Hey y’all!
Like the little jet setter I am these days, I’m heading out tonight again for Oregon for my lil’ sis’s graduation from Physician Assistant school. I’m super proud of her and look forward to the weekend.
But anyway, I have a question. I keep reading everywhere about how training with a heart rate monitor is so good for you, etc., and I definitely believe it. I got a HR monitor 2 years ago for Christmas and I really like wearing it on long endurance days when I can look down and go, “OMG I just burned 6000 calories!” I think that’s fun.
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Not sure which one I have, but it looks a lot like this. We’ll say this is it.
Anyway, my confusion comes in when I’m running. I get that my max heart rate is 220 minus my age (29) so I should be looking at a rough max hr of 191. Fine. But running is HARD for me, and always had been. When I’m running, no matter how fast or slow, I’m always sitting right on my max hr. I’m talking even if I’m jogging an 11 minute mile. When I’m cycling or swimming or hiking or anything, this isn’t the case, but when I run, my hr just sky rockets. Pretty sure my heart might blow up. Any smart people out there know why?
In other news, I hurt like a mother this morning! I went to the gym last night with intentions of doing the body pump class but when I got there, that class was packed like a can of sardines. Hell to the no. I stood in the doorway, looked around, and then just left. Not worth it! Instead, Cindy and I did the stairmaster for 30 minutes (or like I refer to it, the death machine) and then did some strength training with kettle bells. Holy hell. Never used kettle bells before but those suckers really do the trick. We did some kettle bell swings and my legs are fried today!! Should make sitting on a plane all the more comfortable 🙂
3 Comments
I have the exact same problem. My Max HR is 194, and I can easily hit a solid 180 while running a mile. What I gather from the information the trainers have been telling me is that I built my Hr Zone Pyramid from the top down, instead of from bottom to top. Meaning I need to spend more time traning in the lower zones to have more of a solid foundation for effeciency. THEN, they say, your body will be better at converting oxygen and burning the right kind of calories, and you will be able to withstand more strenuous activities with a more conservative HR. It’s taking me a lot of discipline to wear my HR monitor all the time and keep my HR down while working out.
P.S. I hate when you go to a class and find it full! Such a bummer!
I bought a heart rate monitor but it doesn’t work! Suchhh a rip off (no returns) 🙁
Hope you have a great time in Oregon! I’ll be heading out there next weekend for my Dad’s wedding. Congrats to your sister!!
I’ve only been reading your blog for a little bit. But the 220-age isn’t really a good measure I’ve heard. You do a field test to find your lactate threshold instead. But the harder part is finding a training plan that uses it and sticks to it.
Mike