I'm a 42 year old cat. 3 male racer. This is my sixth year of racing and training. My question: every year my max heart rate increases. Five years ago I never saw over 170, now in a final sprint, or hard hill I hit 185+ max heart rate.

Everything I've read or heard suggests that as you get older your max heart rate will get lower.

Would you please comment on this?

G. Warren

Dave Palese replies:

I is possible that you are redefining your limits. What you may have defined as a max effort in the past may is not necessarily a max effort for you now.