Why are 50% of my max heart rate = 116 bpm, while the max HR is 180 ?

on the garmin connect web the 50% to 60% range is calculated in a way I cannot wrap my head around. How can 50% give 116bpm while the max HR is set to 190 ?

I have seen a screenshot by another user, showing the same awkward calculation:

forums.garmin.com/.../please-help-me-understand-why-my-of-max-hr-readings-seem-off

  • According to your screenshot:

    - your HR zones are based on HRR% (% of Heart Rate Reserve) - hence "% Reserve" - not % of Max HR

    - heart rate reserve is basically the difference between your max hr and your resting hr

    - the point of setting zones based on HRR% as opposed to % Max HR is that HRR% is supposedly better correlated with your fitness (as it takes both resting HR and max HR into account, not just max HR). Some would say that % lactate threshold would be even better tho.

    - your resting HR is 47 (although you have cut off this label in your screenshot)

    Here's the formula for % heart rate reserve:

    % HRR = (HR value - resting HR) / (max HR - resting HR)

    When HR value = 114 (as per your screenshot):

    % HRR = (114 - 47) / (180 - 47) = 67 / 133 ≈ 50%

    You can calculate the values for each of the percentages yourself, by rearranging the formula:

    % HRR = (HR value - resting HR) / (max HR - resting HR)

    % HRR * (max HR - resting HR) = HR value - resting HR

    % HRR * (max HR - resting HR) + resting HR = HR value

    HR value = % HRR * (max HR - resting HR) + resting HR

    e.g. for % HRR = 60%:

    HR value = .6 * (180 - 47) + 47 = 126.8 ≈ 127 (after rounding)

    This matches what's on your screenshot

  • Thanks for the detailed explanation!!

  • the max HR is set to 190

    If I see it correctly, your max HR is 180.

  • If I see it correctly, your max HR is 180.

    That's obviously a typo as the title itself says "while the max HR is 180". Same as "116" in both the title and the body is a typo (it should be 114).

    It doesn't really take anything away from understanding the question, nor does it change the answer.