Concept2 Forum

hi From what I can remember my "resting puls" has gone from 72 to between 55 and 60, but the resent 5 years or so it has not dropped a single stroke. My age is 62 and I am training every day 80 min. with an average of 130-135 HR/min.

You're in great shape you old f@rt!

Sounds normal to me.

What is your goal? to get your heart rate lower, to be faster on the erg, or to stay healthy?

If you want to get your heart rate lower, you will proabably have to increase your training. With some fairly intesnse work it may drop for a period of time (at least that is my experience.) It also my drop if you increase your training volume. Neither of which is likely to make you healthier or live longer. At your age, 55 bpm is good, and it may not get lower no matter what you do.

You can only get your heart rate so low. Top professional cyclists usually have heart rates in the 38 to 44 range (some are higher, I don't think any are much lower). SOme people have "hummingbird hearts" (high rate, low volume per beat), others "elephant hearts" (low rate high volume per beat).

If you train 80 minutes everyday (rather then an average), then you should proabably varry what you do more. Do 60 miutes some days and 100 minutes other days.

Repetitions with ample rest help your resting heart rate to come down.

My first ever session on the erg was 15x 2:00 with 2:00 rests.

Row very easily before and after the reps.

This is a good session for taking your heart rate up and bringing it back down in between.