Heart Rate

So after a 26 year layoff, you can now swim 1 mile in 22 minutes? That's kind of fast. How many laps are you doing and what is the pool length? Your heart rate is fine. You want to stress the heart. 85% of your maximum heart rate is where you want to be.

Is the aerobic threshold for heart rate different for water exercise than land?

Originally posted by Jim Moriarty I have been told that my heart rate is too high and I should slow down to bring it to about 110-120. I haven't experienced any problems that tells me they are right. Has anyone else experienced high heart rates for long term workouts or am I being mislead? Who is telling you that? (Coach, fellow swimmer, person floating in the hot tub?) Did they give a reason why they suggested a lower heart rate? If you follow the rule-of-thumb that your maximum heart rate is (220 - age), then 160 is probably pushing your upper limits. Then again, you are deliberately speeding up (at the end) to go anaerobic, right? 110-120 is right around what is normally considered the aerobic threshold (65-70% maximum heart rate) for land exercise. I echo Courteous Swimmer. If you are doing 22 minute miles, in practice, I would loathe to suggest something different to you. :cool:

I have been doing quite a bit of studying of Heart Rates and Sally Edwards' Heart Rate Zone Training, and attended her conference in Seattle ths past October. I highly suggest to everyone that you take a look at some of her books and her Heart Zone work. In essence, she proves that the 220 minus your age theory is untrue, and that age has nothing to do with maximum heart rate. I am certainly one living example of that since at age 62 my max heart rate (estimated with some ot the sub-max tests) is 190. Max heart rate varies for each sport, and yes threshold is different from max heart rate. There is so much to be said and learned about Heart Rates and Heart Zone Training, that I feel everyone who trains shoul look into Sally's studies, books, videos and all the information she has amassed. Start by going to the website at www.HeartZones.com. Nancy Graham (by the way, I have no affiliation with Sally Edwards, simply feel I have learned some breakthrough information about this topic.)

Thanks for the replies. The person who told me the heart rate is too high (that I put any credability to) is a marathon runner who is 56. He's been at it for as long as I've known him, over 20 years. But then, as you stated, that's a land excercise. The pool length is 25 meters and I swim 60 laps. There is a placard on the wall that says "60 laps = 1 mile". I never really questioned it until you asked but I found it converts to .93 miles. (Now I'll have to add 4 laps to say that!) It's funny, until I read your replies I thought I still had a lot of work to do to get into shape. Maybe I'm doing okay but I still struggle to do even 1 lap butterfly and that motivates me to push myself.

Jim, here is my story for what it is worth. Last year, August 2002, age 49, I also returned to swimming after 30 yrs off. I had not swam since high school. For a few months I struggled and it seemed I was not getting in better shape, at least aerobically. On a cold night in January of this year I left practice (we usually do about 3000 yds.) and when I felt the cold air I immediately felt a lump in my throat. By the time I arrived home I had a pain in my left arm. To make a long story short, my wife an RN , recognized I was having a heart attack and took me to the hospital. Thankfully, or I am certain my story would not be the same. The next day I had an angioplasty and 2 stents implanted. I was 80% accluded in 2 arteries due to my high cholesterol which I had known about but had stopped taking my medication for. Two weeks later with the Dr.s encouragement I returned to practice. I have felt myself improving ever since. My times are starting to get respectable (50 yd free - 26.36, 100 yd free58.55 etc..). Last week I wore my wife's heart rate monitor to practice (she is a very good competitive runner), my average HR was 141. The max HR after some hard work was 161. My advice- get a check up on your arterial health, know the warning signs, and keep swimming.

I did see the doctor when I first began the workouts. He said everything was fine except cholesteral and said the excercise should help bring it down to normal. I never did any reading up on heart rate except the old 220- your age barometer and that comment about it being too high concerned me. Since everyone is different I was wondering if others out there had the same experience. I do remeber in high school I used to get my heart rate up to 220-230 when doing 50 yd. kick board sprints. But I was a kid then and health concerns weren't what they are now. Thanks to all for your replies.

Jim, consult your doctor! No one here knows anything about your physical condition, and if you are just starting an excercise program you really ought to see a physician first.