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4 Replies Last post: Jan 26, 2008 5:59 AM by alcesalces  
Click to view ralphcraig's profile Rookie
ralphcraig
1 posts since
Jan 25, 2008
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Jan 25, 2008 12:10 PM

Heart rate - too high?


I'm a 41 year-old guy who stays pretty active. I've recently started running again to get in shape for a martial arts belt test six months from now. I just got a Reebok heart rate monitor with chest strap. I've never used a heart rate monitor before. I ran 3 miles with it this morning. Within a few steps my heart rate was 162. It stayed in the range 162-166 for most of the run, peaking to 170 just at the end. The run took just under 27 minutes. It was just a fairly gentle jog. It didn't feel too intense.

However, when I looked up a heart rate chart online I got a surprise. According to the charts, for a guy my age a rate of 162 is maximum exertion, not a gentle jog. In fact, if I'm reading the chart right, it's above the aerobic range for any age. How is this possible? Is this something I should be worried about?

<ralphcraig SNAIL gmail.com>

Login to Reply Tags: heart, rate, monitor, beginner
Click to view torybug's profile Amateur
torybug
8 posts since
Dec 30, 2007
1. Jan 25, 2008 1:04 PM in response to: ralphcraig
Re: Heart rate - too high?
I have no real qualifications for answering this question, but I've read that your actual max heart rate can vary from what the "norm" is. So your max may be higher than the one on the charts. My guess is that if you feel okay, you probably are okay. My heart rate tends to be higher than the ranges they give too, although not nearly as high as yours. It may be that there's some medical condition you ought to be concerned about, maybe someone else will have more insight.
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Click to view Michael.'s profile Community Moderator
Michael.
676 posts since
Nov 9, 2007
2. Jan 25, 2008 9:28 PM in response to: torybug
Re: Heart rate - too high?
Also I am no expert but as long as you are able to talk while running you are within your max in my book.

Mike
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Click to view Iontach's profile Legend
Iontach
1,522 posts since
Dec 14, 2007
3. Jan 26, 2008 5:27 AM in response to: Michael.
Re: Heart rate - too high?
Michael. wrote:Also I am no expert but as long as you are able to talk while running you are within your max in my book.

MikeMike, as long as you're running and not actually dead, you're within your max. It is, for fairly obvious reasons, not possible for your heart to beat faster than your max. Running at or close to your max isn't what HR training is about.

To the OP: there's usually two reasons for this sort of problem - first, there's a number of ways of calculating your Max HR, and they have varying degrees of accuracy. The other thing is that the first few weeks of HR training are, to quote a poster that used to be a strong advocate of LHR round here before the change, "Miserable.Unbearable. Painful. An exercise in futility. An exercise in patience. Pride-depleting. Although there are a few who find the slow-down refreshing, most will be miserable at first."
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Click to view alcesalces's profile Pro
alcesalces
150 posts since
Jan 4, 2008
4. Jan 26, 2008 5:59 AM in response to: ralphcraig
Re: Heart rate - too high?
It depends on your level of exercise. If you have been aerobically working out for awhile there might be a medical problem. But 99% of the time a high heart rate like this is attributed to lack of activity. If you don't exercise a lot your heart isn't used to working so hard. Early weeks of exercise will be taxing on your heart and lungs which are probably not used to working so hard to get your body around. Another reason your heart rate might be up could be your size. If you're big your heart will have to pump extra hard during exercise to circulate that blood around your body. Keep with it, and keep an eye on your rate, week by week you should notice your body adjusting to the new sensation it is experiencing (the exercise) and your heart rate will become to come down and your breathing will become more efficient. If this doesn't begin to happen you may want to consult your doctor just to make sure there isn't a hidden problem.
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