"Low" Max Heart Rate (MHR)
04-07-08, 05:43 AM
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"Low" Max Heart Rate (MHR)
I'm 47 years old, 6'2" 172lbs. Been cycling regularly for 25 years, and the last couple years I've been doing a little racing, so I bought a HR monitor.
On a typical moderate intensity 2 hour ride my average HR will be 130-135.
My resting HR during the day is normally upper 40's, and can dip into upper 30's sleeping.
My average HR for a 40k TT is upper 140's.
Have a 5 minute climb that I normally do, and if I go all out my average HR will normally be low 150's, max MHR at the top maybe 160.
In an all out sprint finish I might see max MHR of 165-170 at the most. That is my 100%, fall off the bike, gasping for air #.
Since I started racing the last couple years I've tried to mix my training up a bit more, throwing some interval training in. But it has had no measurable effect.
From what I have seen my MHR is lower than most people who exercise regularly. Anyone out there seeing similar #'s or have any useful info on this?
On a typical moderate intensity 2 hour ride my average HR will be 130-135.
My resting HR during the day is normally upper 40's, and can dip into upper 30's sleeping.
My average HR for a 40k TT is upper 140's.
Have a 5 minute climb that I normally do, and if I go all out my average HR will normally be low 150's, max MHR at the top maybe 160.
In an all out sprint finish I might see max MHR of 165-170 at the most. That is my 100%, fall off the bike, gasping for air #.
Since I started racing the last couple years I've tried to mix my training up a bit more, throwing some interval training in. But it has had no measurable effect.
From what I have seen my MHR is lower than most people who exercise regularly. Anyone out there seeing similar #'s or have any useful info on this?
04-07-08, 06:26 AM
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I've had this same conversation with my cardiologist. I'm 50 and my max is 175 resting 45. This is down from 195/55 because of cycling. My cardiologist (who by the way is also a cyclist) tells me that some people just have lower heart rates than others, but runners and cyclist will have lower rates anyway. Believe it or not I have high blood pressure even though I'm not the typical HP type. I'm 5'5" 135 - no body fat. I guess it's just genes and the stress from work.
You should be happy with your numbers and not "stressing" over it at so early in the mourning.
You should be happy with your numbers and not "stressing" over it at so early in the mourning.
04-07-08, 07:08 AM
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Thanks for the quick reply. My BP is good 115-120/75, cholesterol was borderline 195-200 total, but I added some omega3 foods and "good" fats to my diet (walnuts, salmon, SmartBalance), and that brought the total down to 170's and improved my good cholesterol. While my family doctor says everything looks fine, I've debated going to a sports doc, just to see what they thought. Appreciate your experiences... oh and I wasn't really stressing over it, just an early riser and I've got the day off! Now if the sun would just come out, spring still hasn't sprung here.
