Background: Reasonably good shape. 5’ 10" 158lbs. 43 Y.O. Running for 20 years, tris for 10. IMW 4 of last 5 yrs. 13hr IM, 5:45 1/2 IM, 4 hour stand alone marathon.
Took 5-6 weeks completely off after IMW. Started running again. 3-4 miles at 9 min/mile – my usual pace. After about 1 min. my HR shoots up from around 115 to 165-170. It usually lasts 4-5 minutes then settles to around 135. Breathing is a bit labored during this time. It only occurs running - not cycling or swimming.
I have experieced this off and on the last couple of years. It seems to lessen as my fitness improves and goes away completely in the middle of my training season. I mentioned it to my doctor at last year’s check up and he said it was no biggie.
Anyone have a similar experience? Should I be more concerned.
I’m 43 and use a Polar HRM and during the first mile of my runs I also see a spike to the 170’s before it settles into the 130’s. This spike usually lasts somewhere between 2 to 4 minutes. I’ve always assumed it was a HRM problem.
Nope, not a HRM problem. Normal as we first start off. Revs up our physiological “fight or fligh” response with increased catecholamine release and the HR (and BP) spike, pupils dialte, etc. When the body/brain figures out that you aren’t being chased by a tiger and just “training”, the HR settles down to whatever “trained” pace you are running at. More common if you just get dressed and GO and less common in the summer when properly warmed up, end of the day, better trained, etc.
I use a Polar HRM as well. I’ve thought about this and I hope this is the issue. I don’t really notice that my heart is beating any faster so it seems logical. If is the HRM, the main question I have is why does it come and go?
Hmmm. Last stress test produced a max HR of 190. If I use the old model Polar strap it shows 215 at the beginning. Use the new soft strap model and it never does that.
I have noticed in the past that on windy days this happens more. This seems to make no sense.
However, certain fabrics can generate static electricity, and when your shirt is dry and moving around can interfere with the HRM.
If I wet the strap thoroughly and keep it tight, I have no problems. I will still periodically see the problem with a dry shirt on windy days (you also tend not to sweat as much with a stiff cold wind) but once it’s soaked, no issues.
Okay, this makes sense. Very dry here lately. Lots of static electricity. Not so much in the summer when the problem seems to go away. You may be onto something…
It was the static electricity. After a thorough warm up this morning (which I should have been doing regardless) and a few spritzes of static guard spray on my HRM strap and shirt - no HR spike!
Don’t think its a HRM thing. I spike into the 215 range for a minute or so about 3 minutes into my runs. The first .6 miles of my run are straight up hill. I figure this contributes to it. For reference I’m 51 yoa, 6-3 at 175 lbs. Been doing tri’s for 15 years. When I get the skipe I slow for a minute and it goes back to normal for my workouts (135-150)