30 seconds until the start: 65 beats per minute
5 seconds the start: 85 beats per minute
0 seconds until the start: 102 beats per minute
Racing for me is like a rocket launch. I’m standing on the line for 5-10 minutes beforehand, but it feels like hours. My shoes are strapped on tightly. My mind is on the mission: run a fast time. And the engine in my heart is on break mode, yet ready to go whenever I push the lever into drive.
Then it happened. The horn sounded, and I took off running. All systems go. A half mile in I was running a 5:15 mile pace so I throttled down a little bit to avoid a catastrophe. I started coasting to a 5:30 pace at 160 bpm: a little fast, but still safe. The ride was only expected to be 18 minutes or less, so pushing the pace for a short time would be okay.
Right on cue, mile one was a 5:34. All systems are functioning well. I feel comfortable…too comfortable. I decide to push onward. I press another button and speed up to a 5:23 mile. As my legs increase the speed, my (engine) heart rate ups to 164 bpm. Because of this, I’ve lost all contact with life on Earth (the competitors) to my relief. Even better, I feel just fine.
As I’m well over two-thirds and my tank is starting to run hot. My bpm stays the same, but my legs slow their rotation. I don’t panic because as I’m hitting my breaking point, I see the target. It’s about a half mile away. I can feel the atmosphere building, so I go for it. I rocket faster than ever, 5:23…4:47… 4:18…3:51 pace. Touchdown! Mission accomplished.
After finishing, I realize an anomaly happened. This race was my fastest race in five years! This was better than plan nor was it expected on a day that was hotter than ideal race temperatures. But it happened. My fastest race since my 2020 surgery, and on my four year race streak anniversary!
Weirdly enough, people were more interested in my bpm after the race than my time. I told them I averaged a 161. Some gasped in concern at how many beats that was. Others were amazed at how low it was for the speeds I ran at. I felt indifferent.
It’s very common for me to run in the 150-160s bpm for my races. Yet, it’s also common for me to run those same bpms for my training runs at much slower paces. Part of me thinks it’s because I usually train in the afternoon where the temperatures are hotter, whereas the morning is typically cooler. The higher bpm training runs could also because of the work fatigue. I teach all day and then immediately go for a run. It could also be that competitiveness in me. If I see someone walking or running, I tend to speed up.
This month I’ve been monitoring my heart rate closely. My lowest heart rate was 39 bmp when I was in a deep sleep, but it normally stays in the low 40s during sleep. My non-exercise bpm is around 50-60. I feel healthy and comfortable. I never show any shortness of breath or dizziness.
What I’ve learned is our hearts are just as powerful as the rockets that blast off into space. They can do incredible things with the power and muscle we put into them.
