Intervals and heart rate recovery -- getting older

[gcanyon]

I first got the concept 2 in 2006 when I was 42. I had back problems and fell out of the habit in 2008, but I'm back now, for about a year. My overall performance is less than it was, but it's not so much worse, except one thing I just noticed: when I do intervals, my heart rate takes longer to go up, and longer to come down.

I wish I had better notes, but my memory is that when doing 500m x 1min rest, my heart rate would shoot up to 180 or so, and then drop back down to less than 120 or so.

As of now, my heart rate rarely gets over 175, and during the minute rest it only gets down to about 140-145. I'll keep at it, but I'm wondering if anyone else has experience with this and would like to trade notes.

[hjs]

I first got the concept 2 in 2006 when I was 42. I had back problems and fell out of the habit in 2008, but I'm back now, for about a year. My overall performance is less than it was, but it's not so much worse, except one thing I just noticed: when I do intervals, my heart rate takes longer to go up, and longer to come down.

I wish I had better notes, but my memory is that when doing 500m x 1min rest, my heart rate would shoot up to 180 or so, and then drop back down to less than 120 or so.

As of now, my heart rate rarely gets over 175, and during the minute rest it only gets down to about 140-145. I'll keep at it, but I'm wondering if anyone else has experience with this and would like to trade notes.

The lower max is simply age, not much you can do about it, the slower recovery you can, it will start dropping fasternif you get fitter, but again you won,t 18 again

[ChrisPBacon]

I recently reviewed my training notes from back in 1998 when I was racing bikes. The max heart rate I saw on the bike was 193 and my resting rate was 38.

This year I have seen 175 on the erg and have a resting rate of 45. My range has held up better than expected.

[sekitori]

I first got the concept 2 in 2006 when I was 42. I had back problems and fell out of the habit in 2008, but I'm back now, for about a year. My overall performance is less than it was, but it's not so much worse, except one thing I just noticed: when I do intervals, my heart rate takes longer to go up, and longer to come down.

I wish I had better notes, but my memory is that when doing 500m x 1min rest, my heart rate would shoot up to 180 or so, and then drop back down to less than 120 or so.

As of now, my heart rate rarely gets over 175, and during the minute rest it only gets down to about 140-145. I'll keep at it, but I'm wondering if anyone else has experience with this and would like to trade notes.

What are you using to measure your heart rate? While some heart rate monitors are quite accurate, others are not. Models with chest straps are generally much more accurate that those that are only worn on the wrist. If you are using an HRM, it could be providing incorrect readings.

To me, the most accurate way to measure heart rate is the "two fingers on the neck or wrist" method. I learned how to use it several years ago and after I became comfortable with it, it replaced my heart rate monitor.

[heroesfitness]

Max Heartrate doe reduce with age and so do recovery rates, but I would cycle interval training for 6 weeks and do 6 weeks of aerobic training as too long on any program will make your body stagnate with progress, see a decent PT and go through an assessment