JustRunJustLiveJustBe

*Update* Thank you to everyone who offered suggestions (and even emailed me helpful links).   I have a lot to think about, including why I love the Internet. 

I don’t know why I’m trying so hard to figure this out, but I am. For one, it’s pretty boring. Two, well it’s not like I’m some scientific runner who meticulously calculates speed and distance and bodily reactions. I’m only mildly concerned with any of that, which is probably due mostly to laziness. I am sort of stumped, though, and I’m thinking someone out there might have some insight. Maybe. Possibly.

For the last several weeks, you see, I’ve been gradually increasing the distance of my long run again. Gradually being the key word there, of course. (Yesterday I did 7 miles.) For the most part they’re going well. They’ve turned out to be pretty okay runs where I’m thankful, most of all, for feeling good (read: no knee/leg/hip pain). The weird thing is, my heart rate. It’s crazed, y’all.

What I mean by that is, it seems very abnormal. Or at least for part of the run, particularly the last part. A “normal” long run for me means a steady pace with my heart rate between 150 and 155. However, over the last few weeks and only during the long run, my heart rate increases to 165+ during the last 2-4 miles of the run. No matter how I try, I can’t get it back down. Once it’s up there, it stays- at least until I have to walk just to get it under control.

Now, for starters, I don’t even know if around 150 is okay to start with. I just know it’s generally where my heart rate stays when running at a comfortable pace. But I don’t know if that’s (again) “normal” I just know it’s been normal for me. Is it too high? I wouldn’t know.

Sheesh! Who’s bored? (Me. Sorta.)

So, anyway, I’m thinking my heart rate goes up like this because:

I know I’m getting close to the end of the run and I subconciously get too excited about that? OR…

I’m too fatigued from earlier in the run? OR…

I’m too fatigued from whatever I did the day before? OR…

This could be something to worry about and I should be asking a doctor? OR…

There’s a guy running in front of me with a nice butt.

I joke about that last one because if that were the case, well, heartrate schmeartrate, but I’m hoping anyone with any type of heart rate knowledge/insight/know-how has an idea. Or at least some questions I need to ask myself to better understand what’s going on. And I hope it’s something simple like “you’re not in good enough shape yet, keep going and find a nice butt to look at to distract you.” But maybe there’s more to it? What do you think?