Ask Ann: Heart Rate Homework

2.8K

Dear Ann, I just got a heart rate monitor, what do I do with it?
A.S.

Dear A.S.,
Congratulations on acquiring one of the best tools an ultrarunner can have. Heart rate monitors are individual to the wearer and know you better than anyone else, and that is why they make the best training partners, and pacers. The key to getting the most out of using a heart rate monitor is understanding that your heart is unique. While there is a wide range of possibilities to use your heart rate monitor for your training and racing, I recommend starting simply.

• Strap it on and wear it around the house. Nudge your heart belt and electrolyte sensor around on your chest until you locate the best heart monitor position for your body. The folks at Garmin note that the “the strap is worn on the ribcage, below the pectoral muscles or breasts.”
• Make sure the strap is comfortable, and you have a snug fit; the goal is that the monitor has NO room for movement while you are running and does not cause any chafing.
• Conductivity can be an issue. Low beats per minute (BPM), or spikes in BPM, are not uncommon problems. Moisture is king as signals will not pass from dry skin to the monitor. Lightly dampening the sensor with a spritz of water can help with transmission. In a pinch, you can lick the sensor, as saliva will also do the trick.
• Before you start worrying about what the numbers mean, just get used to the numbers. Take note of activities that make your heart rate rise and fall.

There are a number of variables that make heart rate unique, including your size, gender, age, fitness level, ability, the altitude, and even some medications, will impact heart rate. Women tend to have higher heart rates than men.

Next, You Have Some Homework To Do
Now that you have become familiar with wearing your heart rate monitor and watching the numbers go up and down, we are going to put some meaning behind those numbers.

You and your new friend are going to find two important numbers – your personal resting heart rate and maximum heart rate. Maximum heart rate is the fastest, highest number of times your heart beats per minute. Resting is the slowest number per minute (normally taken when you wake up in the morning).

Your resting heart rate is quite informative. It can change with training and will generally decrease with increasing fitness. Increases in resting heart rate, on the other hand, can indicate fatigue, overtraining and sickness. Part one of your homework assessment is to record and chart your daily resting heart rate for the next month. Take special notice of changes following long runs and high intensity workouts.

Maximum heart rate does not change with training. (There have been some exciting scientific studies showing that maximum heart can be altered by aerobic training — let us assume for our purposes right now that it is of steady state in nature). Figuring out your maximum rate is critical; all your training zones are calculated from this number. Part two of your homework assessment is to figure out your own maximum heart rate.

Here are three ways to determine your maximum rate:

The Gold Standard
This involves getting a Cardiovascular Stress Test performed by a physician. However, this can be expensive if not covered by insurance and is not an option for everyone. It is recommended for anyone over 40 years in age who has not been exercising recently or regularly.

Tried And True
Run 3 X 400 meters, running all out at what you perceive is maximum effort up a steep hill. Allow recovery time between each repetition. Take note of the highest rate your heart rate monitor displays. Voila – you have figured out your own maximum heart rate.

Basic Math
If you are under age 40: 208 – (.7 x your age). If you are over age 40: 205 – (.5 x your age). This method is an estimate, and you should allow for some variability in accuracy. The method is based on scientific studies that maximum heart rates start decreasing beginning at 10 to 15 years of age.

Congratulations on doing your homework and finding out your resting and maximum heart rates. Below are some basic guidelines on how to use that maximum heart rate number in your training or racing.

Training Zones
Easy 65% – 75% of your MHR
Tempo 75% – 85% of your MHR
Intervals 95% – 100% of your MHR

Racing Zones
50K 80% – 85% of your MHR
More than 50K 70% – 80% of your MHR

Enjoy getting to know your new training friend and in my next column I will explain ways you can use your heart rate monitor to personalize and improve your running.