RC, there are sevel good books out there on HR training. It IS really hard to live by it at first, and it almost feels like a step backwards. But it does work. It just takes patience...sometimes alot of patience.

I'm like Grog...super high max, high working rates (usually in the high 160s average), and a pretty high resting HR. Always been that way. I recover quickly, which seems to be my only well known indicator of being "in shape". I am a smaller, tightly wound person (though my blood pressure is very low). I know a 65 year old gentleman who is in fantastic shape and his absolute max is over 200 (mine is 203). Like Wahine says, it just depends.

Interestingly, I find there is no difference between my working and exercise max (not absolute max) heart rates for running and cycling. A lot of the literature indicates that cycling rates are generally lower. As usual, I don't fit the mold.

I quit using my HRM for my trail runs because there is so much climbing (I can't even get it down for some of the hills that I have to walk because the grades are simply too steep) that my HR is always high, period. I always do an easy warm up and pretty extensive cool down, which I think helps.

Maybe someday I'll do a real LT test. Or maybe not!