Many runners use target heart rate zones to inform and guide their training. Training by heart rate can provide so many benefits, but it often relies on runners knowing some basic information like resting heart rate and how to calculate maximum heart rate. We’ll help breakdown different methods here to get your training on track.
To even begin talking about target heart rate zones, we first must determine our maximum heart rate (MHR). This information helps you set up appropriate target heart rate zones, which can then be tracked via your watch during workouts and used to improve your training and results.
In this article, we’ll be focusing on the many ways you can calculate your maximum heart rate. And yes, there really are several ways to do it from formulas to time trials to VO2 Max tests. This in itself is a really important piece of the puzzle to understand!
Let’s dig into what the maximum heart rate is, why it’s important and personal to each individual, things that can affect your hr max, and how to calculate your own MHR.
Understanding Heart Rate Training
We’re focusing on one area of the the heart rate training system today, but it comes with a lot of questions. I think a few of these are important before we get in to the specifics on max HR.
