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Unsure about the calculation and estimate of max HR in the FR45

4463401
over 4 years ago

I'm a bit confused about how the FR45 deals with estimating maximum heart rate.

I assumed that maxHR was calculated from the data collected during my runs. But now after reading a bit in the app, on connect, and in the manual - it seems that it only uses the old "220 - age" formula. Is that really the case? I'm utterly surprised and disappointed. Even my decade old Polar watch would continually estimate and automatically update maxHR from workouts.

I have a fairly high maxHR. According to the "220 - age" formula my max should be 172bpm, but I regularly work in the mid 180's at almost every run, and can get 190+ bpm if I just push a little. An estimate based on "220 - age" would be absolutely useless for me and provide no feedback of value.

I'm now posting to have this clarified and to make sure I don't misunderstand the manual. Is it really so that the FR45 does not estimate and adjust the maxHR based on my actual recorded values? It's a decades old technology - why would they not include that. It's absolutely idiotic!

If this is the case I will return the garbage and use the refund to buy something useful.

  • 0 over 4 years ago

    I'm sure you're correct that the FR45 does not estimate your maximum heart rate based on previous performance. Sorry to be an idiot, but can you explain how other manufacturers do that? I understand that the "220 – age" formula is no good for you, as it isn't for me (I have a naturally slow pulse), but I can't see how you can predict max HR from the data measured by the watch – at least, without some kind of dedicated calibration routine ("run up this hill to exhaustion and we'll capture the peak HR").

    If you want to use HR zones for training and are content to rely on a single max HR value, then you can set that figure on the watch instead of relying on the default value. For me, 220 – age gives 161, but I reckon my true maximum is about 172 and so that's the figure I've told Garmin to use.