Is a 190 max heart rate too high?

Brittany Malone • March 18, 2024

Ever check out your heart rate during or after a workout to only be shocked by how high your max heart rate hit.

If so, maybe you have questioned whether that it is safe that your heart rate can get so high in a workout. 

So let’s talk about it! 

In short, yes, it is okay if your heart rate hits your max heart rate. Actually when it hits your max heart rate, it doesn’t stay there for long. 

Next, how can you find your max heart rate:

There are a few formulas, but keep in mind no formula is 100% accurate. Formulas do not take into consideration many import factors like genetics. So use the formulas as an estimated max heart rate. 

Formula 1:

The  Tanaka  (208 – 0.7 x age) and the  Gulati  (206 – 0.88 x age, for females).

Formula 2 (the most common and easiest, but slightly out of date):

220 – your age

You might be wondering: Am I fitter the higher my max heart rate is?

The answer is no. Once again genetics play a big role. To be honest you do not even want to hit your max heart rate every workout (more on that later).  

How to use your Max Heart Rate as a fitness marker:

Hitting your max heart rate isn’t a bad thing at all. But it shouldn’t be the goal of every workout. 

What you should aim for instead is that your heart rate over time decreases when doing the same type of workouts.  

For example: 

Track your heart rate during a benchmark workout like a mile run, Murph, Fran, etc. Let’s say your heart rate is 190. Ideally, what we would like to see is that the next time you do the same workout your heart rate is lower, but your score is the same if not better. 

This is a sign that your heart is getting stronger and pumping more blood aka fitter. 

A warning for my watch wearables:

If you are trying to get the most accurate heart rate reading during a workout, a chest or bicep strap heart rate monitor is the way to go. 

Wrists heart rate monitors are good for tracking HRV and RHR (we will chat about that in another blog), but not as great at tracking your max heart rate. There are many reasons why, but one is that wrist watches tend to move around more which skews the results. 

Here are some recommendations for chest and bicep strap heart rate monitors:

So the next time you do a benchmark workout don’t worry too much about what it says your heart rate is but do record it in your Wodify app. That way the next time you do that workout or something similar you can compare your heart rates. 

2025 Makers Intramural Open

By Brittany Malone • February 11, 2025
Welcome to the Battle of the Classes (AM versus PM)!!! In our 3-week event, performance isn’t the front runner (though we want you to give it your all). We will reward participation. Did you do the workout? ✓ 
Did you do it at Makers CF? ✓✓ 
Did you join in on the fun? ✓✓✓ Our main priorities is helping you push to a new level and having a good time doing it TOGETHER. BREAKDOWN: * The gym will be split into two teams: AM vs. PM. NOONERS may pick which team they want to represent. * Earn your team points through participation. * There will be weekly themes! See details below * Each week for three weeks the workout will be announced by CrossFit every Thursday @ 12:00pm. * Give the open workouts your best shot during Friday 's class workout. We will also have sign ups to do the open workouts Saturdays at 9am for those who cannot make Friday. * Workout scores and open points must be submitted by Monday at 5:00pm.
 REGISTRATION: * 2025 CrossFit Open - CLICK HERE to register and check your rank worldwide. * 2025 Makers CF Intramural Open - Sign up on Makers whiteboard * You do not need to sign up for the CF CrossFit Games Open to participate in the Makers Intramural Open. * Order your Makers CF Open shirt on the whiteboard at the gym ($30) Pre order closes Feb 19th THE POINTS: + 2 Points - Completing the Open workout at Makers 
 +1 Point - Completing the Open workout somewhere other than Makers CF + 1 Point - Top male and female in RX and Scaled 
(regardless of age group) +2 Points - Referring a friend on our friend referral sign up sheet at Makers (Limited to 1 friend a week or 6 points total) +1 Point - PR City: for each personal record completed such as weight or new skill.
 +1 Point - Team Spirit: dressed up for the week’s theme (See below) THE DATES: * Workout: CF 25.1: Feb. 28th * Theme: Twin Day * Workout CF 25.2: Mar. 7th * Theme: Wigs, Tutu, and High Socks * Workout CF 25.3: Mar. 14th * Theme: Makers 2025 Open Shirt THE DETAILS: * To obtain credit, you MUST add your score in Wodify.
 JUDGING: * Want to earn $10 off a shirt? Pass the CrossFit Judges Course and email (info@makers-crossfit.com) us your certificate of completion. Judges course HERE * You DO NOT need a certified judge if you are doing the Makers Intramural Open only. * You DO need a judge if you are registered for the CrossFit Open. * Scoring cards and movement standards will be provided to everyone during the competition.
 AFTER PARTY: * Join us March 15th in celebrating the completion of the open at Makers CrossFit for a brunch potluck . * Potluck sign up at on the gym whiteboard
Two men are squatting on the floor in a gym.

Murph: Should I scale?

By Brittany Malone • April 27, 2024
Murph is the most iconic Hero WOD performed all over the world on Memorial Day in memory and honor of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. As we perform this workout we keep that in the back of our minds and push ourselves physically and mentally.  BUT THERE IS A WAY TO BE SMART ABOUT […] The post Murph: Should I scale? appeared first on Makers CrossFit.

Help, I need legging recommendations!

By Brittany Malone • April 22, 2024
This one is a little more geared towards the ladies of the gym, but it is a legit question. What legging are the best for CrossFit? With all the deadlifting, squatting, and running we do, I get it! We ain’t got time in the middle of a workout to wonder if the person behind us […] The post Help, I need legging recommendations! appeared first on Makers CrossFit.
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