I know most do not recommend reading HR during the swim and of course my seat is too high…
I am fairly new to Triathlon and have been training off and on for less than a year…
I exercise quite a bit and typically average 3-4 hours per week running, 8-10 hours per week cycling, and 2-3 hours per week swimming.
That said, during the swim I have noticed that my Heart Rate does not increase much above 115 to 120 and it feels like my Heart is pumping very hard. I check my pulse after 500m on my Carotid Artery and it seems to be a much stronger ‘pulse’ than when running or cycling.
I DO feel I have trouble with my breathing during the swim. For whatever reason, I tire very quickly and am making little progress.
I ask this question: Is there possibly some sort of underlying issue going on with my health? The ‘Strong’ pulse is strange to me, and I am concerned.
I have no chest pain or anything like that. My resting HR is right at 54 during the day and below 50 upon waking up in the morning. My BP is low: 110 over 65 is a good average.
When running or cycling, I can easily get my HR up to mid 180’s or low 190’s if desired, although for endurance, I try to train no higher than 165 or so.
That said, during the swim I have noticed that my Heart Rate does not increase much above 115 to 120 and it feels like my Heart is pumping very hard. I check my pulse after 500m on my Carotid Artery and it seems to be a much stronger ‘pulse’ than when running or cycling.
This post doesn’t make sense.
At a 115 bpm, your heart shouldn’t be working hard.
I suggest using an actual heart rate monitor to verify that your heart rate is actually that low.
HR is lower in the pool than on land - I’ve temporarily forgotten why.
If you have trouble with breathing swimming, it is likely a technical issue in your stroke: you are timing the breaths incorrectly, not breathing enough OR breathing too much, not blowing enough air out, etc. Seek swim technical help.
HR is lower in the pool than on land - I’ve temporarily forgotten why.
**Why is my heart rate lower in water than on land? ****There are five theories. And they make good sense! **
**Temperature - **Water cools the body with less effort than air. This reduced effort means less work for the heart, resulting in a lower heart rate.
** ****Gravity - **Water reduces the effect of gravity on the body. Blood flows from below the heart back up to it with less effort, resulting in a lowered heart rate.
** ****Compression - **Water is thought to act like a compressor on all body systems, including the vascular system, causing a smaller venous load to the heart than equivalent land exercise.
** ****Partial Pressure - **A gas enters a liquid more readily under pressure. In water exercise, the gas is oxygen and the liquid is the blood. So, more efficient gas transfer due to water pressure may reduce the workload of the heart.
** **Dive Reflex - a primitive reflex associated with a nerve found in the nasal area. When the face is submerged in water, this reflex lowers heart rate and blood pressure. This reflex is stronger in some individuals than in others. Some research suggests that the face doesnt even need to be in the water for the dive reflex to occur. Some people experience its effect when standing in chest deep water. http://www.howtobefit.com/swimming-heart-rate.htm
Tigerchik is correct in that most of us can generate a higher heart rate running than we can in the pool or on the bike. Check any of the tables used to predict things like lactate threshold and you see that verified. But only by 10 beats or so. HR elevation is slower than effort so that if you take your pulse early in your swim it will be lower than for the same perceived effort after 2000 yds.
Try this: don’t take your pulse till near the end of a hard swim then have somebody else who does this frequently, the nurse or EMT in the lane next to you, take your radial pulse and see what you get. Good luck.
One point I mentioned that has not been touched upon yet: When checking my pulse, I notice it seems that my heart is pumping very hard. However my heart rate is only in the 110 - 120 range.
One of the main things that concerned me was how hard my heart appeared (to me and I am no expert) to be beating.
No matter how high my HR is during running or cycling, my heat never appears to beat as hard as it does during swimming… this is my main concern and I hope someone here can shed some light on this.
When checking my pulse, I notice it seems that my heart is pumping very hard. However my heart rate is only in the 110 - 120 range.
Totally guessing here, but it could be because of the compressive effect of the water. You are used to the way you heart beat feels relative to air. Put yourself in the water, where it presses against your body harder than the air, and it could feel like your heart is beating harder (force of blood pressure pushing out + water pressure pushing in). Your heart isn’t actually beating harder, it just feels like it’s pushing harder.
Total guess, though.
Try using a snorkel/mask?
The snorkel might help change the breathing part of the equation?
The mask could reduce the body’s natural anxiety about being in water. With a snorkel/mask you have a constant/stable view of where you are, you have a reliable oxygen supply, you are just chilling-out enjoying a swim (just don’t focus on what is on the bottom of the pool).
I doubt anyone could exactly replicate the freestyle racing stroke, but maybe use the snorkel/mask to perform experiments. Personally, the think the anxiety about needing oxygen affects perceived and actual performance/effort.
