Max heart rate

[dbmtb]

Interesting. I used to race in my mid-20s with a pulse of about 195 BPM.... Never found my max when I was on top form aged 23 as couldn't afford such things on Student Grant.

But can still just about get up to 200 these days.....

So +1 for the 220-age being a crock.

 

[dyna-ti]

Not sure :? But i know that 0 isnt good

 

[hamster]

I think that the original paper suggested 220-minus age as a rough guide only, however it then got repeatedly cited and became seen as truth.

On Karvonen (heart rate reserve) IIRC the original research suggested it as a better way of calculating exertion levels, but never actually researched the idea.

It's surprising how weak the research base actually is!
Anyway, a few weeks and some nasty hills will give you a good idea roughly where your maximum lies.

 

[pete_mcc]

..hmmm my super human efforts look more likely to be a guff speedo/hrm then!

Not necessarily; my resting is 110BPM, my max is 224, my average workout tops 195 and my average bike ride tops at 185. I can maintain 185 for a hour and a half. That 220-age would make my max nearer 180...

I initially thought it may be an error, but after changing HRM and gym machine a few times I am happy that its accurate. Not so happy that my heart rate is so high but hey, I blame it on the fact that I was ill for 24 months and my fitness suffered cos I did no exercise!

 

[MikeD]

my resting is 110BPM

:shock: That's almost exactly twice mine. Definitely couldn't do 185 for 1.5 hours though

 

[Muddy Funster]

Not necessarily; my resting is 110BPM, my max is 224, my average workout tops 195 and my average bike ride tops at 185. I can maintain 185 for a hour and a half. That 220-age would make my max nearer 180...

Cheers for the replies guys, I'm kind of glad that there is a varied opinion apart from the fact that the 220-age rule is bunkem. I guess its a matter of going as fast or slow as your body will let you and you wont go far wrong!

 

[gtRTSdh]

..hmmm my super human efforts look more likely to be a guff speedo/hrm then!

Not necessarily; my resting is 110BPM, my max is 224, my average workout tops 195 and my average bike ride tops at 185. I can maintain 185 for a hour and a half. That 220-age would make my max nearer 180...

I initially thought it may be an error, but after changing HRM and gym machine a few times I am happy that its accurate. Not so happy that my heart rate is so high but hey, I blame it on the fact that I was ill for 24 months and my fitness suffered cos I did no exercise!

I would seriously see a doctor.

If you are fit enough to maintain 180+ for an hour and a half (this is a very good fitness level) yet your resting is so high at 110, less than half that would be normal.

Are you sure you're resting eg watching TV HR is 110?

 

[grahame]

I'm less worried about maximum rate than I am minimum rate.

For the minimum, anything above 0 and I'm happy.

 

[jimo746]

Interesting thread, I was running on a treadmill recently and had input my age/weight etc to allow it to calculate my HRmax, after a fast interval session the machine started with flashing lights and "Warning!!! High Heart Rate!!!" messages :shock:
I think my HRmax is higher than the 220-your age rubbish, I believe my Wii Fit age more than that formula tbh
Worth looking into the book LGF linked to though, I really should use my HR monitor more often

 

[We_are_Stevo]

This is the calculator I use...

http://www.machinehead-software.co.uk/b ... lator.html

...have it on my desktop and update it accordingly as my age increases and my weight fluctuates

Been using it for years and you really can't go wrong with it.