My heart rate during exercise has not recovered, but my resting heart rate during sleep has.(normal for me is high40, low 50). I was basically 65-70 for 4 days during covid. I just started riding again after 14days off.. My first group ride was a recovery ride where my strava effort score is usually 20, it was 69. Followed by a fast group ride where my effort score ranges from 150-200 normally was 238. Spent sometime on the front smashing it so expected ~200. Conclusion is my heart is working harder then before and I am spending more time in higher heart rate zones.
I'm not really taking it easy as I need to get the fitness back since I have some rides I spent money on..coming up in October. Trying to ride like I normally do, sprint when I normally do etc etc , then compare the relative effort scores from similar rides since I have both HRM and Power tracked. Peak power is down, only managed 950w so far, so a few hundred down, but I will work on that.
I dont really feel anymore run down then usual to be honest... I dodged this bug for nearly 4 years and took it on with no Plaxovid or other post infection drugs. Plan to get re-vaxxed in October when the new shot comes out and continue to wear a mask around others.