Improvements in a heart rate playback machine to initially monitor heart rate of a person performs cardiovascular exercise. The heart rate is generally monitored by a chest strap that is placed around the chest of a user that transmits either the beats or the calculated heart rate. The heart rate can be received by a monitoring device, like a wrist or waist mounted device. The heart rate is recorded while the person is exercising. The machine then convert the heart rate into estimated loads of resistance, speed, elevation or other changes to simulate duplication of the heart rate. The machine uses a reverse algorithm to increase the resistance, speed or elevation prior to the recorded heart rate changes. The recorded heart rate, or the result of the algorithm, is then transportable or playable on the piece of exercise equipment. The exercise can be scaled to accommodate athletes of a different age or fitness level.