I did my first half marathon after pretty much not doing any running events for the past 25 years. I would do some here and there but not consistently training for them. I am in fairly good shape, cycling, but really just got into running shape the past 6 months

I have started running in the past year and entered a 13 week training program for the Fort Worth Cowtown half. I felt pretty good during the race. I came in right at 1:55.

Held off caffeine the week prior to my half marathon. Along with the adrenaline, a lot of fuel on board that included amino/electrolyte/caffeine gel throughout the race had my heart rate through the roof. Garmin doesn't lie but this is way above my training zone, even speedwork. A little crazy seeing that.

I consumed electrolytes and three gel packs before and during. Even though the gels had caffeine, it was nothing incredibly high. Combined it was probably 80 mg over 2 hours. A cup of coffee has more than that. I was full of energy at the start and it never really went away. I was never really taxed with my cardio during the run.

here are the facts:
52 years old
normal training run ~ 140 bpm avg 175 bpm max
speedwork ~ 140 bpm avg 185 bpm max
the half marathon 183 bpm avg 204 bpm max (pretty much held the max the second half of the race)

Should I be overly concerned about this?

I had a full work up with stress test about 3 years ago and came through with flying colors.

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normal training run ~ 140 bpm avg 175 bpm max

speedwork ~ 140 bpm avg 185 bpm max

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I don't understand this. If you average 140 in a "normal" run how do you average the same for speed work?

I'm going to guess something was up and your watch HR was off.....

NoahAg said:

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Quote:

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normal training run ~ 140 bpm avg 175 bpm max

speedwork ~ 140 bpm avg 185 bpm max

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I don't understand this. If you average 140 in a "normal" run how do you average the same for speed work?

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Really just a guess, speed work is a series of spikes and valleys, intervals. Average may be more but I was just plugging that in for comparison.

htxag09 said:

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I'm going to guess something was up and your watch HR was off.....

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That's what I thought may be a factor because of the plateau way high the second part of the race. I did not feel much different and my pace was consistent throughout except for mile 9 (long hill)

Mines done something very similar a few times, seems the sun or excess sweat can throw it off.

I had a similar experience in the HM I did in November - I was over my max heart rate (pegged out) for 30 minutes at the end of my run. I didn't have that happen at the Cowtown and had normal numbers.

From he format of that plot, looks like you also use a Garmin. I'm chalking it up to something goofy with the watch. There was no way I maintained 200 bpm for 30 minutes straight.

Something wrong with the watch and/or HR monitor strap. Happens to me all the time, and is usually part of a bad battery or setup.

Confirm

Garmin Fenix 3

Never happened before

Were you wearing a chest strap or just going off the watch's optical wrist HR monitor? Optical HR is much less accurate.

Just the wrist HR monitor

My numbers Sunday.

https://www.wareable.com/sport/optical-heart-rate-tech-the-experts-speak-9763

This article is from 3 years ago. But then so is the Fenix 3.

ENG said:

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Just the wrist HR monitor

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wrist HR is not consistently accurate and not reliable, so the above issue does not surprise me in the slightest.

Good information, thanks all

Cadence lock. Known issue with Garmins. I would get it on my 735 from time to time. Not seen it on my 935 yet. When it happened I would take my watch off my wrist and put it back on while running. That usually put it back in line.

For reference...

https://forums.garmin.com/forum/into-sports/running/forerunner-235-aa/125652-

I agree that there was probably something wrong with your watch, and it went haywire. I had it happen to me a couple of weeks ago on an easy evening run where it said I spent the last half of the run in the upper 190's.

Nothing particularly scientific about what I am about to say, just anecdotal and experiential. I am sure there is science to support it, but there is also science to support anything like this if we look hard enough.....

Don't underestimate what the adrenaline of race day can do to your body. Caffeine and all that are definitely factors, but the pure psychology of a race day and how the body responds to that type of anticipation and stress is a really strong factor here. Earlier this month, I ran in a race where my heart rate was legitimately in the upper 160's half a mile in. I wasn't running that hard, and that same pace over that distance on a training run would normally have me up in the upper 140's. I was just all kinds of jacked up and way too worked up to start.

I know there is nothing new or earth shattering in the last paragraph, but the psychology of sport and the physiological response to that psychology is, in my opinion, often overlooked.

ETA - I recognize that my situation of 160's HR doesn't at all add up to the OP's situation of 180's and up HR. My intent is just to point out the kind of spike that can occur in a race environment.

I averaged 173 and maxed at 200 at the race on Sunday.

I know it was higher than normal and I think my normal is high. If that makes sense.

A good rule of thumb for maximum heart rate is 220-age.

If you truly had a heart rate in the 180s for any length of time, I would expect you to feel miserable, at or very near maximal effort, which doesn't sound like what you're describing.

So, another vote for device malfunction.

So my 200 at 47 at mile 10 and I was able increase pace the last 3 wasn't correct?

Most of my runs are in the 150s to 160s and yet I am not even feeling winded. I'm thinking my watch during exercise is 20-30 bpm high.

I ran pretty hard at a 5K Saturday. Watch read max HR 177 and avg 112 with half the race in Zone 1. I don't think so! Sometimes you have to view the data as an anomaly.
Checking the watch HR vs the old fashioned way, it's pretty accurate when at rest, but during exercise I'm much more skeptical.

i took the plunge a while back and picked up Stryd. I don't know if the numbers are truly "power," but I can tell you running in my power zones correlates very closely to the "old school" method of how I think I should feel. The power change is quick, compared to a 30 sec or so change in HR with change in effort. I like it much more than HR...still trying to figure it out on the trail since there are so many more variables, but its great on the road.

Rudyjax said:

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So my 200 at 47 at mile 10 and I was able increase pace the last 3 wasn't correct?

Most of my runs are in the 150s to 160s and yet I am not even feeling winded. I'm thinking my watch during exercise is 20-30 bpm high.

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Yeah, 200 bpm is near maximal exertion even for a young person. I would not expect that you could increase effort meaningfully from there and maintain it for miles.

Yea those readings are very likely bad data. Almost no way i believe it. Id focus on understanding why the hr monitor messed up. I always use a hr strap which i rarely have any issues with, but will be getting a watch tomorrow that uses optical. Ill be curious to see how that compares to the strap.