+1. That said I don’t think there is no correlation between low RHR and endurance athletes. I would posit that, like VO2 max, it is maybe a qualifier to being really good (with a few notable exceptions). That said, similar to VO2 max, there is plenty of mediocrity with somewhat “elite” numbers. My guess is that if you were to sample the top 100 men’s marathoners in the world the average would be in the mid to high 30s.
Indurain and most pro cyclists did EPO, which thickens the blood, and slows down resting heartbeats.
I'm a 50 year old 3 hour marathoner and my RHR is 37. It's no big deal really.
drtoneill wrote:
I'm a 50 year old 3 hour marathoner and my RHR is 37. It's no big deal really.
I am 55. I ran an April marathon in 3:17 with 40's miles per week and just a few long runs. I decided just weeks before the race to go for a BQ. I have run marathon times from 3:10 to 3:25 in last 5 years and 1:30 HM in 2019. My pulse was 53 in late July when I checked blood pressure. I just rechecked now using 2 different devices and pulse is 36. I am about 6 weeks in on Hanson's Advance Marathon Training Plan. I run easy on the rest day in the plan. I have run 48 to 55 miles a week over the last 5 weeks. So I am another data point indicating mid-30's for pulse is not a big deal for someone who runs. These low pulse rates only seem to be a concern when measured by medical personnel until they ask the question, "Are you a runner?".
highhoppingworm wrote:
+1. That said I don’t think there is no correlation between low RHR and endurance athletes. I would posit that, like VO2 max, it is maybe a qualifier to being really good (with a few notable exceptions). That said, similar to VO2 max, there is plenty of mediocrity with somewhat “elite” numbers. My guess is that if you were to sample the top 100 men’s marathoners in the world the average would be in the mid to high 30s.
Yes the mystery to me is why these hobby runners with very low pulse rates seem to have the inability to run faster even though their pulse rates are so low which one would think would give them the ability to crank up the intensity and cranking up the intensity would mean holding a much more intense pace so instead of being a 20 minute 5K Runner one would think that they could achieve at least 15 minutes to 16 minutes (or faster) for the same distance, other factors being reasonable as well including running economy, physique, body fat, etc.