Why Is My Heart Rate Too Low?

[?] Subscribe To This Site

Why Is My Heart Rate Too Low?

by Mehike
(Estonia, Tallinn)

I run about 100-140km per week. I'm a 37y old man. In the previous week I was in a sports medicine centre to test my VO2max and more. My VO2max is 68 and max heart rate 185, aerobic threshold is 157, anaerobic treshold is 174.

Heart Rate Zones:

Zone 1: 179-183 - max zone
Zone 2: 165-179 - hard zone
Zone 3: 149-165 - moderate zone
Zone 4: 122-149 - recovery

Lactate was

speed: 8 10 12 14 15 16 (km/h)
lactate: 1,6 1,6 1,7 3,7 6,2 10,1
pulse: 123 135 146 158 174 180

All stuff is good or very good but in training I can't run so fast and my heart rate is too low. Yesterday I run 10km tempo in 14,3km/h (4:12min/km) and my average heart rate is 152 and I can't run more speedily.

In the previous week I did 3x1,5km, 3min pause in between, 3km tempo
1x 3:40min/km 1,5km, average heart rate was 159
2x 3:39min/km 1,5km, average heart rate was 165
3x 3:39min/km 1,5km, average heart rate was 166

And another training:
4x1600m, 60sec jog in between, about 5km tempo
1x 3:47min/km 1,6km, average heart rate 157
2x 3:52min/km 1,6km, average heart rate 161
3x 3:53min/km 1,6km, average heart rate 160
4x 3:55min/km 1,6km, average heart rate 160

And another:
3x3,2km, 90sec jog in between, 10km tempo
1x 4:03min/km, 3,2km, heart rate 162
2x 4:06min/km, 3,2km, heart rate 163
3x 4:07min/km, 3,2km, heart rate 164

1 month ago 14km average tempo 4:16min/km, average heart rate 158. right now 10km 4:12min/km tempo, heart rate average 152 but can't go faster to increase heart rate - this is smaller than my aerobic treshold, I don't understand this... -> my heart is very good/strong but my muscles don't allow more...

My trainings are 1 long run per week, and structure is 1 hard + 1 easy recovery day.

In my hard days I can't run more than Zone 3, not enough speed....!????

I do some strides at the end of my hard days (not my long run day)

Some training days I do 8x400 1500km/tempo + 60sec jog in between (about 3:22min/km) (average heart rates is 155, 159, 162, 164, 164, 165, 165, 166) or 8x200 800m/tempo + 60sec jog in between (about average 3:05min/km) (average heart rates is 152, 154, 156, 159, 161, 162, 161, 164) and tempos 10km. My long runs is 21-36km.

But I can't do training in my zone 2 or zone 1, not enough speed, what I can do for this?

Answer by Dominique:

Hi,
Thanks for your running training question. This is one of the few times I almost feel unqualified to provide my opinion. You run more than I do and it looks like you are faster as well!

It is great you are providing so much information. Those lactate tests are really interesting, also for others who read this and who might not be familiar with them: it is very visible where your aerobic threshold is by seeing where the lactate really starts building up.

What I find interesting is that in the test you were able to raise your heart rate when you were pushed to do so on the treadmill, yet in your training you are not getting there.

How do you feel when you do these tough sessions? Do you feel like you are pushing yourself past your lactate threshold? You know, heart rate is a funny thing, so when doing your running I would rather (also) go by feel, rather than by heart rate.

If you feel like you do, could it be that your heart rate monitor is not registering correctly? Did you use the same heart rate monitor in the test as you normally do? Could you test with another heart rate monitor?

If you feel like you don't, you need to find ways to past yourself over your lactate threshold. Could you for example try treadmill sessions at a high speed?

Another aspect of your running you have not mentioned (maybe the only thing you are not measuring yet!), is what your stride rate is. On the treadmill you might have been pushed past what you are normally comfortable with. There are exercises you can do to work on your stride rate. I would definitely add strides as part of finishing off your easy days for a few months and see where that takes you.

I am not sure if I have answered your question, but I hope I have thrown up some questions which may lead to you getting an answer!

Best of luck.
Cheers,
Dominique

Comments for
Why Is My Heart Rate Too Low?

Click here to add your own comments

Answer and morw questions
by: Mehike

"How do you feel when you do these tough sessions? Do you feel like you are pushing yourself past your lactate threshold? You know, heart rate is a funny thing, so when doing your running I would rather (also) go by feel, rather than by heart rate."

I feel in my tought session that legs comming stiff and can't run faster (can't hold same speed) and some pant and I don't watch my heart rate - this I look later on Polar Protrainer 5 program or end of interval to. If I do intervals or tempo I only watch pace but run like my feeling is allow, I feel what I can't go more - legs is stiff but I know - I have more speed. It's some psyhological mayby?

