Should heart rate slow during exercise?
Discussion
As per title, should heart rate slow during exercise? Just got myself a heart rate monitor (chest strap) and used it today for the first time while rowing.
I was trying to better my 2k pb of 7:43, managed to get it down to 7:35.
However, I noticed after peaking at 154bpm the HR started to drop at about 3 min even though I was still going for the PB. I thought the HR should climb and stay high until I slow down?
I was trying to better my 2k pb of 7:43, managed to get it down to 7:35.
However, I noticed after peaking at 154bpm the HR started to drop at about 3 min even though I was still going for the PB. I thought the HR should climb and stay high until I slow down?
Apart from the few times you died (check fitment of HR monitor) I think that yes if you maintain "constant effort" the heart rate does reduce.
As I understand it the body initially reacts in a wtf type way so needs oxygen as it doesn't know what oxygen your muscles are going to need, is this it or in a minute are we really really going to be needed, but when the body sees that this is it everything eases off in oxygen to muscles sense to cope with the constant effort so HR drops off, not back to rest but back to a steady state.
As I understand it the body initially reacts in a wtf type way so needs oxygen as it doesn't know what oxygen your muscles are going to need, is this it or in a minute are we really really going to be needed, but when the body sees that this is it everything eases off in oxygen to muscles sense to cope with the constant effort so HR drops off, not back to rest but back to a steady state.
Everybody's physiology is different but, if I'm reading that graph right, it is a truly bizarre HR trace for a 2k test and it can't be right. It looks like it starts at about 65, stays there for the first two minutes (that's really odd), then rises to 150-ish, then drifts back down to more-or-less where it started, even thought you're busting a gut? Something must be wrong with the HR monitor or how you put it on. As you say, during a 2k test your HR will shoot up at the start and stay there. As it happens I always found during longer steady-state exercise (like 30 mins +) my HR would drift up very slightly.
Roger Irrelevant said:
Everybody's physiology is different but, if I'm reading that graph right, it is a truly bizarre HR trace for a 2k test and it can't be right.
This. You were going for a PB but your avg HR was 81? Unless you are extremely old or exceedingly fit (and weren't trying hard) that is not right. Do you know roughly what your max HR is? How did you feel when doing it, out of breath?I suspect its a problem with the contact of the strap. Its dropped out a few times also. Is it tight enough? Best to wet the strap slightly before using it. You can also get gel to put on to improve the pickup. Either that or HR strap is faulty.
Interesting. You may have been flagging or not pushing so hard? Or the fact that the device stopped recording a couple of times means it wasn't being worn properly.
Anecdotally, I do notice when indoor climbing, I get the initial pump after maybe 15 minutes and I think, "Feck, this session was supposed to last 2 hours." but it subsides and I can carry on. A similar thing occurs when playing a singles tennis match. After the first game (3 or 4 points), I'm feeling it in my chest and start wondering if my fitness has gone to pot but that feeling dies down and I'm able to last another 3+ sets, happily sprinting for dropshots throughout the match.
Anecdotally, I do notice when indoor climbing, I get the initial pump after maybe 15 minutes and I think, "Feck, this session was supposed to last 2 hours." but it subsides and I can carry on. A similar thing occurs when playing a singles tennis match. After the first game (3 or 4 points), I'm feeling it in my chest and start wondering if my fitness has gone to pot but that feeling dies down and I'm able to last another 3+ sets, happily sprinting for dropshots throughout the match.
popeyewhite said:
Better put in a bit more effort! 
Will try harder next time 
petrolbloke said:
Looks like you died two or three times too.
These things are not 100% accurate so I wouldn't read too much into the graph.
Felt like I died at the end These things are not 100% accurate so I wouldn't read too much into the graph.
had to sit for a couple of min to catch my breath.Thanks for the input everyone, I guess as suggested it must have been a fitment problem even though I made sure the strap was wet, guess it wasn't wet enough
. I thought if it lost "contact" it would show gaps like the graph does towards the end?
Going to have another go either tomorrow or Friday and will report back.
I've got a Bontrager chest strap HRM for my cycle computer and a wrist based HRM on my Garmin running watch. Neither of them have ever flatlined during exercise, and the OP's does this three times, so I'm inclined to think something's not right - it also flatlines at the part of the workout that's showing a dodgy reading. I'd check it's fitted in the recommended place and with the recommended tightness. I find a bit of spit on each contact makes mine work better too, so try that also. I'd definitely ignore these readings for now. You could of course try measuring the old fashioned way and comparing.
7w7 said:
When I did 2k last time, I tried measuring my HR with my Garmin running watch.
It said my HR was about 60-70 the whole time, which it obviously wasn't.
I think it was thrown off by the clenching of the wrist muscles. Maybe there is a similar issue with using a chest based monitor.
Wrist based optical monitors don't work at all when rowing - they just generate a vague set of numbers that indicate nothing. Chest based are absolutely fine under most conditions.It said my HR was about 60-70 the whole time, which it obviously wasn't.
I think it was thrown off by the clenching of the wrist muscles. Maybe there is a similar issue with using a chest based monitor.
The average isn't based on the rowing - that is based on the entire 12 minutes, not the 7.5 minutes of rowing.
OP - which HRM is it? You're using Polar Beat, so possibly it is the H7, H10? Steady state your heart rate should normally rise throughout the session, especially something like an erg 2k time trial.
(I've never been able to hit max heart rate over a 2k erg T/T, really weird)
Blue32 said:
That's more like it 
, I made sure the strap was soaking wet this time.
The dip after 7:40 was where I stopped to take the photo and have a drink. I carried on for another 2k at a slower pace. Didn't die this time either
That's more like it , I made sure the strap was soaking wet this time.The dip after 7:40 was where I stopped to take the photo and have a drink. I carried on for another 2k at a slower pace. Didn't die this time either
I remember when I got my first chest strap HRM I had some weird results until I just put a tiny bit of spit on each contact, and then it worked fine. Sweat does this in summer, but you can't rely on that at this time of year.Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff