This is my first year heartrate training. I don’t really understand what is up with me.
Today was an “easy/recovery” day, both short and effort level (BarryP plan style). So according to my heart rate charts, I wanted to be < 150 BPM.
I ran very very slow. At my slowest possible run (~ 16 min mile is where I can’t force myself to “run”) I was well over 150 (into mid 160).
After about 20 minutes, my heart rate drops like a rock to my normal heart rate zone of what I expect it to be (low 120s for running 12 minute miles is normal).
Does anyone else have this magic drop? Or what is up with it? 4 months ago when I was less fit, my magic drop happened about 8 minutes into the run. Now it is 20 minutes into the run. What does this mean? Is my body dying?
My overall speed is doing super good, at the best running fitness I have ever been in my life. Ran a medium run yesterday that went great.
In my experience it is not the heart rate that is the issue it is the heart rate monitor. Are you using anything on the electrodes? (spit, electrode gel?) My guess is that you are not and it’s taking a bit to get sweaty and the sweat increases the conduction between the skin and the HRM.
That said it could be heart rate and that it’s just taking you a while to get warmed up but my guess is you need some spit/gel on the HR strap before you head out the door.
My vote is for electrodes too. I rode home from work the other day and my heart monitor was reading over 200bpm until I added a little bit of spit to the electrodes. I often see the excessively high heart rate in the first few minutes of my runs also.
Have you ever had an EKG. I have an ectopic hear beat. The net result is that my heartbeats do not always follow the nice predictable pattern most do. It gives fits to most heart rate devices. The treadmills at the gym have been know to show 88 then 154 and then back and forth. The actual heart rate was around 128. I find the problem showing up most frequently ion the firs mile of a run. After that the garmin seems to figure it out. Message - don’t always believe the number it give you. Go ahead and count the pulse for 10 seconds an multiply by 6. See if that matches up/
same as the above, get the sensor wet when you start. I make it a habit to move my HRM around a bit even after going for a while to ensure there is enough moisture to help with the reading. Seems to be the most common culprit. You can see that your pace actually does go up, on average, during the portion that you’ve got good contact between yourself and the monitor.
You can also spot check this if you’re concerned. If it keeps happening for whatever reason bring up the timer on your watch (while maintaining pace), finger to the neck and count beats for 10 seconds, do some math and you’ll get some validation that way.
well mine will either register really high, or really low if it does not have good contact…usually on the high side. Try validating by taking your pulse manually next time it’s reading super high.
Sorry for the blunt news on your body dying, but hey so is mine…if we keep up this running garbage good chance ours are not dying as fast as others though…so you’ve got that going for ya.
Have you ever had an EKG. I have an ectopic hear beat. The net result is that my heartbeats do not always follow the nice predictable pattern most do. It gives fits to most heart rate devices. The treadmills at the gym have been know to show 88 then 154 and then back and forth. The actual heart rate was around 128. I find the problem showing up most frequently ion the firs mile of a run. After that the garmin seems to figure it out. Message - don’t always believe the number it give you. Go ahead and count the pulse for 10 seconds an multiply by 6. See if that matches up/ Never had EKG… but I do not have the up down pattern. I have the really high, then normal pattern. Hopefully my heart isnt going to explode.
If it is a washable strap take off the monitor and wash the strap and hang dry and try it again. Mine did the same thing when I first tried it and I learned it needed to be washed more frequently then suggested
If it is a washable strap take off the monitor and wash the strap and hang dry and try it again. Mine did the same thing when I first tried it and I learned it needed to be washed more frequently then suggested
I wash my HR strap often and I always wet the sensors prior to running. However, I always have the same issue you’re having, but not quite as severe. It usually takes me about 5 minutes before my HR settles into the expected zone. I’ve always wondered if it’s normal for HR to spike at the beginning of activity and then settle down after a while? I’m fairly confident it’s not the HR monitor as it always measures correctly prior to the run and the sensors have been wetted. I’ve asked about this before but everybody just says it’s the monitor…
The 160ish reading you’re seeing is your stride rate. I see the same thing but mine is more like 170ish. It shows up at the start of some runs especially if my heart rate strap is dry and or I’m wearing certain synthetic clothing. The use of electrode gel like BaBump always prevents the condition.
The 160ish reading you’re seeing is your stride rate. I see the same thing but mine is more like 170ish. It shows up at the start of some runs especially if my heart rate strap is dry and or I’m wearing certain synthetic clothing. The use of electrode gel like BaBump always prevents the condition.
Use a fingertip glob of the stuff below spread on each electrode - you’ll be rockin’ (I use a polar HRM, the electrode is around 4" on each side - a thin layer of the stuff does the trick; until the chest strap finally dies)
Spectra 360 electrode gel from Parker Laboratories, I get it from ProMed products (on line) I buy 3 tubes, it’s cheap and they last a long time.
Use a fingertip glob of the stuff below spread on each electrode - you’ll be rockin’ (I use a polar HRM, the electrode is around 4" on each side - a thin layer of the stuff does the trick; until the chest strap finally dies)
Spectra 360 electrode gel from Parker Laboratories, I get it from ProMed products (on line) I buy 3 tubes, it’s cheap and they last a long time.
Static electricity in your shirt/jersey can contribute to crazy whacked out readings that are high.
Goop up or get wet your HR strap.
Good luck!!
Agreed. I mentioned this several years ago on this forum and was told emphatically that I was wrong. I had one shirt that would artificially jack my HR until it was wet with sweat. It didn’t matter how much spit or gel I put on the electrodes. I ended up donating the shirt to Goodwill.
