This may sound weird, but let me talk. When I first started training for triathlons, I was fairly out of shape. After a few months, my fitness quickly improved. However, when I would try to go hard and push myself, my heart rate would climb and it would feel like my heart was about to pop out of my chest. I could definitely tell when I was in a different heart rate zone.
Now, after training for a few months, I feel different. Now, I can have my heart rate as high as 170 on the bike and feel absolutely fine. My heart isn’t beating out of my chest, my legs aren’t on fire, and my lungs feel great. And I can maintain this for quite awhile. I’m able to keep my heart rate at a higher elevation and my physical pain is less.
I’m sure this is just a sign of my increased fitness, but has anyone else gone through this as well? This is more directed at people who have entered the sport recently. You old dogs have probabyl been able to race with an heartrate of 180+ in an Oly for years now.
Thanks.