Is Your Heart Rate Too High While Running? Here’s How to Settle It
A rising heart rate during a run doesn’t always mean you’re unfit — it often reflects conditions, pacing or recovery rather than cardiovascular capacity. Understanding why it happens helps you stay controlled, comfortable and consistent with your training.
Why Your Heart Rate Spikes
Your heart rate can climb for several reasons unrelated to fitness. Common causes include:
- Starting too fast
- Hot or humid weather
- Hills or elevation changes
- Fatigue, poor sleep or stress
- Caffeine, dehydration or long gaps between meals
Step 1: Slow Your Pace Early
If your heart rate climbs quickly in the first 5–10 minutes, ease back until you can talk in full sentences (roughly Zone 2–3 effort). You should feel in control, not chasing numbers. Once your body warms up, your HR often settles naturally.
Step 2: Use Rhythmic Breathing
Controlled breathing helps stabilise heart rate. Try:
•
3 steps inhale / 3 steps exhale for easy runs
•
2:2 or 2:1 patterns for faster work
This calms the nervous system and reduces unnecessary spikes.
Step 3: Adjust for Heat, Terrain and Hydration
Heat can elevate HR by
5–10 bpm at the same effort. To manage this:
• Run earlier or choose shaded routes
• Hydrate and use electrolytes
• Adjust your pace, not your heart rate target
On warm days, a comfortable effort on
Narrabeen Lagoon may translate to a much higher HR on the
Manly Dam loop due to elevation and uneven surfaces.
Step 4: Use Effort Zones, Not Just Numbers
Heart rate is helpful, but not perfect. Combine it with:
•
RPE (1–10 effort scale)
•
Talk test — if you can’t talk, it’s too hard for an easy run
Effort-based running prevents overthinking and improves consistency.
Step 5: If Your HR Stays High Across Multiple Runs
Persistent elevation often means your body needs recovery. Check for:
• Poor sleep
• Stress
• Dehydration
• Illness
• Overtraining
A resting heart rate consistently 5–10 bpm above your normal baseline is a clear signal to rest.
Need Help Managing Training Load or Running-Related Pain?
We help runners across the Northern Beaches improve technique, running load tolerance and overall performance. If your heart rate feels unpredictable, or running keeps causing pain or setbacks, we can assess your biomechanics and training structure to keep you progressing safely.
