CROSSFIT AND HEART RATE TRAINING

I used to be one of those people who believed that if I sustained a 70% to 80% of maximum heart rate for 20 minutes and do that three times per week, I was doing all I needed to do for my cardiovascular endurance.  Then came CrossFit!  When I started CrossFit, I often strapped on a heart rate monitor.  Afterall, the darn thing costs well over a $100, so why not use it? 

So, I figured out that my max heart rate was something like 180 beats per minute using that silly formula about subtracting your age from 220, etc., etc.  Anyway, when I did the high intensity workouts like "Helen", "Fran", and "Filthy Fifty", my heart rate would soar to over 200 beats per minute!  Needless to say, it was a little scary just looking at the data and heeding what I'd read and been told.  But contrary to the data and common knowledge, all I did was keep going.  I found that my recovery time decreased and my heart rate would return to normal quicker with each passing week of CrossFit training and each WOD. 

Then, I began to play games with the heart rate monitor.  The goal was to shoot for a PR in a particular WOD while trying to get the heart rate monitor to display off-the-chart numbers as well!  All this without passing out or getting sick.  Try this for yourself sometime just for fun!

After a couple of months, I just stopped wearing the monitor.  I determined that it didn't mean anything and really didn't measure much in the way of conditioning in the long run.  You can exercise all you want at 70% of what you think your max heart rate might be, but if you do so, you'll forever remain in that semi-fit zone without ever really challenging your limits.

-Steve

Click HERE for a NY Times opinion piece on the heart rate monitor and max heart rate.

Karen, who has CrossFit regularly four to five times per week for the past 16 months, has excellent cardiovascular endurance and stamina.  It's hard to find a WOD that leaves her lying on the floor at the end.  Here she is recovering from 3 rounds of 500m row, 21 kettlebell swings, and 21 goblet squats.  Guess she got her heart rate up one this one!

Comments

[Ann]

Finally!! I was beginning to think NOTHING made Karen collapse on the floor...way to go Karen! You are an amazing athlete - (and a really funny gal too!) Keep up the great work!

[Lorie]

I was getting ready to push you on the ground. Thank goodness something finally put you there. Way to go and welcome to the the floor club!

[Karen]

Thank you girlfriends!