Is this too high (Heart rate)

chewa

Thought I would check for views.

I'm male 47, 6', 80 Kilos and not checked recently but resting heart rate last year was 38 first thing on waking.

I do about 5000 miles a year (26 mile round trip commute on a 531c Audax bike) including the occasional Audax and charity ride.

Spent the week before last in hospital getting prodded and poked. Had extreme pain over my ribs which doctor thought initially to be a partial pneumothorax or an intercostal muscle pull. Xrays suggested the former though marginal so told it would spontaneously refill and given painkillers. Then got extreme abdominal pain, admitted to Hospital eventually found I had early duodenal ulceration (pain was the painkillers stirring it up). They decided the rib pain was probably intercostal muscle.

What with one thing and another(colds over New Year) I've been off the bike best part of a month.(longest period since a motorcycle accident 7 years ago)

Rode in yesterday and suffered like a dog and today decided to use my HRM (Decathlon one ) and to try to keep pulse below 160. My commute for those who know it is from Fife to Edinburgh - never flat, usually short sharp climbs or descents.

I had real trouble keeping my rate down. On flat at 15-16mph sitting at 150-154 but any climb at all and into the mid to high 170's. Even saw 192 at one point - and it wasn't through a red mist!

I didn't feel stressed (knew I was working harder than usual for that climb) and was only aware of mild rib pain when really breathing deep (I tried not to)

I had 2 ecg's in hospital when admitted and before endoscopy - all ok - in fact the doctors commented on how fit I was.

Thing is, the HRM figures seem way high for someone my age. Anyone any views, should I be concerned or has a month off just knackered my fitness. Or could the monitor be reading high - it's always seemed to be accurate before.

redvee

There is an approx formula for max HR, something like 220-age so high 170's isn't too high imho.

Bronzie

redvee wrote:

There is an approx formula for max HR, something like 220-age so high 170's isn't too high imho.

...........and this can be out by +/- 15bpm so is only really a guide - even the 192 is therefore not beyond the realms of possibilty for a 47 year old.

No doubt that when you get back into your regular excercise regime, your heart rate will reduce for the same given effort.

jimmoffatt

I am 50 and my maximum is 188. I have only reached it a couple of times in races last year. I got to it the Sunday before last in the Harp Hilly Trial :shock:

I don't commute by bike but I would have to be late for a very important meeting to get to my maximum.

hambones

A far better approximation is the 210 minus 1/2 your age formula. Everytime someone quotes their maxHR this formula gives a much closer figure than the old fave of 220-age. Jimmoffatt being yet another good example!

varno

redvee wrote:

There is an approx formula for max HR, something like 220-age so high 170's isn't too high imho.

Be very careful using this formula its too generic for any type of performance training..Best bet is do a mx test and calculate back from its final figure.

V

hambones

I love it - all my posts are invisible!! :roll: :roll:

nmcgann

I wouldn't get too worried with your HR being a bit high after a lay-off. I had a couple of weeks off over xmas and my HR was at least 10-15bpm over where it normally is for the first few turbo sessions when I started training again. It soon comes down again.

Neil

blackhands

None of these formulae are to be taken too seriously as they all assume that there is a linear relationship between age and maximum heart rate - which is probably not the case.

Your max heart rate is not unusual for your age although somewhat higher than average. My max HR is 185 and I'm 65.

kant314

I'm 50 years old and have a max of 200.
Nothing to worry about for you.

varno

Basically it all depends on how much lactic acid you produce at the higher heart rates. The more efficient you are the less you produce and therefore you can continue to ride harder...

Dont get hung up on heart rates

chewa

Thanks for the responses.

Checked today and my average rate was 169 for my commute (going as hard as I felt I could). Other than when climbing I feel I'm getting there. i suspect the time off bike and partial lung collapse is meaning I'm not oxygenating as well as I should as my average BPM for the same trip last year was about 150.

Since I'm not feeling ill and not aware of any pounding in my ears I'll just monitor for a week or two. If rate doesn't drop may go back to doc.