In these series, I will focus on apps, that can be used with smart phones to be used during training. As an early Christmas present, my parents got me the Verizon Droid. It was fascinating to see all the unique features and functions that this phone can do, one such app, is “Instant Heart Rate” which after 10 seconds measures your heart rate.
Why is heart rate important to training? Heart rate is important for several reasons, it establishes our fitness level, gives us a benchmark to decide how much training is needed and informs us if their is a concern.
Heart rate establishes our fitness level. When exercising, your heart rate should be in the target heart rate zone in order to be exerting yourself enough to receive fitness benefits. It is also important not to go above the danger zone as that could be dangerous. I have copied a chart from the AmericanHeart.org so you can find your target fitness level:
| Age | Target HR Zone 50–85 % |
Average Maximum Heart Rate 100 % |
| 20 years | 100–170 beats per minute | 200 beats per minute |
| 25 years | 98–166 beats per minute | 195 beats per minute |
| 30 years | 95–162 beats per minute | 190 beats per minute |
| 35 years | 93–157 beats per minute | 185 beats per minute |
| 40 years | 90–153 beats per minute | 180 beats per minute |
| 45 years | 88–149 beats per minute | 175 beats per minute |
| 50 years | 85–145 beats per minute | 170 beats per minute |
| 55 years | 83–140 beats per minute | 165 beats per minute |
| 60 years | 80–136 beats per minute | 160 beats per minute |
| 65 years | 78–132 beats per minute | 155 beats per minute |
| 70 years | 75–128 beats per minute | 150 beats per minute |
Be careful not to reach the max and when exercising, be sure that your heart rate is in the target area to receive the benefits from exercising.
The target heart rate is also a good indicator of how much exercise is needed to see improvement. For example, if it takes longer to get into the target heart rate zone than when you first began your workouts, it shows that you have built your fitness up to a higher level.
Monitoring your heart rate can also indicate you if there are any serious medical issues involving your heart. For example, if it takes a long time for your heart rate to come down after exercise, that could be a serious issue. Or if your heart rate is above or below certain levels when at rest.
The “Instant Heart Rate” app does have it’s benefits, but after looking at it, I don’t think that it will be of much use at this point and time. I know I have to push myself to a level where I will constantly be in the target zone without actually having to monitor my heart rate, so for now I don’t think I will use it, but perhaps in the future it may have it’s benefits.
Do you have any apps that you use when working out or training?