Quote Originally Posted by Suzi-Sue View Post
Hi Julibird
I use the 220 - age method
So when your HR was, say, 187, what was your perceived exertion? My guess is that your Max HR is higher than what is determined by the formula. Training around those numbers won't really help you if that's true.

I found that the formula was not helpful at all for me - and many others. The highest number I've seen in the last year during high intensity training, was 202 - so my max HR is probably a couple of beats higher. I'm 43 - so according to that old formula, my max would be 177! That is the within Zone 4 - about 6 beats below my aerobic threshold.

I think the best way to determine your HR zones is to forget about Max HR and do a Lactate Threshold field test. I will hook up a link on how-to later, or you could just google. There are several ways to do it, and they are all pretty simple.