A Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale is a method used to determine an athlete’s working intensity level. Accurately using an RPE scale correlates to understanding training heart rate, percentage of VO2 max and breathing rate.
There are a number of RPE scales, but we utilize a 10-point scale:
- 0 – Nothing at all
- 1 – Very light, rest
- 2 – 50% effort, fairly light, gentle walking
- 3 – Moderate
- 4 – 70 % effort, somewhat hard, steady pace
- 5 – 80% effort, hard
- 6
- 7 – 90% effort, very hard
- 8
- 9 – 100% effort, very, very hard
- 10 – exhaustion