Fenix 6 max HR detection algorithm

Hello

Question

Is the Fenix 6 taking in the consideration the normal (with age and taring) trending down max HR? - I did not see any indication that will ever ask to do another max HR test or that will ever change the detected high measure that he got first time.

Do you think that the watch needs to have an max HR test that we can do from time to time? (like the LT or FTP test in the run / bike profile)

In this case do I need to lower the max HR setting in the watch and hope that it will detect again the max HR?

When I got the watch about 10 months ago, I was doing an very hard run it detected my max HR to be 194, all good but but since then my max HR went down significantly and now on my hardest runs only go to 185. My problem is that because of this discrepancy my training focus is starting to trend to low aerobic as I can't do my anaerobic training because all of my hard runs get categorized as benefit "Tempo"

I always use an external HR source (HRM-tri and HRM Swim) since the Fenix 6 optical HR is not as good as others. My LT is detected every time I run hard, and i'm asked if I want to update it.

my story:

I was never overweight until 34 years old when I had about 5 Kg more then the upper normal limit. I got in to running with the goal to lose weight, started with 1k on the treadmill no HR recording no nothing. After 8 months got a Fitbit then a Garmin Fenix 6 when it got out. After one year of training I started to do half marathons competitions with more then 900m elevation getting medium results my weight was normal high but the body shape did not change much after 2 years of running 3 days/week. Since a year ago go in to low carb / keto lifestyle in the first 3 months lost 10 kg and my body shape changed dramatically for the better (I look like a runner now) Since i train based on HR I observed during the 2 years of data that my max HR is trading down. When I started recording my absolute max HR was 198 (at 35 years old and no training normal high weight) after one year of training my max HR was 194 (I was still normal high weight, BMI 25) after another year of training and diet change my max HR is now 187 (normal weight, BMI 22).

Stats:

VO2Max: started with 37 - 1 year training -> 52-54 -1 year training + diet-> 55-56 for 6 months now

Lactate Threshold: started 182 bps / 5,18 pace - 1 year training -> 180 bps / 5.01 pace - 1 year training + diet -> 174 bps / 4.40 pace

Max HR: started 198 bps - 1 year training -> 194 bps - 1 year taring + diet -> 187 bps (now at 37 years old)

0 eezytiger over 5 years ago

I have no qualifications on which to base an answer, but based on my own experience I have seen my own max heart rate trend upwards as I have become fitter, stronger and able to push myself harder, despite getting older and older.

I recall 22 years ago, aged 35 that I set a new max heart rate of 192 when finishing a run on an incline and trying to impress/beat a companion and the coach. It was a total balls out effort.

Then came several years of casual training without heart rate and many more of doing nothing but getting fatter and unhealthier. Six years ago, aged 51, I got the medical wake up call and made wholesale changes to diet and exercise, starting Parkruns and cycling outdoors. I think I hit 186 maximum for heart rate during Parkruns.

Almost five years ago I started indoor bike training with power and Zwift. I remember achieving what felt like an astonishing figure of 188 (cycling max is supposed to be lower than running max, maybe) as I was finishing a race on an uphill stretch and determined to beat someone I was competing with. It was a race between me and him alone from a much larger field overall. I had vocal encouragement from people who were watching the race online and could see my heart rate rising. I gave it everything. So that was at age 53, give or take. Since then I have repeatedly pushed the boundary higher, with 195 maximum in April this year at age 57. Actually I think I reached 195 last year some time, but I matched it again as recently as April this year.

My point is, testing max heart rate is not so much about strict test protocols, unlike FTP tests etc., but is more about how hard you can really push yourself into the hurt locker. I'm not sure that a test protocol can force that kind of effort. You need to be willing to go there in your mind and your body. You need the motivation to give it everything. Again, I have no qualifications to make such remarks, but I would suspect that if your number is dropping you're maybe not giving it your all. Certainly I don't think a test protocol on the watch is the answer. If you genuinely think your max is dropping then just change it manually. If you ever set a higher max again then so be it.

0 Marius over 5 years ago in reply to eezytiger

thanks for the story, very nice metrics considering the age.

one year ago I was getting to 19x bps on hard training, usually HIT training (200m as hard I can then 40 seconds recovery repeated 10 times, by the end my HR was at 19x bpm) and in some competitions

Now after same exercise, same external conditions (temperature, terrain) I barley get to 180, my speed is higher I feel better and I push more then before.

The human body will up-regulate all body functions with time if you push yourself (your hart getting fitter bigger and pumping less often for the same result). For me this is more do to my diet as I switched to a more fat burning metabolism so I got up-regulation of mitochondria the powerhouse of the cell. Started to see big changes in my metrics since started eating low carb/keto.

The idea is that my training is based on my max HR (I think 90% of us are training based on HR) and if that max HR is not correct based on your adaptions it will mess up all metrics and training.

I work in IT and i'm an engineer so I always search for more information on how everything works.

0 shiosaido over 5 years ago

I dont know what Garmin watch is measuring regarding max HR and I would not expect a test, as it might be dangerous for some people.

Generally I would HR max expect to go down when you get fitter, as you are more efficient and its way harder to reach max hr (and probably not needed?). Age might do a little bit as well but if HR Max is going up then it was never measured correctly in the first place.

EDIT: Perhaps some of my own experience. When I was starting 30 I thought my max hr is 200 from my hard training runs. When I did my first race it went up to 215. Some years later now, I barely scratch 200 when trying hard in a training situation.