# 57 year old with max hr of 202, is it wrong? **URL:** \ **Category:** Training\ **Created:** [July 10, 2022, 8:32pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/57-year-old-with-max-hr-of-202-is-it-wrong/74253 "2022-07-10T20:32:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mazza](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/mazza/32/36454_2.png) [@Mazza](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Mazza)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2022, 8:32pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/57-year-old-with-max-hr-of-202-is-it-wrong/74253/1 "2022-07-10T20:32:25Z")
My heart rate recently hit 190 in a max effort sprint, it’s never been this high before (max of 178) so I backed off, a couple of weeks later it hit 202 in a max effort sprint without backing off. Could this be an issue with the Garmin chest strap as it seems crazy high for a 57 and I’m considering buying a hr monitoring watch for 2 points of reference. ---
**Author:** ![GoLongThenGoHome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/439d5e/32.png) [@GoLongThenGoHome](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/GoLongThenGoHome)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2022, 8:33pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/57-year-old-with-max-hr-of-202-is-it-wrong/74253/2 "2022-07-10T20:33:45Z")
Did it climb to that value or just suddenly jump to it? ---
**Author:** ![Mazza](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/mazza/32/36454_2.png) [@Mazza](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Mazza)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2022, 8:49pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/57-year-old-with-max-hr-of-202-is-it-wrong/74253/3 "2022-07-10T20:49:02Z")
![20220710_214420](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/original/3X/1/8/1882ab60a5957f9a8cf4750b69f24db1fd210f06.jpeg) Climbed quickly. ---
**Author:** ![AJS914](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/919ad9/32.png) [@AJS914](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/AJS914)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2022, 10:40pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/57-year-old-with-max-hr-of-202-is-it-wrong/74253/4 "2022-07-10T22:40:11Z")
> [@Mazza](#): > > it’s never been this high before (max of 178) so I backed off, a couple of weeks later it hit 202 in a max effort sprint without backing off. Could this be an issue with the Garmin chest strap I had a few of these ‘never seen before’ heart rates when my last Garmin chest strap went bad after many years. ---
**Author:** ![HLaB](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/hlab/32/60448_2.png) [@HLaB](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/HLaB)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2022, 11:03pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/57-year-old-with-max-hr-of-202-is-it-wrong/74253/6 "2022-07-10T23:03:45Z")
It doesn’t look a one off micro second burst to me which would suggest its more likely to be a true max. My friend is a bit younger (46 year old) and he regularly hits 202bpm + . My self (also 46) Ive hit 204bpm this season in a tt sprint but I have my max hr set to 197bpm which is a more repeatable max. Under 90 % of that I can recover quite quickly; 90-95% of that I can recover reasonably as long as it isnt too often; and 95% + is an all out sprint which I’ll need time over the line to recover from. ---
**Author:** ![OreoCookie](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/oreocookie/32/8298_2.png) [@OreoCookie](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/OreoCookie)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2022, 12:42am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/57-year-old-with-max-hr-of-202-is-it-wrong/74253/7 "2022-07-11T00:42:25Z")
When you get sudden spikes in heart rate, which then plateau (i. e. remain approximately constant), this is a surefire sign that your heartrate strap is going the way of the dodo. I have the same issue with my Wahoo Tickr. If I were you, I’d get either a smartwatch with heart rate capability or a Polar heart rate strap. They seem to be the best out there. ---
**Author:** ![AustinPT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba9def/32.png) [@AustinPT](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/AustinPT)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2022, 9:51am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/57-year-old-with-max-hr-of-202-is-it-wrong/74253/8 "2022-07-11T09:51:15Z")
I’m 55 and tap out around 168-170 (although I don’t routinely train w/ HR). Stick with chest straps for accuracy. The wrist based sensors can be wildly inaccurate (especially if you have “delicate, fine-boned wrists” like me. ok, I wear a woman’s Timex watch, the men’s version looks like a dinner plate on me). I’ve had wrist based sensors give me 170’s while walking. ---
**Author:** ![kitenski](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/kitenski/32/1794_2.png) [@kitenski](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/kitenski)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2022, 10:03am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/57-year-old-with-max-hr-of-202-is-it-wrong/74253/9 "2022-07-11T10:03:37Z")
keep an eye on it, if you get regular bumps up above 200 I’d get your heart checked out, once you’ve replaced batteries, tried a new strap etc etc I had similiar that became more and more frequent and eventually was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, ---
**Author:** ![Sonny](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/sonny/32/104384_2.png) [@Sonny](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Sonny)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2022, 10:39am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/57-year-old-with-max-hr-of-202-is-it-wrong/74253/10 "2022-07-11T10:39:25Z")
It could also be an episode of svt. ---
**Author:** ![WindWarrior](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/windwarrior/32/84679_2.png) [@WindWarrior](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/WindWarrior)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2022, 2:21pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/57-year-old-with-max-hr-of-202-is-it-wrong/74253/11 "2022-07-11T14:21:19Z")
That pic shows the spike was during a max effort sprint? About 3.5 hours into a ride? What was temp? Can you add power to the graph? How long was the sprint? ---
