Active Community: Message List - Good News :)

Re: Good News :)

Stevemustangred — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 23:48:20 GMT

For what it is worth...I had the cardiac stress test done 3-4 years ago. The doctor commented that my heart was like an 80 year old man, large and slow. I think that was supposed to mean good. While on the treadmill, I never felt stressed at all. I think they took me off too soon.

When running hard my heart rate is around 175. Hrmax = 220-age is obviously wrong for psuedo-athletes like me since 175 is near my 100% rate. Based on the wikipedia quote, I think the study that established the so-called HRmax isn't statistically significant.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_rate

Haskell and Dr. Samuel Fox.^{[[4]|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_rate#cite_note-mhrt-3]} Inquiry into the history of this formula reveals that it was not developed from original research, but resulted from observation based on data from approximately 11 references consisting of published research or unpublished scientific compilations.^{[[5]|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_rate#cite_note-mhrt2-4]} It gained widespread use through being used by Polar Electro in its heart rate monitors,^{[[4]|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_rate#cite_note-mhrt-3]} which Dr. Haskell has "laughed about",^{[[4]|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_rate#cite_note-mhrt-3]} as it "was never supposed to be an absolute guide to rule people's training."^{[[4]|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_rate#cite_note-mhrt-3]}

Re: Good News :)

FormerBAM — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:22:41 GMT

Don't worry, I know a fraidy-cat-of-getting-beat crock of **** when I hear it. Thanks, Craig and Len.

Re: Good News :)

lenzlaw — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:54:51 GMT

Oh, what tangled webs we weave. Actually Craig there is a lot of anecdotal evidence, many experts, and a theory that supports what you said. And in fact this theory was followed by a certain someone when starting to run a couple years ago. Admittedly it says to run at 60% or less for the first 4 - 6 months. I don't think there is any doubt that as your body becomes more efficient with training, you can run faster at a given heart rate. All this is one reason I rarely use a Heart Rate Monitor.

Re: Good News :)

Courir26 — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:30:20 GMT

Awesome, Kat! I kinda figured it was something along those lines, but nice to get the all clear signal.

The topped-out speed thing is a crock of ****, not surprising considering the source. He's just fraidy-scared you're gonna keep beating him. I'm not a follower of the heart rate monitors, but it seems to me that as training improves, one can run faster than before at the same heart rate. Absolutely no facts to back that up, it just sounds logical to me.

Re: Good News :)

FormerBAM — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:43:49 GMT

Thanks for this post, Ramesh. I've been recently told by an unnamed MCM running "friend" that I'm topped out pretty much on gaining any more speed because my heart rate is too high and will hold me back. I told him the exact same thing, just because my HR is higher than his doesn't mean it's not normal for me or is a problem.

I went through the battery of tests myself and was told my heart was "beautiful" and healthy and perfect, so I no longer worry when my heart rate starts to soar when I'm running. I sometimes have to walk a bit when I feel it getting too high for my comfort level, but otherwise, I know I'm causing no damage. Quite the opposite. You can't go by those stock calculations like 220 minus your age.

Ditto on the yoga. After practicing religiously for 3-4 years, then getting into running and giving up yoga completely, I've become extremely inflexible. Time to find a balance. I miss yoga, the calmness and the flexibility for sure.

Re: Good News :)

DCtoPgh — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:38:50 GMT

HanHail wrote:

Kat -

That's surely great news!

From some reading and from some of my own experiences, I feel that some of the so called "norms" are left wanting.

1. I had mentioned this before on the forum: When I first started training for a marathon, I went for a full physical with my doctor and he said I had a cardiac murmur and referred me to a cardiologist. The cardiologist did a full series of tests with all sorts of skin-peeling attachments on me and came back with a quote that was music to my ears: "Are you an athlete? The graph says you are."

2. When I run, my HR goes upto insane levels, close to 200! As much as I like it, it's NOT the count from my age till 220 Then I read what Hal Higdon had written about a girl he was coaching. Her HR would run upto 240, but she was an awesome runner! Apparently there are some variations in people that are medically inexplicable. So these days, rather than get bogged down by these empirical guidelines, I just go by my feel - as stupid as it may be!

So like Charlotte said, get your running gear on and go out for a run to celebrate - with or without the electrodes!

On a different note, I wanted to ask you about yoga as you had mentioned that in another thread. I had posted a question for Jen, which went unanswered I am beginning to dust up my yoga routines, which I agree are totally complementary to running while soothing me mentally. What asanas do you do? After years of just running, my body flexibility is down the toilet, so gotta work on getting my ankle behind my neck!

I'm stuck with the electrodes for the next month so they'll be my new best friend. I did go for a run last night which felt AMAZING.

As for yoga, my yoga practice is back to being practiced only as of this week and even when I practiced regularly I never developed to a great extent. So I've been doing a lot of sun salutations, warrior poses, twists, chair pose, and core and balance stuff. My balance, flexibility and core are strong, but my upper body strength is my current limitation. I was following an intermediate series yesterday and my shoulders were so shot I had to take a break out of down dog Sigh... I'll get there!

Re: Good News :)

HanHail — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 06:27:00 GMT

Kat -

That's surely great news!

From some reading and from some of my own experiences, I feel that some of the so called "norms" are left wanting.

So like Charlotte said, get your running gear on and go out for a run to celebrate - with or without the electrodes!

Re: Good News :)

dutch omi — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:07:26 GMT

Glad to hear all the good new, Kat. Now put your running shoes on and go for it.

Re: Good News :)

JerryX — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:42:09 GMT

THANKFUL, focused, calm.

Re: Good News :)

RunDaddyRunx4 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:16:24 GMT

Congrats, Its always a load off to get an all clear from a doc.