HR/fitness level, or just do what the darn thing tells me. I would have to walk a LOT to stay in my target 70-80% range. Heck, I was at 65% just walking across the parking lot.
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Post by richcheese on Sept 12, 2007 9:33:54 GMT -5
If you're running nice and slow and it's at 90%, you probably need to correct the maximum heart rate(HR). Try setting it to 7.5, you're probably stronger than most "regional" athletes anyway! Then check the new calculated maximum HR. I'd guess that your actual maximum HR is closer to 195. To check maximum HR, run hard for 5 minutes and then put in a 1 minute "sh!t, its a bear!" sprint. What does it report for your actual HR under these conditions? What's it say for your resting heart rate? A high one, may show that you really aren't recovered from yesterday's workout. P.S. There's always a bit of weird techo-machismo available to you if you DON'T reset it. You could report to the folks at work that you train at 110% of your max HR! However, if they already regard you as a bit strange, this could backfire...
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Post by GUTS Admin on Sept 12, 2007 10:10:18 GMT -5
To check maximum HR, run hard for 5 minutes and then put in a 1 minute "sh!t, its a bear!" sprint. What does it report for your actual HR under these conditions? If I run "hard" for 5 minutes, the bear will eat me ;D I was wondering about raising my fitness level. Another calculator I've used shows my max HR at 191, so I'm thinking you're probably right. My resting HR, after lying in bed reading for several minutes, is around 70.
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Post by janice on Sept 12, 2007 15:41:15 GMT -5
those formulas don't always work.
My max way back when i was a fast 10K runner was only 180 (that max was tested by professionals, not me or a formula). But don't be fooled, your max rate doesn't necessarily translate into ability - ie 180 is not very high, but at the same time my VO2 max was well above 60 (good for a girl). My max now is just over 160, which seems about right based on the numbers from 10+ years ago (I am fatter, older, out of shape now).
Anyway....the best method to determine your max, short of having a professional do it for you, is to do a max effort run with your heart rate monitor on. Typical max runs are things like an all out 800 meters or all out uphill run for 3+ minutes (with the bear thing thrown in as cheese said).
Warm up and then do the max run. Then check the heart rate monitor for your max heart rate. Then adjust your max on the monitor.
One other possibility is that the monitor is losing contact with your chest (mine does this). When it loses contact it will give you wild mis-readings.
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Post by thenner on Sept 12, 2007 15:53:20 GMT -5
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Post by rockman on Sept 13, 2007 7:54:07 GMT -5
Sarah, Just my opinion, but if you are going to train with a heart rate monitor it makes the most sense to go and have a VO2 / Anaerobic threshold test. I think it costs about $125 or $135, but from my past experience, when I was young and fast, it really helps. It also allows you to set a base and more accurately track your performance improvements, which works wonders in terms of staying motivated.
There is a place in or around town called the sports factory (thesportsfactory.com) that will conduct this test for you. If you go, please post about your experience, as I have been considering this as well.
Hope this helps.
Jason
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Post by GUTS Admin on Sept 13, 2007 14:18:00 GMT -5
Thanks Jason. I'll check into it.
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Post by colonel on Sept 13, 2007 15:28:48 GMT -5
My wife won't let me get a heart rate monitor. She claims it would be a waste of money. She says a HRM requires that a person actually have a heart. I'm not sure what she means ... but I don't think it's a compliment.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2007 6:51:50 GMT -5
I 'm a new member with this GUTS thing, but I've been training with a HR monitor for a couple of years. Maybe I can help. Nobody know how to use a HRM. As best I can tell it pretty much takes a degree in math and the ability to discuss string theory to understand HR monitors. I even bought a book which has been beside my bed for a year and I can't get through the first chapter. I do know the strap works well for swatting those big flies down at that sandy section of the trail where you cross the creek coming back to Cheatam.
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