In sport medicine centre, where I was in vo2max and lactate tests in treadmill, was another heart rate monitor and respiratory in my face, but I know, my Polar RS800sd is displaing true heart rate. In summer then I was sick 3weeks and I started again - then I see max 179heart rate in monitor to. In previous winter I was training in treadmill, but right now not possibility for this, I do my speed trainings indoor stadium and I do some strides to, but I do this my hard days (4x in warm up session and 6-8x in cool down session) and I think too quikcly - it's wrong? What is true speed for strades - like my 1,5km speed, my 800m speed or something else?

My polar monitor is registered every time my average stride rate (cadense) and I know - this is to small, cadense: 80-83 (stride rate 160-166). If I run fast, then cadense is more and stride lengt too. But month ago it average cadense was 77-81, small process is, but very small - my running form is better too and my heart rate is smaller too in hard trainings.

Must I recovery more? - i'ts not lactate in my legs but legs is too exhausted and I can do more, mayby?

I know all time in my competition day I can run faster than my training days...
I do one hard and one recovery day - in recovery days heart rate sub 130 and abaout 7-10km run - must it be sub 125 or smaller, sub 120 for me? or smaller distance?

ok,
in beginning I do some strades only in my recovery days slightly more than my race pace and do recovery run sub 125 heart rate, I think. If this is not help, then I must think something else. i'ts right way?

X Close Editor

Rating

Submitted by: Mehike

Title

Comment
"How do you feel when you do these tough sessions? Do you feel like you are pushing yourself past your lactate threshold? You know, heart rate is a funny thing, so when doing your running I would rather (also) go by feel, rather than by heart rate." I feel in my tought session that legs comming stiff and can't run faster (can't hold same speed) and some pant and I don't watch my heart rate - this I look later on Polar Protrainer 5 program or end of interval to. If I do intervals or tempo I only watch pace but run like my feeling is allow, I feel what I can't go more - legs is stiff but I know - I have more speed. It's some psyhological mayby? In sport medicine centre, where I was in vo2max and lactate tests in treadmill, was another heart rate monitor and respiratory in my face, but I know, my Polar RS800sd is displaing true heart rate. In summer then I was sick 3weeks and I started again - then I see max 179heart rate in monitor to. In previous winter I was training in treadmill, but right now not possibility for this, I do my speed trainings indoor stadium and I do some strides to, but I do this my hard days (4x in warm up session and 6-8x in cool down session) and I think too quikcly - it's wrong? What is true speed for strades - like my 1,5km speed, my 800m speed or something else? My polar monitor is registered every time my average stride rate (cadense) and I know - this is to small, cadense: 80-83 (stride rate 160-166). If I run fast, then cadense is more and stride lengt too. But month ago it average cadense was 77-81, small process is, but very small - my running form is better too and my heart rate is smaller too in hard trainings. Must I recovery more? - i'ts not lactate in my legs but legs is too exhausted and I can do more, mayby? I know all time in my competition day I can run faster than my training days... I do one hard and one recovery day - in recovery days heart rate sub 130 and abaout 7-10km run - must it be sub 125 or smaller, sub 120 for me? or smaller distance? ok, in beginning I do some strades only in my recovery days slightly more than my race pace and do recovery run sub 125 heart rate, I think. If this is not help, then I must think something else. i'ts right way?

Cancel Delete Delete & Ban

throbber Updating Comments page...

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How?
Simply click here to return to Running Training Helpline

Running to Lose Weight?

Do you have 10 pounds that you just want to get rid of so that you can fit into that bathing suit that you are dying to wear?

Are you looking for a way to jump start a diet so that you can get to the weight that is best for you?

Are you tired of promises from pills and potions that promise to take that weight off easily but do not work?

Are you sick of seeing ads to help you take off weight if only you pay a small fortune for a membership in some club, special food or some drug?

If so, then CLICK HERE for the no-nonsense weight loss solution that actually works.

Check out The 100 Day Marathon Plan

100 Day Marathon Plan from Marius Bakken presents a welcome fresh training approach to marathon running that has proven to be very effective. It's the best marathon training program available today.

Marius has competed in the Olympics and has trained with world-class athletes from Italy and Kenya. He has learnt from these runners and has made those training methods applicable to marathon training programs for normal people like ourselves. This marathon plan prepares you well for a marathon by first focusing on 5k and 10k training. Only when you are ready Marius moves on to marathon training.

Want to get ready for a marathon within 100 days?
Then you need to give the 100 Day Marathon Plan a try.

Click here for more information about the 100 Day Marathon Plan.