Easy one? (hopefully)

[daisy]

Another not so simple one as there can be many causes, such as...

You're coming down with a virus or fighting one off
You're dehydrated or lacking in fuel
You're tired and need a rest
You've miscalculated your max heart rate

That's great, Stef. Cheers.

Am shamed to admit it could even be 'all of the above'! You know when you go for a run convinced it's going to make you feel better....and it doesn't? Hey ho.

Am also surmising that I'd better do this MHR calculation a bit more acccurately or not bother at all...

[Stef F]

That's great, Stef. Cheers.

Am shamed to admit it could even be 'all of the above'! You know when you go for a run convinced it's going to make you feel better....and it doesn't? Hey ho.

Am also surmising that I'd better do this MHR calculation a bit more acccurately or not bother at all...

Oh dear! Sometimes it's better not to know!

If you want to put your hrm to best use you'll need to know what your max is, and the only way to find out is to measure it. There are several ways of measuring. Try fast 200m reps run flat out with say a 20 sec recovery.

I'll be trying Nikalas' threshold measurement when I'm fit enough, it seems a good base to work from.

[Alexandra]

I'm fairly certain HR max changes with age (getting lower not higher) but I also think you can increase it with training.

Yes, they say it gets lower with age and I believe it, but in my case I think I must have under-estimated my max years ago by quite a lot, hence the drastic re-evaluation now. I always assumed it was about 170, and with age I'd decided it was probably now nearer 165. Whether you can increase your max with training I am less sure - I hope so. Some say you are better trying to increase your lactic tolerance, so that whatever your max you can run at a rate nearer to it. Makes sense to me. Failing sophisticated scientific tests, I do think the best way to find out one's max is to enter a race and give it everything.

[daisy]

My guess is though, that whichever way you decide to calculate your MHR it's better to wait til you're not dehydrated, with a cold, not eating enough and have had a day or two's rest?

Yup. Thought so!

Right. I'll try your way first Stef and then compare it with what I can do when I enter my first ever race in December. Cool. The girl has a plan!
Spot on )

[Mike T]

Which BP pill are you on? Some slow heart rate, though runners are not normally on those.

[daisy]

Which BP pill are you on? Some slow heart rate, though runners are not normally on those.

Ramipril, Mike. Been on them nearly a week.

[Mike T]

Ramipril have no direct effect on heart rate - interesting that they have improved your heart recovery rate, presumably by lowering your BP and reducing cardiac work.