Maximum Heart Rate

How does a person know what their maximum heart rate is?

Well, we don't recommend running as hard as you can until you collapse, and then count your heart beats for one minute. A safer and more accurate way is to have your maximum measured by a physician or exercise specialist.

There is also a standard formula you can use to estimate your maximum.

The formula that is used the most is for men to subtract their age from 220 and for women to subtract their age from 226.

For example: 30 year old female

226 - 30 = 196 Maximum rate

Keep in mind that this is only an estimate and is used for activities during which your feet hit the ground. To estimate your maximum for swimming subtract about 10 beats and to estimate your maximum for bicycling subtract about 5 beats.

Okay, now you know how to figure your maximum heart rate, however when exercising you want to stay within your target heart rate zone.