echappist

So i had an accident two weeks ago & had knee pain until Tuesday. When i got on my bike for my normal ride today (5 laps around Central Park), my average heart rate was 164, compared to 150 before the injury, and my max was 180, compared to 164 before. The ride was a bit more tiresome than usual, but not much more so. Is it better to stick w/ heart rate training (keep the average in the low 150's), or is it better to ride at my old pace until i get the aerobic conditioning back? FWIW, i run quite a bit and always train by heart rate after time off from training, but then again, it's really hard to maintain a heart rate of 164 for a normal training run as that's what i average for slow tempo runs.

Many thanks in advance

evenslower

How well did you hydrate during your layoff? A lack of proper hydration for a day or two will cause my heart rate to jump above normal pretty easily on my usual rides.

SeaBee

I was ill earlier this winter and had the same - higher HR when returning, whilst the rest of the body still felt perfectly well. Don't over-think it - I went for about 3 rides, then it was back to normal. In other words, by the time you've worked out your strategy, you'll be fine again.

popeye

Normal for me after an illness.

logdrum

I think you max HR is the same before and after. You just did not push your body to get there. I am 43 and my highest recorded HR is 192. Yeah it is normal for the body to have an elevated HR after or during illness.