Finding max pulse

annabassand · Post by **annabassand** » November 1st, 2007, 4:44 pm

Hello

How do I find my max pulse? I have read about doing some 500 m / sprints or running up hill a few times at max output.

I have not yet done any of those, because I find that my pulse level is not always the same if I compare rowing to running. Have any of you tried both methods of assessing your max pulse? If so - did you get different results? if you get different results then how do you apply the information in your training? do you work with different max zones in rowing and running?

Any concrete recommendations on how to calculate my max pulse?

Cheers
Anna

hjs · Post by **hjs** » November 1st, 2007, 5:12 pm

Anna there is no way you can "calculate", you only can measure it.
A reaseble good way is doing a work of around 15/20 minutes. Start off easy, increase your speed to around you 5k best, if you start to working real hard, increase the speed again a bit for 1 or 2 min until you have to stop. At this point your hartrate will be at or very close it max.
Make sure you are well rested before doing this, if not it could give a lower outcome.

You will get differant outcomes at differant sports. The more you conditioned for a certain movement, the better you are capable of using the hole capacity of your hart.
In other words, a runner will get the highest rate during running, a rower during rowing.

Ps Yes it needs to hurt, no way of getting around that

andyb2004 · Post by **andyb2004** » November 2nd, 2007, 4:41 am

I would agree with hjs that a longer workout will show something close to your max HR.
The highest rates for me come at the end of reasonanbly hard 5 or 10ks with an all out effort for the last 300m or so.
With regard to comparing sports there are basic differences e.g. swimmers are prone, rowers are sitting, runners are upright - this means different conditions under which your body must maintain correct blood flow to your head. So you will likely have a different max HR depending on what you are doing.

annabassand · Post by **annabassand** » November 2nd, 2007, 5:25 am

Thanks for your inputs. I was just curious about how you work with your data. I am not sure these are my max heart rates because I may be able to push harder, but what I have seen recently:

Running 192
Rowing 183 (biking is always similar)

Does that mean than when I am running if I want to be performing about 80% I would aim for a higher pulse rate than if I want to do an 80% at rowing?

-- or should I aim at doing 80% of 192 also when I row - with the benefit of hopefully improving my rowing so that I can also reach a 192 at 100 % on the rower?

Given that I see such great differences in my max rate I feel that it does make sense to ask something like this... even though it's academic

Kind regards
Anna

hjs · Post by **hjs** » November 2nd, 2007, 7:01 am

annabassand wrote:Thanks for your inputs. I was just curious about how you work with your data. I am not sure these are my max heart rates because I may be able to push harder, but what I have seen recently:

Running 192
Rowing 183 (biking is always similar)

Does that mean than when I am running if I want to be performing about 80% I would aim for a higher pulse rate than if I want to do an 80% at rowing?

-- or should I aim at doing 80% of 192 also when I row - with the benefit of hopefully improving my rowing so that I can also reach a 192 at 100 % on the rower?

Given that I see such great differences in my max rate I feel that it does make sense to ask something like this... even though it's academic

Kind regards
Anna

For running use the running figures, for rowing the rowing ones.

For me the fact that you have a higher max during running, says that you are able to use more energy doing this compared to rowing.

Running is offcause more natural for us people, and therefore an easier way to reach our max rate.
At the moment your body is simply not capable of using the full potentieel of your hart, your muscles are the limiting factor at the moment.
I don,t know how you are training, but looking at the info you give I think you could improve your rowing if you focussed more on it. Not that you should

but that you could.

andyb2004 · Post by **andyb2004** » November 2nd, 2007, 7:05 am

Anna, I wouldn't consider achieving a high or higher HR to be something to aim for; knowing what the max is for a given activity just gives you one input to the formulas to help gauge training bands.
What band you train in and for how long really depends on your goal i.e. likely different if you train for 2k vs FM. IMHO If you just want some basic data it's more useful to establish your HRR (heart rate reserve) and have some idea where your anaerobic threshold is. If you know this you can run/row close to your AT HR and have confidence you can continue for a long time by just adjusting your pace slightly to keep things in check, I'm thinking here more about making your participation in an activity you enjoy being sustainable, rather than training to significantly improve at it.

Maybe add a bit of info about yourself and goals? - people might be able to comment more specifically.

annabassand · Post by **annabassand** » November 4th, 2007, 2:56 am

Hi

Thanks for your help. I don't mean to achieve a higher Max heart rate, but just to be able to define my training bands.

My guess is that my pulse is probably around 50 at the min and the max I have seen during interval training is around 192... but that's all very uncertain. I've learnt that I will have to test my max pulse using the methods suggested rather than doing sprints. Also I need to try and assess my min pulse more accurately.

I am back to rowing again and don't really have set goals apart from 'just improving time' at 2,000 and 6,000. I would like to row some more. I lack power in my upper body/back, so I have started training with free weights too. At the moment I reckon that I will not have any PB attempts until after December maybe even later....

/Anna

George Dunning · Post by **George Dunning** » November 4th, 2007, 3:36 am

annabassand wrote:snip ...

I am back to rowing again and don't really have set goals apart from 'just improving time' at 2,000 and 6,000. I would like to row some more. I lack power in my upper body/back, so I have started training with free weights too. At the moment I reckon that I will not have any PB attempts until after December maybe even later....

/Anna

Anna the best way to develop power in your upper body/back to benefit your erging is erging, there is plenty of evidence to suggest that weight training will indeed help you to lift heavier weights but little impact on your erging (that is if it is the intention)

annabassand · Post by **annabassand** » November 4th, 2007, 3:44 am

George,

Thanks. You are right. I am doing a lot of rowing as well

However I also do weights 2 times a week and I already think I can sense a difference in that I have more strength than if I only did rowing. I think maybe it is because I have a weak back and my back has really benefitted from weights + stomach and back exercises. Maybe it's in fact more the stomach and back exercises that make the difference. I don't train to get 'big' but train to get stronger. However obviously I want to row to improve my time. I just like to give my body different tasks

George Dunning · Post by **George Dunning** » November 4th, 2007, 3:49 am

annabassand wrote:George,

Thanks. You are right. I am doing a lot of rowing as well However I also do weights 2 times a week and I already think I can sense a difference in that I have more strength than if I only did rowing. I think maybe it is because I have a weak back and my back has really benefitted from weights + stomach and back exercises. Maybe it's in fact more the stomach and back exercises that make the difference. I don't train to get 'big' but train to get stronger. However obviously I want to row to improve my time. I just like to give my body different tasks

Hi Anna, I realised afterwards that you were probably covering all your bases, here is a site you may find interesting http://www.pponline.co.uk/

regards

annabassand · Post by **annabassand** » November 4th, 2007, 3:53 am

thanks George, I've signed up and see there's a lot of great info there