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Hi
My Google-fu is failing, I can't seem to find anything helpful.
Can anybody recommend a good resource to learn about heart rate zones, training and kids. I'm concerned one of mine pushes too hard at pretty much everything he does (mostly running and biking) and every time I tell him to back off a bit he gets frustrated with me.
I'm 47, and my max is still 196 which I can hit in a ramp test every time, maybe high rates are hereditary, and although not entirely sure it's good for me, here I am still...
Anyway, any publications or links appreciated 🙂
All different and partly genetic, 55 here, max 195 and on daily meds for heart disease. The numbers don’t indicate much.
Yes, comfortable with that - would just like to read a bit more - only just started looking at the numbers with a HRM. On tonight’s run, at 10 minute mile pace, he was at about 175-180.
He can easily reach 200 - just want to know if he’s doing any damage I guess, and would like to read a bit more about it. It’s hard to get him to back off.
Unless he has some kind of illness I wouldn’t be checking it. Max should be well over 200. I had a HRM at 20 and used to ride up to the Uffington white horse at around 220. I was seeing stars at the top, so I’m not sure how this helps.
I’m curious to know the answer to this, I expect 220 - age is even more inaccurate for kids than adults (my max is 193 and I’m 45).
I think kids would self-limit and the health and fitness benefits of pushing themselves generally outweigh any risk?
It's highly unlikely he'll damage himself, but there's been a couple of tragic cases of young athletes having undiagnosed heart conditions (and plenty with non athletes, of course).
There's a charity that raises awareness and does testing, might be worth tapping into them. Called something like Cardiac Care for the Young, but obviously not with my GoogleFu being poor today
Isn’t this what kids do? Smash themselves into exhaustion? I certainly did, no idea what my HR was but I certainly pushed myself way into the red.
Unless he has a heart condition I’m not sure I’d be worried about it.
Isn’t this what kids do? Smash themselves into exhaustion?
Yes, all the time. This I know. Mostly I think it's great, but he digs really, really deep and refuses to give up - not sure that's good for him, which is why I'd like to read more.
There’s a charity that raises awareness and does testing, might be worth tapping into them.
Thanks. Plenty family history to make that a good shout. I'll have a look.
Still would like to read more if anybody has any links or books to recommend.
At 12 years old, their lactate system won't be fully developed - so there aren't really HR zones as such.
He won't be doing himself any damage from pushing himself per se but just make sure that there's adequate rest/recovery periods between any exercise.
He'll likely be hitting puberty soon (or is already going through it), so his body will be going through massive changes. Too much high intensity training can be harmful to the young person's overall development, but a certain amount of impact helps stimulate bone density in youngsters.
The most important thing for me at that age is that he's enjoying himself. If he's smashing himself on a run, let him have some time veg-ing out of the sofa to recover too.
How much time have you got for reading?
Development of the Youth Athlete By Neil Armstrong
The most important thing for me at that age is that he’s enjoying himself. If he’s smashing himself on a run, let him have some time veg-ing out of the sofa to recover too.
That's a great post, thanks for that. That book is exactly what I was thinking of, and although much of it will be more than I want there are a few chapters that look perfect.
I just don't want him overdoing it. Honestly, I imagine it's impossible to be less pushy than I am - he does anything because he wants to and that alone. He's equally at home playing Fortnite for a bit or watching endless crap on Youtube, or reading a book too. He's much more rounded than me...
The CRY faq page is quite a good read (but not directly relating to your question). From memory of our boys being done, they don't do the screening tests on kids that young anyway (it was 14 or 16 yrs I think).
From attending some BC kids pathway info sessions, they didn't advocate "training" at that age, just riding and general core work - climbing trees, playing out, running, jumping etc :-). The biggest problem they had was very cycling fit juniors turning up at 16 plus with no core strength as they only rode bikes.