Originally Posted by
gkk2001
I splurged and got the new Polar CS500 computer/HRM and like it alot. It is truely a very nice unit that I think was well worth the cash. I am still on a learning curve because of all the features but know most of the operation after just a couple days of use.
At 59 and a newbe cyclist, I thought I better know what level my heart was doing on the rides I am taking.
It turns out, to reach the workout intensity that I feel is correct for me, my heart rate is easily going to 140 - 145 (occassionally even 150) while the
guideline calculation says it should be 133 max for my age. (220-59) x 0.80 I enter my age into the Polar and
it will not let me set the max heart rate above 133 for it to monitor the time that I am in my proper heart rate zone. I know I am not as fit as I want to be but my resting rate is 60 so I am not that bad off and my weight is down to a good level as well (158 at 5'11").
I have approached this thinking the heart rate zone calculation is just a guidline and that it is OK for me to run higher than the recommened zone. What level heart rates are you running to during training? Am I looking at this the wrong way?
Greg
Using the Polar: 133 is not your estimated HR Max... it 80 percent of your estimated HRmax and defines a theoretical zone for aerobic conditioning (bottom of zone is 100 or something like that). Look for the "own zone" feature of the Polar. That should allow you set our own values if this bothers you.
Going over the 133 level is no big deal... even a very good thing from time to time, provided you are in good health. IMO those who declare the 220-age formula "obsolete" or "discredited" are misinformed and are asking too much of an estimation formula. There is variation around any mean, but the mean does fit a lot of the population.