Training & Nutrition - Any explanation?

Ok, lets se if anyone can help with this.

Weekly MTB rides for me are about two hours, with an average heart-rate of 180bpm, +/- 2 to 3 bpm.

Is this sort of average for the rest of you? or am I running a little high?

That does seem a little high to me but it might be right for you. How old are you and have you done a Max Heart Rate test? My max heart rate is 186 so an average of 180 for me over 2 hours would be impossible.

Originally posted by Captain Crunch
That does seem a little high to me but it might be right for you. How old are you and have you done a Max Heart Rate test? My max heart rate is 186 so an average of 180 for me over 2 hours would be impossible.

I'm 35, and have seen 224bpm, (and dancing pink bears) on more than one really nasty climbs..

edit, and no I haven't done a max heart-rate test, but I have a feeling that I must have a relatively high LT?

The rule of thumb is 220 -35 = 185 for your max. I would say the 224 is high but if you can do it regulary with no pain ok. The 180 number doesn't seem out of the range. I'm 60 and can get to over 150 sometimes almost 160 on a stairstepping machine and 150 0n the stationary bike at the gym.

Of course checking with a doc is always an option.

Joe

The old school, outdated, unscientific, basically unreliable rule of thumb is 220- age. If you go by those numbers, you may end up skewing your heart rate and training sessions substantially.

Every person is different- every lactate threshold is going to be different for each individual. There are a number of factors that will affect your max heart rate too- from genetics, to larger hearts, to how much testosterone you have, to how often you work out etc.

Don't be shocked if you're getting those numbers consistently. Those are most likely your individual numbers.

I would suggest getting an anaerobic threshold test, a VO2 max test, a max and a heart rate test, but in a clinical setting, where professionals are performing the tests. There are plenty of performance labs that do these tests, and they can run anywhere from $50- 75 and up for the basic testing.

I know there is at least one performance lab in Canada- they came to Chicago and tested a bunch of people at my gym. I went also and had mine done. I don't have that name on me, but I'll check when I get back from vacation (mid-June). In the meantime, I suggest doing a google search for performance labs in Canada and see what you can pull up.

Good luck!

Koff