Heartrate concerns. Should I be worried?

[MCAP]

Yes, my running shoes were purchased at a running store after a professional gait analysis.

7.0 is only a little faster than a ten minute mile- certainly not a sprint. I feel very comfortable at this speed but feel like my body may just crumple out from underneath me after about a minute. My legs feel fine, my lungs feel fine, my head feels fine, but my heart races and my body gets weak.

I'm going to try to find a doctor to see about this. I'm very perplexed that it only happens running and not cycling or swimming. Perhaps it has something to do with running being weight bearing.

[colby]

Yes, my running shoes were purchased at a running store after a professional gait analysis.

7.0 is only a little faster than a ten minute mile- certainly not a sprint. I feel very comfortable at this speed but feel like my body may just crumple out from underneath me after about a minute. My legs feel fine, my lungs feel fine, my head feels fine, but my heart races and my body gets weak.

I'm going to try to find a doctor to see about this. I'm very perplexed that it only happens running and not cycling or swimming. Perhaps it has something to do with running being weight bearing.

7mph is an 8:30-ish min mi. An 8:30 min mi is significantly faster than a 10 min mile The likely case, as Jess suggests, is that that is closer to your interval pace than your regular "forever" running pace. What you describe sounds like an interval to me (well, a little beyond - Knot's right that feeling like you're going to pass out is pushing it) - it's hard work for a short period of time. You'll probably get better at them the more you do them, but you will probably not be able to run that speed for sustained periods for a while. If you want to run longer, you will probably have to run slower until your ability to run at those speeds increases. The intervals WILL help with that, so if you do introduce days with more extended slower running periods, you should keep up some faster intervals on other days, too (but maybe not to the point where you're lightheaded ).

I can definitely understand that your stride (and everything, really) is more comfortable at the faster pace. It does force you to stretch and land your feet differently and I also find this difficult to apply at lower speeds. I'm not sure there's a secret to that other than to improve your form - it might do your faster running speeds good to improve at slower speeds.

[OakLeaf]

In addition to what everyone else has said:

* "improving your form" isn't so easy to do without guidance. I'm a huge fan of Chi Running - which has DEFINITELY made it possible for me to run slowly without pounding myself to death. From a musculoskeletal standpoint, I'm as comfortable now at a 12:30 long run training pace as I am at an 8:05 5K pace or doing sprint intervals. That did NOT use to be the case. I don't really know much about other methods, but you might check out some of the free materials on the Chi Running website, pick up the DVD or book, and/or find an instructor or workshop near you.

* Your maximum heart rate for running will always be higher by 5-10 bpm than your MHR for cycling, and about the same gap to swimming. Sources I've read have speculated that this has to do with weight-bearing, cooling, or a combination of those.

* Cardio fitness only translates between sports to a certain extent. You still have to be feeding blood to unaccustomed muscles.

* Are you breathing efficiently when you run? It's definitely different than cycling breathing, and I would think that if you're not getting enough air, that might cause the symptoms you're describing.

Good luck - hope you find that it's nothing to worry about and that you get it sorted soon!

[Crankin]

I had the exact same experience when I was running. It took me ages to build up to a steady 6.0 pace and not feel like I was going to die. In fact, I could cruise at 5.8 but as soon as I went over that, I was done. I knew that my HR for running was about 10 bpm higher than for cycling from a short foray into running around the time my riding started getting more serious. And my HR is generally faster than it should be for my age when I push it, yet, I recover OK. The one thing that cycling helped me with is that I never found it too difficult to run up steep hills. Sure, I'd be going very slowly, but I was running, when others were walking. A speed of 7.0 is *fast* for a beginner and definitely qualifies as a sprint interval. I agree with Oak; the breathing is totally different.

[emily_in_nc]

I definitely agree that a 7.0 speed is very fast for a beginner! I've been running casually for ~2 years now (mostly on the treadmill, occasionally outside), and my average speed is still around 5.5-5.7mph! I do occasionally push it up to 6 or 6.2 for a short bit, but I can't even fathom being able to run at 7.0 for any length of time without feeling like I am about to die, and I can cycle for a long time without difficulty. I know many women run much faster than my speeds, but you are a beginner, so sloooooooooooooow down!

I agree with the suggestion of Chi Running -- I read the book when I started running and found that it helped my form and comfort while running a great deal.

[Susan]

Your text is something I could have written one year ago. While I was able to spin or swim extended periods of time, I was never able to run more than a short sprint without going beyond my limits. For some time I was quite sure that I simply COULD NOT run and would never learn to do so just like others couldn't swim.
While my husband was going for a run, I was running the distance between two street lamps and then walking for some minutes and repeat.

Because I felt stupid walking around in my running clothes, I started Nordic Walking. Nordic Walking gets the heart rate up a little higher than just walking AND made running slow and relaxed easier for me (I guess because there is less weight on the leg muscles). With the walking sticks I ran the short distances between 2 street lamps, then slowly upped the distance. I read quite a lot about correct form, tried to up my cadence (up the cadence while slowing down overall!) and correct my posture. It took me about half a year to run the whole distance (about 5 km, my husband was able to run this far from day 1).

After some time, I stopped using the Nordic Walking sticks and didn't need them anymore (I still use them sometimes for mountain runs). It has been one year since I started running and I am now able to run for about 10km.

I think some of us just need a little extra time because they aren't really talented runners. But it pays of, it will be a lot of fun in the end, don't give up!

[Bike Chick]

I think some of us just need a little extra time because they aren't really talented runners. But it pays of, it will be a lot of fun in the end, don't give up!

I agree completely, Susan. When I started running, I expected it to come easy since I had been cycling for several years and thought I was in good shape. I also thought that I would progress as quickly as I did on the bike. Not so! It's a completely different exercise. I've been running consistently for about a year now and I'm still slow and take walk breaks occasionally. I have seen a huge improvement since I started but the progress has been slow. Some of us just weren't born runners but we do it anyway!

MCAP, good for you doing the Ironman Challenge. That sounds fun. My advice would be to be patient (after you get the ok from your doctor), just slow down and take your time. It will come.