I have a heart rate monitor but it's packed away in moving boxes somewhere. I've been trying to run more by effort and have been taking my pulse manually when I have to stop for traffic. Today I had 5 easy miles planned. I started my run and the slow end of my easy pace felt like a slog. My heart rate was hovering around 144 and the run just felt crappy. This went on for about 3 1/2 miles. Suddenly I started feeling better and noticed that the same effort was resulting in a faster pace AND a lower heart rate. As soon as I finished the 5 miles I took my pulse and it was 126 but I had finished the last mile significantly faster than the first three.
Is this just the way it goes sometimes? I almost felt like I was a car in the wrong gear when I started and then once I got in the right gear everything got a lot smoother. Something like this happens probably about once a week. Is this just a normal thing that I happened to notice because I've started paying attention to my heart rate? Is this a dumb thing to wonder about?
Besides being tired, do you feel any pain or discomfort when it's happened?
Yes. I think you have asthma as well, if I remember correctly? I get those upper HR readings for a while, then my lungs settle and I run faster and at lower HR. I also have spikes that do not last a long time. I would say your lungs had not warmed up for the first 3 miles (it takes mine 4 or around that depending on the weather).
Damaris
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I do have asthma. I think it may be getting worse, unfortunately. I have an appointment with my pulmonogist next month. I will chalk the heart rate thing up to that and just be grateful for the times all systems seem to be functioning properly. Thanks for the info.
Sorry. Good luck at the doctor!