Resting Heart Rate

Around 40 now, 65 when unfit, 33 when severely over trained.

37 when fit

I fluctuate between 46 and 50 right now, but have gotten down to 39 before.

I've been pretty fit recently and have measured it as low as 33-34.

Sesamoiditis wrote:

I've been pretty fit recently and have measured it as low as 33-34.

I also have a heart murmur and every time I go to a new doctor they get worried and tell me not to run until I've had some tests done.

I creep down to the upper thirties if I'm training well (mid forties when I'm doing OK). My impression is that it is only an issue if it gives you trouble (e.g. you pass out when resting, feel bad when resting). The nurses and cardiologist freaked on me when getting an EKG with a bubble study because I was at forty...then they said you're a runner aren't you? They said they hate runners in the hospital, low heart rate alarms going off all the time. I was getting checked for a genetic defect that runs in the family. I didn't have symptoms and fortunately I don't have it.

ukathleticscoach wrote:

Know this question has been asked before but could not find thread with enough responses

One of my runners has been diagnosed by a cardialogist with arrthythmia or more specifically Bradycardia beacuse the resting HR is around 40

Surely this is just normal in a well trained athlete

So quick study please only include if you are in training. Mine is probably around 70 but was 54 when fit

Having a very low HR has more to do with genetics than training. I ran 70 mpw and my RHR was never much lower than 60bpm; now my exercise program consists only of lifting and my RHR is just over 60.

I am training and in the best shape of my life. My current resting HR is between 37 and 40bpm which is normal for me.

I took it most mornings for a while. Usually between 36 and 40 depending on recent training, stress, how full my bladder is in the morning, if I had caffeine the day before, etc. 36 is fairly common.

Have recorded as low as 32-34 commonly when doing more longer, slower training in a very low-stress environment.

When fasting/restricting calories I've recorded 28-30 a few times, but it seems to go up a lot as well during those times as well-it'll be 30 one morning and then 44 the next then 32 then 42.

A very hard aerobic effort- either a very long, hard 20-30k run, or a high volume of long repeats (especially hills!) makes it go up the next morning to 42-46 but then a few days later down to 32-34. Hello super-adaptation!

It's definitely mostly genetic, and nor does it really matter much. That being said, I'd say if someone is NOT endurance trained they will not have a RHR below 50. The training definitely has something to do with it. But it is certainly possible to have an endurance trained athlete at an elite level have a RHR of, say, 50-70 and that be normal.

Bottom line, don't worry about it.

I stopped running about 3 years ago and it is still 48 BPM. I think it was about 40 when I was at my most fit.

Always was low 40's sometimes below 30 when super fit, but now I have Afib. The low pulse is indicative of being susceptible to it (or other type of arrythmia) later.

when i started running it was 55 in rest, lots of surfing ed.

No i am getting below 38. but only if recovered fully.

ukathleticscoach wrote:

Know this question has been asked before but could not find thread with enough responses

One of my runners has been diagnosed by a cardialogist with arrthythmia or more specifically Bradycardia beacuse the resting HR is around 40

Surely this is just normal in a well trained athlete

So quick study please only include if you are in training. Mine is probably around 70 but was 54 when fit

See a cardiologist who knows something about athletes. Most good medical references like the Merck Manual will have a section on The Athletic Heart. For athletes in training, sinus bradycardia meaning medication does not come into play until the RHR is under 30.

I coach mid-d, including 400/800, but I compete as a pure sprinter. Now, I'm in my 50's, and I'm not doing 60+ mpw; I'm doing maybe 5 mpw in base training that might be 6-7K of speed at 400m pace and faster. I can't remember in what year I actually ran over 600 meters at a time without stopping.

In training, I will have a RHR of 45-49. If I'm up to 55 or higher I need more recovery days.

Your athlete needs to find another doctor.

They spoke to 3 top cardiologists apparently

Would be interesting to see some more stats on HR

Have you told him to tell the cardiologist that a low resting heart rate is completely normal for millions of people who run or ride a bike?

He must also ask the cardiologist why he thinks this should be a problem.

Mine was high 30's in spring/summer.

39 yesterday. I'm pretty fit right now, but last year when in peak fitness (for me) it was mid 30s. Lowest ever was 32, and might have been borderline overtraining at that point.

6 months ago when I was just coming back from 2 months off it was around 55.

Age 56.

Resting HR is 49-50 when in top shape; 53-55 when in decent shape. Anything above 56-58 means I probably need to get more sleep.

My max HR is 190.

i started a thread a few weeks ago about how i went into the docs office for something unrelated and he freaked out on me & told me to get an EKG b/c my heart rate measured 42 and 48 by the nurse/machine and his hand/watch, respectively. i'm pretty fit now and upper 30s-40s is normal for me when in shape, so i thought nothing of it.

as someone else stated, unless the runner is weak/dizzy/fainting at rest, i wouldn't worry about it.