What's your resting heart rate? (Read 352 times)

Just curious.  I got mine measured yesterday at about 36 (32 at one point, 39 at another), and the nurse was somewhat concerned, but from what I understand, that's fairly typical for a runner?  On the other hand, I know several accomplished--far faster than me--who have much higher heart rates.  I'm also not even that fit right now, barely running 30 mpw.  So I'm quite curious. Also very curious if anyone has experienced a change in heart rate after beginning to run.  My father, for instance, saw his drop from 75 to 53 without significant weight loss, which surprised me.

Running enough will generally lower resting HR in an individual because as your heart strengthens and develops the ability to output more blood per beat as a result of training, it doesn't need as many beats to generate adequate circulation at rest.

Comparisons between people, however, are totally meaningless.  Plenty of examples of elite athletes with both comparatively high and comparatively low resting HRs.

I used to get to 29-30 pretty regularly; the lowest it was ever officially measured was 26, on a rest day after a hard workout, in the ER (went in for corneal abrasion).  The look on the tech's face was priceless.  As he reached for the phone he said "please tell me you are a marathon runner."  I was impressed he knew to ask the question before hitting the panic button.

I don't know what my resting heart rate was before I was a runner. I remember in high school it was around 60. I was an athlete but I think kids have higher heart rates than adults, all things being equal.

The next time I became aware of my heart rate was maybe 6 years ago when I went for a physical. The doctor walked in looking at my chart after the nurse had taken all my vitals down and the first words out of his mouth were, "Are you a runner? Your heart rate is 42."

usually low to mid 50's

38

runs in the family for what I have been told by my dad. He was pro swimmer and still makes a good amount of miles biking and swimming.

My company does annual health evaluations and offers discounts on health care premiums for folks who maintain their health and fitness.  Unfortunately the "health care professionals" they employ aren't as "professional" as I would like.  Last summer (when I first joined the company) I was measured at 42 and the individual evaluating me insisted I had an untreated high-risk heart condition called Bradycardia (first time I'd ever heard the term), and until I sought medical care to correct it, I wasn't going to get my discount.  I demanded to talk to his boss and she laughed and approved my discount.

 

Same thing happened a few weeks ago, my doctor was delighted with my blood work and my general state of health and fitness, however, the very next day I was evaluated for my health care discount, and this time with a measured RHR of 39 and a BMI (is that a stupid metric for health or what?) of just over 30, the "professional" lectured me on being obese and having a heart arrhythmia, which she insisted could be corrected by losing weight.  Geez, the waist size of my pants is less than half of my height, I'm running 200+ miles per month, and while I certainly could stand to lose ten pounds, I don't believe I'm "obese" in any sense of the word.  Once again, a quick appeal to her boss got my discount reinstated. 

I've got more than one running friend whose work physical resulted in them having to wear a 24 hour monitor to prove they didn't have an issue, and the physician would refuse to even consider it could be a normal result of an endurance activity lifestyle.  Some people's heads are just in the sand about this.

Really, women's higher than men's?  I've always heard the opposite, but I looked it up and it seems to be true--how interesting.  Had no idea.

Heh.