**Author:** ![gwhilts](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/gwhilts/32/1637_2.png) [@gwhilts](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/gwhilts)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2022, 3:18pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/57-year-old-with-max-hr-of-202-is-it-wrong/74253/12 "2022-07-11T15:18:22Z")
I’m beginning to think that the “220 - your age” maxim was just pulled out of someone’s ass and has no basis in reality. I’m 55, so that would put my max at 165 bpm. My heart rate at _threshold_ is about 174 and my max is upwards of 190. I don’t know if this is good or bad, but it’s definitely not in line with the formula. From what I can gather max and threshold heart rates vary wildly between people and having a high one isn’t really something to worry too much about. Resting heart rate (~52 for me), and blood pressure are much more important. That said, I’m not a doctor or a cycling coach, so you should probably ask a pro. ---
**Author:** ![LiveSimply](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/livesimply/32/85234_2.png) [@LiveSimply](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/LiveSimply)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2022, 3:38pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/57-year-old-with-max-hr-of-202-is-it-wrong/74253/13 "2022-07-11T15:38:53Z")
Like what was said above, I’ve seen those sort of spikes from a faulty heart rate strap, but also 1) when the battery is about to run out of juice and 2) when I’m starting to fight off some bug and am about to get sick. @Mazza do you have a pretty extensive training history tracking your heart rate? If you have been tracking it for various years and have done similar type efforts before, I would certainly try to find out what is behind it (faulty strap or something physical) as that sort of jump for someone that is in shape and used to those efforts seems a bit unusual. ---
**Author:** ![Mazza](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/mazza/32/36454_2.png) [@Mazza](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Mazza)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2022, 6:43pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/57-year-old-with-max-hr-of-202-is-it-wrong/74253/14 "2022-07-11T18:43:27Z")
Thing is though it didn’t platue and dropped straight down, if it was a faulty strap or battery surely it would spike instantly rather than climb in a linear fashion, will keep an eye on it. ---
**Author:** ![GoLongThenGoHome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/439d5e/32.png) [@GoLongThenGoHome](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/GoLongThenGoHome)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2022, 6:52pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/57-year-old-with-max-hr-of-202-is-it-wrong/74253/15 "2022-07-11T18:52:25Z")
> [@gwhilts](#): > > I’m beginning to think that the “220 - your age” maxim was just pulled out of someone’s ass Not this again. That formula was never intended to predict max heart rate at individual level. It’s a formula for a linear trend line , based on a study of max HR many moons ago. Like any trend line and a sample of data there is standard deviation involved. You may be on the line, you may be within 1 SD, 2 SD etc. The person who should be shot who said use this to work out your max HR. ---
**Author:** ![GoLongThenGoHome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/439d5e/32.png) [@GoLongThenGoHome](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/GoLongThenGoHome)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2022, 6:56pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/57-year-old-with-max-hr-of-202-is-it-wrong/74253/16 "2022-07-11T18:56:23Z")
Do you know how long it registered that value, and did you feel weird at the time? I occasionally got weird spike not when working maximally and it turned out that synthetic shirts and a particular chest strap did the trick. Replaced the chest strap and no longer wear the shirts that caused problem. If you felt weird at time I’d talk to your doctor, but if you felt normal I’d just watch out to see if you get a repeat. ---
**Author:** ![estarkie](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/estarkie/32/40251_2.png) [@estarkie](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/estarkie)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2022, 7:45pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/57-year-old-with-max-hr-of-202-is-it-wrong/74253/17 "2022-07-11T19:45:57Z")
I had a spike like that when I took off my strap before stopping my edge 830, with a Garmin HM Run strap. ---
**Author:** ![Mazza](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/mazza/32/36454_2.png) [@Mazza](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Mazza)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2022, 9:30pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/57-year-old-with-max-hr-of-202-is-it-wrong/74253/18 "2022-07-11T21:30:26Z")
Nah didn’t feel weird, I was buzzing cos I won the sprint back to the shop 😂 ---
**Author:** ![Bdchunk](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/bdchunk/32/7757_2.png) [@Bdchunk](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Bdchunk)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2022, 10:39pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/57-year-old-with-max-hr-of-202-is-it-wrong/74253/19 "2022-07-11T22:39:29Z")
Same for me. Side note, I had an ablation (2017) and things have been working just fine since then. So if you do have a-fib don’t fear, all is not lost. ---
**Author:** ![Donoman](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/donoman/32/155771_2.png) [@Donoman](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Donoman)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2022, 11:30pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/57-year-old-with-max-hr-of-202-is-it-wrong/74253/20 "2022-07-11T23:30:24Z")
Take a stopwatch. Start it. Get your heart up that high again. Take your pulse. ---
**Author:** ![RLucky82](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/rlucky82/32/39514_2.png) [@RLucky82](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/RLucky82)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2022, 5:58pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/57-year-old-with-max-hr-of-202-is-it-wrong/74253/21 "2022-07-12T17:58:08Z")
Bad strap! [Next page](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/57-year-old-with-max-hr-of-202-is-it-wrong/74253.md?page=2)