Max heart rate?

[feef]

How do you work out your max heart rate?

According to the traditional method of 220-[your age], my MHR should be 177. Using combined Londeree, Moeschberger and Miller calculations, it rises to 181bpm.

However, on my runs (currently doing 5k - 10k several times a week), I'm normally averaging the high 170s even touching 180 and peaking into 190s which suggests the calculations aren't that accurate for me.

e.g. the last 10k trail run I did, 75% (48 minutes) was theoretically anaerobic, which it obviously wasn't.

Anyone got a good method to try and work it out?

Edited by feef on Tuesday 23 May 11:30

[budgie smuggler]

Why do you want to calculate it (as opposed to measure it)?

I'm predicted as having a MHR of between 180 and 184, but I still see 196 during fitness tests.

[Parsnip]

The only way to know is to find out - formulae are always based on an average and are good enough for a ballpark, but in reality can be miles off.

Method - get your HR up to where you are giving it the berries (a 5k pace should be getting you up there after a km or two) and then open the taps to a flat out sprint - when you want to spew and have to stop, that is your MHR. Much more fun that a formula

[feef]

budgie smuggler said:

Why do you want to calculate it (as opposed to measure it)?

I'm predicted as having a MHR of between 180 and 184, but I still see 196 during fitness tests.

measure or calculate, generally arrive at an accurate value

[budgie smuggler]

feef said:

measure or calculate, generally arrive at an accurate value

Well then as Parsnip suggests, decent warm up then absolutely balls out for 3 mins and take the peak reading.

Edited by budgie smuggler on Tuesday 23 May 12:27