How do I use my heart rate monitor on race day?

Posted 12 December 2007

In a “perfect” training world, the most effective way to use your heart rate monitor on race day is to set your race heart rate based on the heart rate data you have gathered during your training period. Depending on the distance of the race, you may be able to increase race day heart rate by 3-5 beats. As a general rule of thumb: the longer the race, the more conservative the heart rate.

In the “not-so-perfect” training world, you may have just started using your heart rate monitor. Note your heart rates during the last five training sessions and select a race-day heart rate that is consistent with those sessions.

If you are wearing a heart rate heart rate monitor for the first time, have fun. Just observe the data and note what happens to your heart rate at various points in the race. Use this data to begin training for the next event.

Alinda Perrine, O.D., M.P.H.
© 2007 ZoneX™ Sensible Heart Rate Training

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