Running and heart rate question

bluewater

Hi. I am 65 (male) and have been jogging for years wearing a heart rate monitor. My heart rate behavior (pattern) hasn't changed over the years but I wonder if it is normal. About 10 minutes into a run it is into the 160s. I try to keep the pace down and tend to run for about 20 minutes before stopping to walk because by then my heart rate can be 170 or a little higher. I start running again when it has fallen to 155 or so (after 30 seconds or so). It isn't long before I'm up to 170 again. Breathing is fine - not breathing hard at all.

I've always been aware of the general rule of subtracting your age from 220 to find the appropriate exercising heart rate for your age but have always been way higher. Is this unusual? I'm 6' and medium build (160 pounds).

I can continue to run with heart rate over 170. Did a Park Run on Saturday (5k) in 28 minutes without stopping but it was a struggle not to stop. Heart rate over 170 for the second half and high 170s towards the end.

What do you think?

clairec79

whats your resting heart rate

bluewater

Resting heart rate seems fine - in 60s and recovery quick

indesisiv

If you are going hard, such as at a 5k parkrun then I would expect your heart rate to be high. Mine hit the 160's around a quarter of a mile in and didn't kept going up to around 180 at the finish at my last parkrun.

Ignore the 220 calculation as it has been proven to not be very accurate.

If you have been running a long time then you probably should be able to hold a higher heart rate than others. What is your heart rate like when you go for your gentle runs? ie. a min or 2 per mile slower than flat out?

jenniewb

Do you know if your BP is ok? Generally your HR should decrease as you become fitter but if your increasing the effort you put in to go faster or go further your not going to see this as clearly.


I think the heart rate thing is really a bit of a personal thing; for example, I have a slow heart rate and low BP. It's not because of any fitness (though is exacerbated by improving fitness) but the low rates initially come from my genetics rather than fitness. I can't get my heart rate above 160 even with HIIT yet my resting rate can go as low as 41. It scares doctors! If I can have genetics that work in this way, it makes sense that you could have genetics which work the other way.


That being said, if you are concerned or you have any of the obvious symptoms (left shoulder pain, cramping, indigestion sensation/chest pain...etc) it's wise to get things checked with a medic in case there are any underlying health issues with your heart which have not yet been detected.


If it's any help, a week before my father had his heart attack he reported feeling very tired and his heart rate would not go up- stayed very low and he couldn't physically move to get it higher when he exercised. He said he felt like he had indigestion or heart burn and a pain in his mid-back rather than a short sharp spasm in his chest, so symptoms can be quite varied and may feel different to the regularly reported things, I think the key thing though is to keep an eye on any new pains of changes that come on suddenly.

Mr_Singleton

You appear to be running at close to and just over threshold yet your 5k time is pretty slow. Is your HRM broken or does it need a new battery?

bluewater

Thanks for replies. BP is fine (100 over 60). Heart rate has just always seemed high to me and regular running and getting fitter doesn't seem to change the pattern much. 28 mins for 5k is a bit slow I suppose (my 8 year old grandson does the same). I guess I'll just keep at it!

indesisiv

bluewater wrote: »

28 mins for 5k

What is your heart rate like when you run at say 10-11 mins per mile? ie When you do your slower runs?

NotBothered

Mr_Singleton wrote: »

You appear to be running at close to and just over threshold yet your 5k time is pretty slow. Is your HRM broken or does it need a new battery?

Well thats upset me!!!! :-( I ran it in 32 minutes on the weekend - my best ever and was over the moon! Talk about peeing on your bonfire! :rotfl:

indesisiv

NotBothered wrote: »

Well thats upset me!!!! :-( I ran it in 32 minutes on the weekend - my best ever and was over the moon! Talk about peeing on your bonfire! :rotfl:

haha everyone is different. Effort is the same for whatever time as long as you are going flat out for yourself.

I run my gentle recovery runs at 8 mins per mile pace (an equivalent of 25min 5k pace).

MallyGirl

NotBothered wrote: »

Well thats upset me!!!! :-( I ran it in 32 minutes on the weekend - my best ever and was over the moon! Talk about peeing on your bonfire! :rotfl:

I am with you - PB is 31:44.