- Jul 11, 2001
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You can estimate your maximum heart rate based on your age. To estimate your maximum age-related heart rate, subtract your age from 220. For example, for a 50-year-old person, the estimated maximum age-related heart rate would be calculated as 220 – 50 years = 170 beats per minute (bpm).
Well, do they mean sustained HR? I suppose not. Anyway, I go over my maximum sometimes and maybe by plenty
I bought HR monitors just before the pandemic and have used them ever since. I quad skated the streets during the pandemic, daily. I maxed out at maybe 160 bpm, but usually was quite a ways below that for maximum. Before today, I'd never seen over maybe 162. I rarely averaged above 140 bpm for my skates, which were typically 10 miles, taking 70-80 minutes.
Lately I have been hitting the gym 3x/week after a bike ride of 5 miles, which takes me around 1/2 hour. Of course, same going home. The last few weeks I have taken up hiking a trail in the hills near me (on days I don't hit the gym), I ride to the base, lock my bike and make the ~ 700 foot climb. I took my HR monitor a few days and hit 150-160 maximum.
So, today it was rainy in the morning and not wanting to get my shoe soles muddy, and not being a gym day, I decided to ride into the hills. I used to do that daily 20 years ago, taking time splits at several "milestones." It's a climb of a little over 700 feet, a gradual climb but there are steep sections. Some younger guys were passing me, there were 20 years ago too, but I'm not in the shape I was then. I developed carpal tunnel syndrome and couldn't ride long distances without my left hand numbing up, so I stopped riding into the hills, probably a good 15 years ago! My CTS came to a head about 4 months ago, saw a hand doctor, had nerve conduction study ("severe CTS, both hands"), had surgery on both hands, 3 months and 1 1/2 months ago. So, the numbness of left hand is gone now, decided to ride my old ride today, 1st time with HR monitor on. It was a challenge not to have to get off the bike but I stuck with it. The HR monitor app results are staggering: maximum HR 212! I have to wonder if something went wrong. Length of ride was 1:45 (I did stop to drink water and pee for a few minutes). Average HR was 147. I had to change the HR monitor battery before the ride, so it is a fresh battery. I could do it again with a different HR monitor, different Android phone too, but it WAS a tough workout!
Did my HR actually hit 212? I was "no way!" Or was it...? Um, I am NOT 8 YO.
Edit:
Is it OK to hit your max heart rate?
Your maximum heart rate depends on your age. Subtracting your age from the number 220 will give you your maximum heart rate. Suppose your age is 35 years, and your maximum heart rate is 185 beats per minute. If your heart rate exceeds 185 beats per minute during exercise, it is dangerous for you.
According to the above, I should be dead. Well, maybe my HR monitor or app fucked up.
Edit 2:
Is 220 minus your age accurate?
The traditional formula for determining HRmax is "220 minus age", but can underestimate HRmax by up to 40 beats per minute in seniors. In fact, the method is inaccurate already at an age of 30–40 years, and gets more inaccurate the older you are.
Uh, I should still be dead.
Well, do they mean sustained HR? I suppose not. Anyway, I go over my maximum sometimes and maybe by plenty
I bought HR monitors just before the pandemic and have used them ever since. I quad skated the streets during the pandemic, daily. I maxed out at maybe 160 bpm, but usually was quite a ways below that for maximum. Before today, I'd never seen over maybe 162. I rarely averaged above 140 bpm for my skates, which were typically 10 miles, taking 70-80 minutes.
Lately I have been hitting the gym 3x/week after a bike ride of 5 miles, which takes me around 1/2 hour. Of course, same going home. The last few weeks I have taken up hiking a trail in the hills near me (on days I don't hit the gym), I ride to the base, lock my bike and make the ~ 700 foot climb. I took my HR monitor a few days and hit 150-160 maximum.
So, today it was rainy in the morning and not wanting to get my shoe soles muddy, and not being a gym day, I decided to ride into the hills. I used to do that daily 20 years ago, taking time splits at several "milestones." It's a climb of a little over 700 feet, a gradual climb but there are steep sections. Some younger guys were passing me, there were 20 years ago too, but I'm not in the shape I was then. I developed carpal tunnel syndrome and couldn't ride long distances without my left hand numbing up, so I stopped riding into the hills, probably a good 15 years ago! My CTS came to a head about 4 months ago, saw a hand doctor, had nerve conduction study ("severe CTS, both hands"), had surgery on both hands, 3 months and 1 1/2 months ago. So, the numbness of left hand is gone now, decided to ride my old ride today, 1st time with HR monitor on. It was a challenge not to have to get off the bike but I stuck with it. The HR monitor app results are staggering: maximum HR 212! I have to wonder if something went wrong. Length of ride was 1:45 (I did stop to drink water and pee for a few minutes). Average HR was 147. I had to change the HR monitor battery before the ride, so it is a fresh battery. I could do it again with a different HR monitor, different Android phone too, but it WAS a tough workout!
Did my HR actually hit 212? I was "no way!" Or was it...? Um, I am NOT 8 YO.
Edit:
Is it OK to hit your max heart rate?
Your maximum heart rate depends on your age. Subtracting your age from the number 220 will give you your maximum heart rate. Suppose your age is 35 years, and your maximum heart rate is 185 beats per minute. If your heart rate exceeds 185 beats per minute during exercise, it is dangerous for you.
According to the above, I should be dead. Well, maybe my HR monitor or app fucked up.
Edit 2:
Is 220 minus your age accurate?
The traditional formula for determining HRmax is "220 minus age", but can underestimate HRmax by up to 40 beats per minute in seniors. In fact, the method is inaccurate already at an age of 30–40 years, and gets more inaccurate the older you are.
Uh, I should still be dead.
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