Heart
Rate Monitoring for Swimming, Part One
Swimming With A Heart Rate
Monitor
by Kevin Polansky
- from United
States Masters Swimming
Click here for
Heart Rate Monitoring for Swimming, Part Two
For years, American swimmers and swimming
coaches have been asking the questions "How much is enough?" and "How much is
too much?" Even today's adult fitness swimmers are in search of optimal
training methods that will deliver the greatest physical benefits. Likewise,
endurance athletes in all sports have long been in search of a reliable
monitoring system that would guide them to "smart" training.
Testing the blood for lactic acid
concentration has proven to be the most reliable method for determining the
effect of training on our bodies. This method, however, proves to be
impractical for most adult swimmers simply because of the expense and the
advanced equipment required.
Currently, the most practical method for
measuring training effect is using a heart rate monitor (HRM). This device is
capable of measuring your heart rate continually during the course of exercise.
Following the exercise, your heart rate can be plotted on a graph using
computer software to show levels of exertion. A typical HRM consists of a wrist
monitor, a chest band, and a sensor/transmitter that straps around the chest.
The most widely used water-proof monitor on the U.S. market that can be used
for swim training is made by POLAR CIC, Inc.
HRMs can be beneficial for both the elite
competitive swimmer and the recreational swimmer. Kieren Perkins of Australia,
current world-record holder in the 800 meter and 1500 meter freestyles, uses a
heart rate monitor in virtually all training sessions. For swimmers with heart
conditions or those labeled "lap swimmer," the monitor keeps a close and
accurate measurement of pulse during exercise. Author Sally Edwards, in The
Heart Rate Monitor Book, says "being the best isn't as important as being your
best, and heart rate monitors can help you get there."
So you might be asking yourself, why do I
need to strap this equipment around my chest? Why can't I use a pace clock and
count my own pulse at the end of a set or an interval? Unfortunately, this
quick-check method for monitoring your heart rate is quite inaccurate. Research
has shown that an athlete can be off by as many as 17 beats per minute using
this method -- a huge discrepancy! Also, as you count for more than five
seconds after you finish a swim, your heart rate will start to drop in
proportion with your fitness level.
In the brief time that I have used a heart
rate monitor, I have found that getting back into aerobic shape has taken on a
new meaning in my training. With a heart rate monitor, I do little or no
guessing in my workouts as I know specifically what type of effort I am putting
forth. Training by the "hit or miss" method or by our own "feel" for what our
coach thinks we need may be a thing of the past. It is highly likely that the
use of a HRM will produce a more scientific training regimen for all levels of
Masters swimmers.
So, you may ask, what does the HRM do to
help enhance your training? Your heart is the "engine" of your body. Much like
the tachometer in your car, the monitor tells you just how hard you are
working. The HRM gives you hard-line biofeedback, concrete evidence that can
cut through misleading feelings, thoughts, and perceptions.
Many heart rate trainers and coaches have
stated the reason why a lot of athletes don't show greater improvement is
because they do not effectively train the appropriate energy systems. As stated
later in this article, the energy system used is determined by the heart rate
sustained over a period of time. Maintaining a relatively low heart rate will
train aerobic energy systems while maintaining a higher heart rate will train
the anaerobic energy systems. The monitor can give immediate feedback as to
which energy system is being used, and it gives the swimmer the opportunity to
make an adjustment in training pace to meet workout objectives.
In order to begin applying this tool to
benefit your training, you must first determine your resting heart rate (RHR).
The RHR can vary by as many as 50-60 beats per minute between two people of the
same weight, height, and age, though for trained athletes the difference is
usually much smaller. RHR's also vary between sexes: on average, a female's
resting heart rate is roughly five to seven beats per minute higher than a
male's heart rate.
Take your RHR first thing after waking up
in the morning. Feel your pulse at either your carotid (neck) or radial (wrist)
artery for one minute over several days to obtain an average RHR. In general,
the more efficient your heart, the lower your RHR will be. (Note: As you grow
older, your RHR will generally increase slightly.)
The next step is to determine your maximum
heart rate (MHR). Most physiologists believe that 226 beats/minute (female) and
220 beats/minute (male) are the closest approximations of MHR (before age
adjustment). To calculate your age-adjusted MHR, take either 226 (females) or
220 (males) and subtract your age. This will give you a reasonably good idea of
your MHR on land.
For swimmers, though, the MHR is usually an
additional 10 to 13 beats per minute lower, mainly due to four factors:
1) Water allows our bodies to cool faster
(water is cooler than our skin temperature);
2) In water, because we are in a non-weight
bearing environment, less effort is required to train;
3) We are situated in a horizontal
position, which allows our heart to work more effectively;
4) We are using our smaller upper body
muscle groups more as opposed to "land" aerobic sports that primarily use the
larger, lower body muscle groups.
Using this age-adjusted method for a male,
age 30, the MHR would be calculated as: 220 - 30 = 190 - 10 = 180 beats/minute
MHR.
Although this method of determining MHR is
generally accurate, the most accurate method for finding your MHR is by taking
a stress test. Unfortunately, this may cost anywhere from $100 to $500. A more
economical way, as Sally Edwards suggests in her book, is after warming up,
swim 50 yards aggressively (about 80% effort) using your favorite stroke. Rest
two minutes. Using the time from your first 50 yards, add ten seconds to get
your starting pace. Next, begin swimming a few 50s at this calculated pace. On
each 50, try to decrease the lap time by about five seconds until you can no
longer increase the speed. Stop for a few seconds after each 50 and check your
heart rate monitor. Your highest value during the test is equal to your MHR.
Once you know your RHR and your MHR, you
are ready to train more scientifically with your HRM. By using the monitor and
making some small calculations, you can begin to gain a better understanding of
how to train more effectively and efficiently. Now you are ready to calculate
your five different training levels by using your own MHR. Those levels are:
- Moderate to Easy swimming: 50% to 60% of
your MHR
- Weight Management swimming: 60% to 70% of
Your MHR
- General Aerobic swimming: 70% to 80% of
your MHR
- High Aerobic Threshold swimming: 80% to
90% of your MHR
- Anaerobic or Red-Line swimming: over 90%
of your MHR
In a future article, I discuss the
different training levels, the purpose of each level, and a step- wise approach
to training by using your HRM. This information can help anyone from lap
swimmer to world champion to understand and use the HRM for better physical
fitness. It can give you a scientific edge to help you fashion a training
program that will be specific for you and your coach.
FURTHER READING
THE HEART RATE MONITOR BOOK, by Sally Edwards.
Fleet Feet Press, 2408 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95816. Very clear and concise
for the beginner!
TRAINING LACTATE PULSE RATE, by Dr. Peter
Janssen. Polar Electro Oy, 99 Seaview Blvd., Port Washington, NY 11050. For the
experienced athlete only who enjoys technical reading. May be beneficial for
the exercise physiologist, but not recommended for the average Masters swimmer.
EVERYONE'S AN ATHLETE, by Dr. Phillip
Maffetone, David Barmore Productions, Box 785, Miller Road, Mahopac, NY 10541.
Offers a well-rounded approach and solid advice for tailoring a healthy
lifestyle.
Kevin Polansky has coached high school
swimming for twenty years and was named Colorado high school Coach-of- the-Year
on four occasions. He holds eight Masters world records and ten national
records. He ran the first Masters training camp at the US Olympic Training
Center last summer. |
