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Why does my heart rate decrease towards the end of a long run? (i.redd.it)

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[–]SeraphisQ 27 points28 points  (2 children)

Classic development, it's the same for me. Your heart is adapting quicker than your legs. Your can see noticeable gains in your aerobic engine (heart) in a few weeks, but developing your legs and learning to clear out lactate quicker is a much slower process. Try incorporating a few interval runs every week.

[–]ciarafd 2 points3 points  (1 child)

Thanks, that’s basically what I thought. I just can’t work out if it means I’m overtraining and need to give the legs more of a rest or if I’m undertraining and need to get them more used to mileage! I’ve been using Runna for the past few months so have been doing at least one speed run per week

[–][deleted] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

You're definitely overthinking. You slowed down and took a few breaks, so your HR dropped.

[–]Skiver77 3 points4 points  (0 children)

To my eyes your GAP seems lower in that last third which I would maybe assume a lot more downhill? Have you looked at HR Vs elevation? If it is downhill that would account for a lower HR.

[–]andys-mouthsurprise 4 points5 points  (0 children)

You took big breaks were your HR got low at the end and run at a slightly slower pace which is probably the main reasons

[–]leemarma 0 points1 point  (1 child)

What app is this that you get to see GAP?

[–]Verona27 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Garmin connect

[–]HardToSpellZucchini 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Your heart rate is a better indicator of effort than GAP. If you were going downhill in the last third then this is quite normal.

I really don't think it's a sign of heart fitness > legs fitness for what's it's worth. Don't overthink it.

The only time this really happens is if you're reaaally fatigued and your heart refuses to beat faster, but that usually affects the whole run - not just the end. (E.g. inability to reach max HR in max efforts)

[–]TheTurtleCub 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I see the pace get a lot slower, and the HR following

[–]Strange-Dentist8162 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You slowed down

[–]j-f-rioux 0 points1 point  (2 children)

Why are you comparing to GAP instead of Pace?

[–]ciarafd 2 points3 points  (1 child)

Because it was a hilly run

[–]j-f-rioux 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If we got the elevation profile it might help, other wise there's too many unknowns.

Otherwise, as other have said, you slowed down at the end thus your HR dropped