What's the most efficient way to lower my resting heart rate?

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January 24, 2008

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What's the most efficient way to lower my resting heart rate?

— Stan
Chesterfield, MO

fitness answer

The most efficient way to lower your resting heart rate is to commit to building a stronger aerobic engine through endurance training and interval work. However, while a lower resting heart rate it a common side effect of gaining aerobic fitness, there doesn't seem to be any significant health or performance benefit associated with it. While everyone marvels at elite endurance athletes who have resting heart rates in the 30s, there are just as many elite athletes with resting heart rates in the high 50s. Similarly, an athlete's ability level isn't tied to his or her maximum heart rate either.

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Founder, CEO, and president of Carmichael Training Systems, Chris Carmichael is the personal coach to seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong. In 2004 he was awareded the USA Cycling Lifetime Achievement Award and was inducted into the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame in May 2003. He's been honored as the United States Olympic Committee's Coach of the Year and athletes under his tutelage have won 33 Olympic, World Championships, and Pan American Games. He is the author of the New York Times Bestseller "Chris Carmichael's Food For Fitness: Eat Right to Train Right" and "The Ultimate Ride," and co-author of "The Lance Armstrong Performance Program," with Lance Armstrong. Carmichael coaches a host of elite athletes including Discovery Channel rider and four-time Olympian George Hincapie and World Record Swimmer Ed Moses.