Resting heart rate (RHR) is the number of heartbeats per minute at complete rest, best measured first thing in the morning before rising. A lower RHR generally indicates better cardiovascular fitness — trained endurance athletes often have RHRs of 40-50 bpm, versus 60-80 for the general population. A sustained elevation in your normal RHR (5-10+ bpm above baseline) can be an early warning of overtraining, illness or inadequate recovery, making daily RHR tracking a simple, useful monitoring tool.
Key points
- Heartbeats per minute at rest
- Lower generally = better fitness
- Endurance athletes often 40-50 bpm
- Elevated RHR warns of overtraining or illness