What is your heart rate when running?

[ChickenyChick]

Just got myself a fitbit

I can't seem to get in the "cardio zone"

I am 50, 6ft, bmi 24. Resting heart rate around 60, when I run it goes up to 120

but it does not really peak over 130

So fitbit tells me I'm not doing cardio, but am in fatburning zone at best, even though I FEEL as if I'm doing cardio (heart pumping, breathing heavier, sweating a lot )

Am I just not trying hard enough, am I just a bit slow or do I just have a kind of slow beating heart, even in exercise?

What is everyone else's heartrate after running, say 20 mins? After 20 mins running my heart rate was 115 today

I have a feeling i may just not be as fit and active as I think haha

It might mean yoire fitter than most? I'm 42 bmi 24 and it would go up to 170 plus. I think I should have been dead at that rate. Was told as I got fitter heart rate would go down

That's what I'd love to think, but I also know I am not really that fit LOL.

170 sounds very scarily high!

I walk the dog for an hour every day, plus I either run/play tennis/swim for an hour but that's all. And now my running/tennis does not even count as "cardio" so I guess I'm a bit disappointed with that.

Would love to know more people's running heart rates!

I'm 51. My heart rate hit 180 on my pretty sedate 20 minute jog yesterday. I don't think I'm as fit as I used to be.

Other people's HR is kind of meaningless, you need to understand your personal ranges. Heart rate decreases naturally with age and also with fitness, then factor in things like the heat, hills, stop stop/start, caffeine etc and there's little point in comparing them, . If you're using a wrist based heart rate monitor then I would also take it with a pinch of salt as mine was never consistent with a chest strap monitor, particularly if i was sweaty or HR went above 130. If you're training not racing then being in the fat burning rather than cardio zone when running is good, people deliberately train in this zone (look up MAAF) to build aerobic capacity.

ah, ok @emmathedilemma that makes sense

When I did 2 mile handicap races a few yrs ago, age 49-50, and I was well rested the day before, I could sustain my HR over 160 (that was with a chest strap). On flat paved ground. But normally I plod on rough ground, and HR is around 135-140 when jogging.

That sounds unusually low. I went for an easy 6km run today at a steady pace (5:30 per km) and my average heart rate was 151. For reference, my average resting heart rate is usually high 30s or low 40s, so relatively low.

Are you running really slowly? If not, I'd be inclined to think your FitBit isn't measuring properly. I find chest straps the most accurate.

My running HR is really high compared to others. Regularly get to 184 when running.

I’m 43, run regularly and am reasonably fit.

I think the key is figuring out your working max (do some hill sprints and take the rate at the top of one of those) then working out zone accordingly. There are online calculators to help you figure out your zones.

However some will always say that HR is notoriously unreliable, and that wrist-based monitors are even more so.

You could base it instead on Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE). A fat burning run would mean you’d be able to chat whilst running.

For max effect, your running should be 80% easy and 20% hard. And to increase fitness, intervals are awesome, still applying that rule.

Omg mine is 170 plus.
Resting around 55bpm
I'm 44 and fit. Run 2x a week
Am I going to have a heart attack??!!!

As a rule of thumb, they say your max heart rate is around 220 minus your age. So if you're working v hard - ie the last mile of an all-out 5k - that's what it should reach.

That works for me. My resting heart rate is 50ish; it reaches 140 or so in steady runs and 185 if I'm really going for it. I think either you're not working hard or your fitbit is wrong, OP. I suspect the latter. Wrist based HR sensors are notoriously glitchy, and you have to fasten them v tight to get a anywhere decent reading.

I'm mid-40s, moderately fit but a shit runner. When I run hard my heart rate can get up to around 185 but I start to feel a little "odd" when it is above 180 so I try to keep it below that. For a steady jog it's usually somewhere around 160-170.

Average 160,max 194 on my last run.

I would suggest that your Fitbit is not recording your heart rate properly, I am mid 50s with a good level of fitness (although not in anyway athletically gifted) my heart rate tends to be around 150 when I'm running
The capacity of the heart to beat fast declines with age, so for the average 50-year old the fastest it will go is 170bpm, the average 70 year old 150 BPM, and so on

To be clear, maximum heart rate is not what your heart 'should' reach, rather that's the fastest it can physically go

According to my Garmin, my HR tends to shoot up really quite high during exercise and drops back down again very quickly. It tends to sit around 160 or even 165 during a fairly steady run. During a spin class it can get as high as 180 but I feel fine - out of breath obviously but certainly not like my heart is about to jump out of my chest. RHR is around 55. I'm 40 so max HR should be 180 according to the very unscientific formula. My fitness levels are fairly decent and I'm in good health. I just don't worry about the high HR.

Did 15 undulating miles today with an average HR of 140bpm. I am a dedicated runner and am reasonably fit, 44 years old.

Your absolute max should be around 170 bpm for your age.
If you're new to running I'd think it's because you're not pushing yourself as much as you could, as you're not used to the discomfort.

I'd aim for 150 max

In my last half marathon my heart rate was 200. According to Google, I should be dead! I play hockey, gym regularly and run lots and my resting rate is 50.
Might be your fit bit? Ask your doctor if you're worried though. I did and he just said all hearts are different. Mine beating so fast during excersise is just me 🤷‍♀️

Mine goes to 120 bpm on an easy run. I work out 4-5 times a week. Just a low resting heart rate.

My resting hr is 55 and I have never gone above 160 even on doing intense HIIT or hill runs!