Training & Nutrition - Max HR Increasing?

52 y.o. male here . . .

It's been a little over a year since I got serious about fitness and monitoring actvities closely. I started out with a max hr (recorded) of 187. In a few months I was sometimes getting to 189. This summer during intervals I would hit 191. Last week I see I've now hit 194.

Is it typical to see max HR increase like this? Should I adjust my training zones accordingly?

I've found that as I've become more comfortable with the "pain" of intense intervals that I can push myself harder and therefor sometimes I see an increase in my MHR.

James

Is it typical to see max HR increase like this? Should I adjust my training zones accordingly?Who knows? But off hand, what ever training you are doing now is most likely an excellent program if you are achieving these heart rates during dedicated workouts.

My own experience suggests that your "new" MaxHR is possibly a fluke as a result of drugs, or supra-normal amount rest and optimal nutrition or hydration.

In any case, MHR is not the only factor of overall conditioning. Unless you have a way of tying your HR to performance, much of this is meaningless.

Low long can you maintain an HR of 185? Has your ability to maintain high HRs grown longer?

It's been a little over a year since I got serious about fitness and monitoring actvities closely. I started out with a max hr (recorded) of 187. In a few months I was sometimes getting to 189. This summer during intervals I would hit 191. Last week I see I've now hit 194.

Is it typical to see max HR increase like this? Should I adjust my training zones accordingly?

I think you should adjust your training zones. Although the consensus seems to be that max heart rate never increases, your ability to achieve your max heart rate can increase. Since it is very difficult to actually get to your real max heart rate, as you gain fitness you will be able to get closer to it.

I think you should adjust your training zones. Although the consensus seems to be that max heart rate never increases, your ability to achieve your max heart rate can increase. Since it is very difficult to actually get to your real max heart rate, as you gain fitness you will be able to get closer to it.

+1

I had to keep adjusting my max HR up for nearly 3 years after I started running with an HRM. It's hard to sustain the effort needed to reach max HR if you're not in good shape.

I think you should adjust your training zones. Although the consensus seems to be that max heart rate never increases, your ability to achieve your max heart rate can increase. Since it is very difficult to actually get to your real max heart rate, as you gain fitness you will be able to get closer to it.

It just takes some time and effort in a controlled environment. This isn't ideal but it will get you to max.

Start with a 10 minute warmup at the base of a long gradual hill. Go up the hill in a moderate gear seated and at a good cadence for a minute. Then shift to the next higher gear and keep the cadence the same again for a minute. Each minute go to another gear. At the point where go can't keep the cadence any longer, shift again. When you are really struggling, shift once more, stand up, and spint all out for 20 seconds.

max hr is max hr, but as you get more fit you may be more able or willing to approach your max hr. most people probably never really hit their true max.

Try basing your zones on "threshold" heart rate, not max heart rate.

When I started riding last year my riding MaxHR was about 10 beats below my running MaxHR. After 6 months my riding MaxHR gradually rose. I assume that it takes a while to build up your cycling muscles to the point where you can fully stress the heart.

I agree with fuzzthebee. Don't set your training zones based on max, set them on threshold. You get much better zones.

max hr is max hr, but as you get more fit you may be more able or willing to approach your max hr. most people probably never really hit their true max.
I'd agree with that. I have noticed my max HR hasn't gone up but it hasn't decreased in many years. I don't really train much either. If I did it very well may have gone up 2-3 beats.