Discussion
Not sure if this should be in here or Sports...
Went for a run last night with a heart rate monitor on.
For the first 8 minutes it showed a fairly constant 140ish bpm (about 70% estimated max heart rate), but it then climbed rapidly to around 170 (90% max) and stayed there for the remaining 30 minutes of my run.
Is there a mechanism that could cause this?
Am I going to die in the next 5 minutes?
Is my heart rate monitor broken?
Went for a run last night with a heart rate monitor on.
For the first 8 minutes it showed a fairly constant 140ish bpm (about 70% estimated max heart rate), but it then climbed rapidly to around 170 (90% max) and stayed there for the remaining 30 minutes of my run.
Is there a mechanism that could cause this?
Am I going to die in the next 5 minutes?
Is my heart rate monitor broken?
The more informed runners than I will be along shorty..
Any road, I think your heart rate is related to effort. Your speed sessions are to increase you max heart rate, you then use that max heart rate to base your pace for tempo and long steady distance runs. I think elite athletes see max heart rates above 200bpm. Your resting heart rate is important, the lower the better and how fit you are is gauged by how quickly your heart rate gets back to rest after exercise.
Any road, I think your heart rate is related to effort. Your speed sessions are to increase you max heart rate, you then use that max heart rate to base your pace for tempo and long steady distance runs. I think elite athletes see max heart rates above 200bpm. Your resting heart rate is important, the lower the better and how fit you are is gauged by how quickly your heart rate gets back to rest after exercise.
Measured my resting heart rate at 62 last night, which according to the internet is on the border between "very good" and "athelete". Not how I'd describe a slightly overweight a 41 year old who does a 5k run a couple of times a week in 30-35 minutes. 
It's a chest strap Garmin one, I did moisten the pads first and think I had it adjusted correctly (just below my moobs and tight enough that it doesn't slip down).
I could understand how it could read low by missing some beats, but I don't understand how it could read high.
Outdoor cold and wet run, my legs were knackered but I didn't feel like I was working insanely hard, to use your nomenclature from the running thread it was steady run as I could still manage to sting a sentence together, and within a few seconds of stopping I was able to have a conversation while we stretched.
Dunno if this'll work to show what I mean about the HRM trace
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/437657759
It's a chest strap Garmin one, I did moisten the pads first and think I had it adjusted correctly (just below my moobs and tight enough that it doesn't slip down).
I could understand how it could read low by missing some beats, but I don't understand how it could read high.
Outdoor cold and wet run, my legs were knackered but I didn't feel like I was working insanely hard, to use your nomenclature from the running thread it was steady run as I could still manage to sting a sentence together, and within a few seconds of stopping I was able to have a conversation while we stretched.
Dunno if this'll work to show what I mean about the HRM trace
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/437657759
Edited by RizzoTheRat on Thursday 30th January 10:55
Some heart rate monitors suffer from static, especially on some wicking material tops. Those are usually spikes though, not a sudden increase that remains at that value. Perhaps your HRM was lagging at first and then reached the correct value. It might need new batteries it might not have been on properly at first. There's a number of reasons it might change like you describe. If it keeps doing it, either change the batteries or replace it.
Over a long run, often you will see a gradual rise (cardiac creep) in heart rate as the workout continues due to fatigue dehydration temperature etc.
Over a long run, often you will see a gradual rise (cardiac creep) in heart rate as the workout continues due to fatigue dehydration temperature etc.
RizzoTheRat said:
Dunno if this'll work to show what I mean about the HRM trace
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/437657759
Looks like it wasn't reading properly initially and then settled in (as it moved or you sweated more) at around 170-180 BPM. http://connect.garmin.com/activity/437657759
Nobody else was wearing a HRM so shouldn't be interference.
170bpm is over 90% of supposed maximum heart rate, surely I'd know about if I was working that hard for half an hour? My legs were killing me but I was still able to talk to people.
I was wearing a synthetic top, with a thin waterproof over the top. Once I'd dried out in the pub and got home I did notice the shirt was sticking to me with static when I took my coat off, so that could be an explanation I suppose, but would you get static build up the shirts sweaty and therefore more conductive.
170bpm is over 90% of supposed maximum heart rate, surely I'd know about if I was working that hard for half an hour? My legs were killing me but I was still able to talk to people.
I was wearing a synthetic top, with a thin waterproof over the top. Once I'd dried out in the pub and got home I did notice the shirt was sticking to me with static when I took my coat off, so that could be an explanation I suppose, but would you get static build up the shirts sweaty and therefore more conductive.
Edited by RizzoTheRat on Thursday 30th January 11:36
Most calculations seem to reckon around 180ish
http://www.brianmac.co.uk/maxhr.htm
I've not tried a proper stress test but most online guides suggest you need to be fairly fit already to get a decent result from that anyway.
http://www.brianmac.co.uk/maxhr.htm
I've not tried a proper stress test but most online guides suggest you need to be fairly fit already to get a decent result from that anyway.
So I'm 4 years older than you, presumably not as fit (I'm guessing anyone who's responded to this thread does a bit of running), and I'm running at 10bpm higher than you?
I'll give the HRM another try at the weekend then and see if it was just a dodgy connection at the start. sounds like I'm not too likely to collapse half way round then Might try just going for a walk with it on tonight to see what it does and lower exertion activities.
I'll give the HRM another try at the weekend then and see if it was just a dodgy connection at the start. sounds like I'm not too likely to collapse half way round then
Might try just going for a walk with it on tonight to see what it does and lower exertion activities.I've been using a couple of difference HR monitors over the past 2 years.
The values you give sound about right.
The formula for maximum HR is way off for most people.
I am 40 and after a long run finished with a sprint I normally hit around 195/min as completely maxed out.
Just one word of warning forget about the zones for exercise complete rubbish and no evidence behind it.
The values you give sound about right.
The formula for maximum HR is way off for most people.
I am 40 and after a long run finished with a sprint I normally hit around 195/min as completely maxed out.
Just one word of warning forget about the zones for exercise complete rubbish and no evidence behind it.
To be honest I don't usually bother with it, however Amazon were offering my Garmin watch with it for less money than without it so it was a no brainer
Thought I'd give it a go as I get points on my health insurance, which then gets me better discounts on other stuff, for logging exercise and I was wondering how their heartrate criteria (70% for 30 minutes) compared to their calorie based criteria (300 calories in 30 mins).
If I clear 90% going for a 30 minute run I can probably manage the half points one on 60% for 30 minutes walking to the shop
Thought I'd give it a go as I get points on my health insurance, which then gets me better discounts on other stuff, for logging exercise and I was wondering how their heartrate criteria (70% for 30 minutes) compared to their calorie based criteria (300 calories in 30 mins).
If I clear 90% going for a 30 minute run I can probably manage the half points one on 60% for 30 minutes walking to the shop
Edited by RizzoTheRat on Thursday 30th January 16:49
okgo said:
el stovey said:
Looks like it wasn't reading properly initially and then settled in (as it moved or you sweated more) at around 170-180 BPM.
Is there an echo in here? 
Perhaps you can get the mods to label all of your posts as being really important to make them stand out more.
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