_JayTinkerton said:I'm 40 y/o, and 5'8", 155 lbs, and have lost about 20 lbs since I've
started running this last summer. Anyhoo, typically during 50-60
minute treadmill sessions, my heart rate will average as much as 168
bpm. Technically, that's something like 95% of max, which of course is
just theoretical. If I back down to 155-160, it feels "too slow" to
me, and I'll barely be breaking 5 mph. :-(
You need to find out your real maximum heart rate. You can get pretty
close by running for a while and then pushing yourself, but there is of
course some risk. The safer approach is to have a stress test, and make
sure your doctor has specified that you can go until you say stop rather
than having them stop you when you reach the predicted maximum for your age.
I am a 49 year old woman and I reached a maximum heart rate on the
stress test of 201. On my bicycle going up a really steep hill I have
reached 195. My doctor was worried but everything tested out fine. I
figure someone has to be two standard deviations from the norm. I don't
train carefully by heart rate, but to the extent I do I base my training
on percentage of my personal maximum heart rate.
I've written more about my experience before--you can do a Google groups
search on my id and maximum heart rate and find it.
Pam