u/FirefighterDue5009

I noticed that my max HR has been increasing lately as I’ve been training for a 5K. I always thought your max HR was dictated by your age (hence the rough 220 - your age formula), but is it possible for it to increase based on your fitness level? FWIW, my HR never used to exceed what it should be based on the 220 - age formula (no matter how all-out I was going!) but lately it goes 10 bpm higher than what that formula spits out.

TLDR - can your max HR increase, and does that mean you’re getting fitter?