Determining Maximum HR by feeling light headed?
04-26-11, 06:16 AM
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Determining Maximum HR by feeling light headed?
Yesterday I rode so hard that my MHR was at 102% since I had set it to 187bpm but was at 191bpm... I guess I have a new maximum? Or maybe even more than that? I felt light headed big time.
Good news is I thought I was riding with the B group but after we finished I found out I was with the B+ . That made the suffering almost worth while.
Here's the data -
https://connect.garmin.com/activity/81625607
Good news is I thought I was riding with the B group but after we finished I found out I was with the B+ . That made the suffering almost worth while.
Here's the data -
https://connect.garmin.com/activity/81625607
04-27-11, 06:55 PM
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A max is a max. You don't get a new max. How did you determine that 187 was your max? Did you use the "formula"? Because they are worthless.
There are a lot of guides out there how to determine your own max. It is very, very difficult to achieve a true max on your heart beat, plus it will be different for running vs. cycling vs. swimming vs. skiing, etc.
I've always used my lactate threshold as a benchmark instead of max. HR, and then design workouts around that instead. I've never done a LT blood study, but have used the average I get during a full effort race for 45-60 minutes.
I also know what my "marathon race pace" is - My average for 3-5 hour marathon type ski events is very consistent and I can use that as a benchmark for whatever workout I'm trying to do.
If you haven't already, you might consider reading a couple of books on HR training - they're very interesting. There are some variations in methodology, but you'll get a good idea.
There are a lot of guides out there how to determine your own max. It is very, very difficult to achieve a true max on your heart beat, plus it will be different for running vs. cycling vs. swimming vs. skiing, etc.
I've always used my lactate threshold as a benchmark instead of max. HR, and then design workouts around that instead. I've never done a LT blood study, but have used the average I get during a full effort race for 45-60 minutes.
I also know what my "marathon race pace" is - My average for 3-5 hour marathon type ski events is very consistent and I can use that as a benchmark for whatever workout I'm trying to do.
If you haven't already, you might consider reading a couple of books on HR training - they're very interesting. There are some variations in methodology, but you'll get a good idea.
Last edited by Camilo; 04-27-11 at 06:58 PM.
04-28-11, 09:37 AM
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A max is a max. You don't get a new max. How did you determine that 187 was your max? Did you use the "formula"? Because they are worthless.
There are a lot of guides out there how to determine your own max. It is very, very difficult to achieve a true max on your heart beat, plus it will be different for running vs. cycling vs. swimming vs. skiing, etc.
I've always used my lactate threshold as a benchmark instead of max. HR, and then design workouts around that instead. I've never done a LT blood study, but have used the average I get during a full effort race for 45-60 minutes.
I also know what my "marathon race pace" is - My average for 3-5 hour marathon type ski events is very consistent and I can use that as a benchmark for whatever workout I'm trying to do.
If you haven't already, you might consider reading a couple of books on HR training - they're very interesting. There are some variations in methodology, but you'll get a good idea.
There are a lot of guides out there how to determine your own max. It is very, very difficult to achieve a true max on your heart beat, plus it will be different for running vs. cycling vs. swimming vs. skiing, etc.
I've always used my lactate threshold as a benchmark instead of max. HR, and then design workouts around that instead. I've never done a LT blood study, but have used the average I get during a full effort race for 45-60 minutes.
I also know what my "marathon race pace" is - My average for 3-5 hour marathon type ski events is very consistent and I can use that as a benchmark for whatever workout I'm trying to do.
If you haven't already, you might consider reading a couple of books on HR training - they're very interesting. There are some variations in methodology, but you'll get a good idea.
I didn't mean that my true max changed. New max because I had estimated 187 based on hard effort that had taken me to 185 previously. But since on Monday I had an extra hard effort @ 191bpm while feeling light headed, i figured it's a "new" max! I was wrong in my estimate before.
04-28-11, 12:17 PM
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That's probably exactly right. I had a coach once who told me to use an effort like that as an estimated 90 or95% of true max. From what I know about "zone" training, a few beats in error in estimating zones won't be a big deal. I'd bet that 190-195 as your estimate of true max would be plenty accurate, more accurate than most people (who use the age related formula). That's what I'd do anyway.
