I'm fairly new to swimming. I've used HR monitors in the past for running, and it seems to me that they would be very effective in swimming, especially if your focus is distance swimming. But I've seen quite a few posts, especially in some of the tri-bashing threads, that are quite derisive on the subject.
Does anyone have any serious information on the use of HR monitors in swimming? Do the top swimmers use them at all?
Originally posted by Conniekat8
I'm really bad with the percieved effort, I'll get my heart rate in the 190-210 range and think, ugh, I'm not working hard enough!
sigh :(
What??!!!? If your heart rate is in the 190-210 range, you're working pretty dang hard!
I can't go through a workout, even the seemingly rare aerobic ones, where my heart rate stays below 180, and I usually feel the effects of it at the end of workout. I have high blood pressure and that might be part of it. The problem is not my aerobic base, because I've been training virtually nonstop since 2003.
But by all means should people take heart rates. My coach in New Mexico used to always give us sets and tell us to keep our heart rates below a certain number, and EVERYONE would check periodically. On lactate sets you know it's going to be high, but the best indicator of fitness is your recovery heart rate. Take a pulse 30 seconds after your first pulse, or about 40 seconds after you stop swimming. If your second heart rate drops by 30 beats per minute, you're in good shape. Take a third one, and it should drop significantly. Don't judge recovery by the fact that you're not breathing hard. This just means your body is getting adequate oxygen, though your heart can't get it out to yor muscles quickly enough, hence a high heart rate. Heart rate monitors can help keep track of that.
Connie, if you feel you can work harder at a heart rate above 210, go for it. But I hope you have a watchful coach or lifeguard.
Originally posted by Conniekat8
I'm really bad with the percieved effort, I'll get my heart rate in the 190-210 range and think, ugh, I'm not working hard enough!
sigh :(
What??!!!? If your heart rate is in the 190-210 range, you're working pretty dang hard!
I can't go through a workout, even the seemingly rare aerobic ones, where my heart rate stays below 180, and I usually feel the effects of it at the end of workout. I have high blood pressure and that might be part of it. The problem is not my aerobic base, because I've been training virtually nonstop since 2003.
But by all means should people take heart rates. My coach in New Mexico used to always give us sets and tell us to keep our heart rates below a certain number, and EVERYONE would check periodically. On lactate sets you know it's going to be high, but the best indicator of fitness is your recovery heart rate. Take a pulse 30 seconds after your first pulse, or about 40 seconds after you stop swimming. If your second heart rate drops by 30 beats per minute, you're in good shape. Take a third one, and it should drop significantly. Don't judge recovery by the fact that you're not breathing hard. This just means your body is getting adequate oxygen, though your heart can't get it out to yor muscles quickly enough, hence a high heart rate. Heart rate monitors can help keep track of that.
Connie, if you feel you can work harder at a heart rate above 210, go for it. But I hope you have a watchful coach or lifeguard.
