Heart Rate Is So High When Exercising

by Rob
(Toronto)

I am just beginning to run. I started to do the Walk / Run program. But I think there is something wrong, my heart rate at walking at a good pace is 140 and when I run it reaches 177.

Is this normal? I am not running fast at all. If I slow down I am walking.

Answer by Dom:

Hi Rob,

Thanks for your running training question. A friend of mine who recently started running, approached me with exactly your issue a while back.

Whether he was doing a slow run, easy run or tempo run, his heart rate always seemed to be pretty much the same.
Only when he was doing intervals did his heart rate go up even more.

I would not necessarily get very worried with your heart rate jumping up and down. Your body might not be used to exercise and needs a bit of time adjusting to your new fitness plans. As time goes on and your fitness builds up you will find that your heart rate will not go up that much anymore during workouts.

What may also be the case is that your heart rate monitor is not that accurate and does not register sudden changes in activity that well.

What is important is that you are feeling good during and after the workout. As long as that is the case there is no real reason to be extremely concerned, but, as with all physical matters, I encourage you to consult a physician if you keep on feeling concerned (I am, after all, not able to personally diagnose you).

Hope this helps.
Kind regards,
Dominique