Listen to your Heart

Your heart knows how ready your body is — especially in the colder months. ❄️
As training shifts indoors and routines change, two powerful metrics can offer valuable insight into how well your body is adapting: Resting Heart Rate (RHR) and Heart Rate Variability (HRV).

Resting Heart Rate (RHR) is the number of times your heart beats per minute when you’re completely at rest—ideally measured first thing in the morning. A lower RHR generally reflects good cardiovascular efficiency and recovery. When RHR creeps up, it can signal accumulated fatigue, stress, illness, dehydration, or inadequate sleep.

Heart Rate Variability (HRV) looks at the small variations in time between heartbeats. Rather than focusing on speed, HRV reflects how adaptable your nervous system is. Higher HRV suggests your body is resilient and well-recovered, while lower HRV may indicate stress or the need for more recovery.

Together, these metrics offer a fuller picture than either one alone. RHR shows how hard your heart is working at rest, while HRV reveals how well your body is balancing stress and recovery. During winter months—when training loads, daylight, and routines fluctuate—tracking both can help guide smarter decisions.

Small increases in RHR or drops in HRV? Time to rest, recover, and focus on base-building.
Track trends, not single days — your body will thank you come peak season.

Would you like a more precise and personalized performance metric? Learn more about VO₂ Max on our website.

Sincerely,

TPT Team