Morning all,

I have just bought a Garmin 305 and using it with all my training.  I also worked out my Resting and Max Heart rate.  Resting is around 61 beats per minute.  To work out my max HR I decided to sprint for about 20 seconds half way through a 4 mile run and my heart rate went to 207.  My question is, what is considered to be a normal max heart rate.  Also will my max heart rate change depending on fitness? 

Thanks,

Luke

Kate is right 220-age is pretty good and have a look on the site. I doubt very much it went to 207 consistantly: sometimes the heart pops in an extra beat for no good reason and the HRM doesn't read it properly. 20 secs isn't long enough at max effort really to get to max.

As you get fitter the max heart rate doesn't change significantly but the heart pumps more blood more efficiantly, enlarging like any muscle with exercise, and you can run faster at any given heart rate.

Same as Marge my HR for a race can average at 170 with a peak of 178, and using the 220 method my LT is something like 155 but if a can hold a 10k pace at 165 - 170 then my threshold is far higher than the calculation.

I am at a point where it seems if I add 10 onto the calculation then the bands more or less fit into what I consider to be the pace.

Might try a sports lab assessment as I am equally obsessive and want to optimize my performance, just got to find one in the Midlands, any ideas Marge?

......and I've got to beat Dave at the Parkrun....did I say the P word...kerching.

I still just don't get the HRM thing... I don't see the benefit over using pace or even perceived effort!

Oh, and I'm still beating Derek without HRM training!

BTW Derek, I hope PSH doesn't read this thread - he's most insistent that it's a 'p' word, not a 'P' word! I'm volunteering at CHp tomorrow - have a good day at Brueton!

Me too Alf.

I think the answer is that there's no such thing as a 'good' maximum heart rate, it's purely genetic. However, your resting heart rate is the one that'll get lower as you get fitter. As Kate said, there is a HR monitor measurer thing somewhere on the site which will give you an idea (and a whizzy graphic!)