Heart Rate Training

Hi Eric

When I first start running my heart is anything from 180 -200 ( I'm running slowly not out of breath.

So I find it difficult to keep the warm up phase in Zone 1 or 2. It seems to take about 20 minutes for my heart rate to settle at about 144 ( Zone 2 -3) Is this a problem?

Patricia

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Permalink Reply by Jay Mijares on November 18, 2014 at 5:42am

What kind of heart rate monitor are you using? One with a chest strap or one that reads your heart rate from your wrist?

I use a Suunto HRM which has a chest strap and once in a while I'll get high readings for the first few minutes of my run. I solved the problem by adding some electrode gel to the strap's contacts.

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Permalink Reply by Patricia Keene on November 18, 2014 at 7:02am

A Garmin chest strap. I will give the Gel ago. Thank you

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Permalink Reply by Jay Mijares on November 25, 2014 at 7:46pm

Did you do some experimenting with the gel, or tightening the strap?

When it's cold and dry during winter I do have to add liberal amounts of gel to the contacts. In summer, I don't add as much.

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Permalink Reply by Rich Warne on November 18, 2014 at 9:53am

Your heart rate monitor strap might be too lose, needs to be nice and tight. Got a reading of 215 on mine once because it was too lose!

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Permalink Reply by Robert Burpee on November 18, 2014 at 9:54pm

Hi Patricia, like Rich I too use to get erratic HR readings my highest was 219 until I eventually tried tightening the RH monitor strap and "presto" it seemed to work. But I hadn't thought of Jay's fix of using electrode gel, thanks Jay.

Be sure to let us know how you go.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Orton on November 19, 2014 at 9:13am

Yes this is either environmental interference or poor conductivity with your chest strap.

You might be running near electrical lines that could create interference. Also try wetting your chest strap and wearing it inside for 5-10 min before heading out to run.

And like mentioned below, the strap might be too loose.

My feeling is since you eventually get a good reading, try tightening and wetting the strap before you run and see if this helps. Especially if the temps are cooler where you live.