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I know as well as anyone that most MaxHR calculators are guides, and that the only true way to determine your max is to have a VO₂Max test done … but the calculators should be relatively decent estimates for everyone but elite athletes.

According to the most common forumula (220 - age), my MaxHR should be 178 bpm. In practice, I know that my MaxHR can reach about 183 bpm, but definitely not comfortably.

Today was not a good day, and I knew it wouldn’t be when I started off at 123 bpm before even turning a pedal.

Typically, anaerobic threshold is considered to be about 90% of max, so using the two numbers above, my AT level should be 160-164 bpm. I spent nearly half of today’s ride above 160 bpm, and averaged 155 bpm (87%) for the entire ride; even on the slight downhill sections on my way back home through Millcreek into Holladay.

So much for today’s “yeah-right” goal of doing twice as many miles as last weekend. I didn’t think that was likely, but was hoping for at least as many miles; but I don’t even think I managed quite half, and I am spent. This didn’t feel like the usual lack-of-fitness struggle, but rather that it was going to be a rough day no matter what.

But I still got out there, and that’s what’s most important.

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As soon as I got out on the road today, my tooth (the one under the temporary crown) started hurting … higher blood pressure, perhaps, causing it to throb? In any case, since the air actually seemed fairly clear of particulate matter today, I decided to push on.

Definitely didn’t have the legs to attempt any real climbs, so once I got to the zoo, I headed back along Wasatch to 21st South, then dropped back into Millcreek, instead of taking Wasatch all the way back down. When I hit 45th South, didn’t feel like I had done quite enough, so pushed on down Holladay Blvd a bit further towards Cotton Bottom; flipping around and heading for home when I got to Cottonwood Elementary.

Legs and lungs felt okay, but my tooth was definitely bothering me a bit … 11 more days until the permanent crown.

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I don’t know if it’s the heat or my (lack of) fitness level, but after only 20 fairly flat miles today, I am completely shattered. At this point, I’m even too tired to get up and walk into the kitchen to try to find something to eat.

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Now that the Tour is over, it’s time to get off the couch and back on the bike … of course, 3 weeks off, when you’re already not fit, can be painful when you do get back on.

The Garmin didn’t record yesterday’s ride properly, but here’s today’s …

A little more every day I ride … slowly but surely I’ll get it back.

Passed the shrimp and beau on their way down Big Cottonwood Canyon road into the Old Mill area, while I was gasping for breath climbing up towards the Porcupine Pub & Grill. Wish I had remembered my inhaler … perhaps I wouldn’t have spent so much time 2-3 beats away from my max HR.

One thing is for sure. I need to ride more.

You know you’re out of shape when your heart rate spikes up to 2 bps below your theoretical max HR based on one methodology and 3-4 bps higher than your max HR based on the 220-age methodology, when riding a relatively flat route.

I’m not seeing to 220+ rates that the Doctor is getting, but I still find the numbers disconcerting.

Hope the earache girl’s canyon ride goes better than mine.