Training & Nutrition - Any Ideas of How to Determine Target Rate?

I have a problem, I use a heartrate monitor, but have a rate that is normally high. (about 70 resting the first thing in the morning). How do I determine a good rate for myself, I am 55 years old which puts me down in the 130's as a target and when I hit 158, I can sing (by myself nobody else in earshot)carry on a conversation or about anything else, so I don't think I'm over training.

This is just the begining of the season, and I would like to actually train effectively.

My mother actually has had a treadmill test stopped just because her heartrate went up so the problem is genetic. Fortunately she was fine and it is just her system.

Any suggestions.

Try gazing through some of the info on this page.

http://www.polarusa.com/consumer/fitness/hrm.asp

First, 70 resting first thing in the morning is not that high. I wouldn't call it high at all. If you were getting into the 80s, I may become concerned, but then again, I'd be more inclined to refer you to a doctor at that point or just suggest you get rest first and see if you can't drop your heartrate through rest and exercise before seeing a doctor.

Forget target heart rate. That concept is so old school, it's like trying to resurrect the 1980s. See the other post I did about determining lactate threshold at: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=20353&highlight=koffee+brown+lactic+acid

Do the test. Find ranges to work in. Develop a periodization program based on your fitness goals. Then start training.

What are your goals? What are you training for? Are you doing any events this summer? What's your story?


Koff