Gotta love technology

I am now 1 year and 4 days into having a pacemaker and last year after I recovered I set myself some goals. One was to participate in the Triple Bypass and I have been working my butt off to get there and I hope I am close to the fitness I will need. I have dropped almost 35 lbs and feel the best I have in 4-5 years except for occasional ticker hickups (like sudden HR drops). In June I got a new little toy, a Garmin 305 GPS/Bike Computer/HRM and thought you guys might be interested in what it told me about my training for the month. I share this because it is often great to see results in something you can quantify and also to show folks that having a pacemaker isn't the end of the world:

So far this June (has most, but not all workouts) my workouts are listed below. After seeing this I am shooting for Everest in Elevation gain... a little over 2000 feet to go.

Count: 13 Activities
Distance: 375.63 mi
Time: 31:49:15 h:m:s
Elevation Gain: 26,952 ft
Avg Speed: 13.3 mph
Avg HR: 141 bpm
Avg Bike Cadence: 73 rpm
Calories: 33,670 C

My latest workout today, with 50+ miles on the bike and a bunch of Elevation is available here:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/38252254

Anyway... if anyone else wants to share goals, training stories and techniques or just wants to talk about what it is like to be an athlete with a pacemaker (even if it is just the weekend warrior kind like me) drop me a line.

Lets all get out there and take back our lives.

5 Comments

Neat GPS

by ElectricFrank - 2010-06-27 02:06:10

Hope you are using oxygen with all that elevation gain!! I'll watch for you going over the house although you would be pretty small at 26,000 ft.

Be sure and take a printout of those numbers when you have your next checkup.

frank

frank and co brady

by jessie - 2010-06-27 06:06:19

hi i also have lost 40 pounds and have to work to keep this off. this loss is since last july.i have followed a modified type of weight watchers. later to-day i am going to start to exercise again and pump iron lol turbo will be proud of me lol i have to start somewhere so since i have the weights and i have the desire i will startyet again due to noticing lack fo muscle strength hugs jessie

Way to go Jessie....

by COBradyBunch - 2010-06-27 12:06:55

Wow... 40 lbs on just dieting. You have a lot more will power than I have. I can't live without my popcorn and pasta so for me to drop it it has to be exercise. Keep us up to date on your exercise and how it is going.

Great Club Lots of information

by Frankc2010 - 2010-07-19 04:07:46

Hi, I'm new here as of today. I think there is a lot to learn here and am looking forward to reading all the info.

I had a PM inserted the end of March and am getting back on my bicycle after a 6 month layoff. I use/used a Polar HRM to monitor my rides but now it does not work. I see CO has had success with the Garmin F6. I'm very impressed with your rides and the numbers, keep up the great work.

I do have a question for you, Does the Garmin use a chest strap like the Polar, have you had any problems with interferance?

Thanks for any replies,

Garmin / Polar info

by COBradyBunch - 2010-07-19 05:07:53

The Polar I use is the F6, the Garmin is the 305. Both work with my pacer but realize I am an on demand pacer and it only kicks in if my HR drops below 50.

The 305 does use a chest strap but the Garmin and Polar are not compatible and the Garmin chest strap does not work with the equipment in our rec center while the Polar 'usually' does.

You won't see any ride numbers for me for a while because 6/30 I was broadsided by an SUV and I am currently nursing a broken left fib, messed up left ankle, at least a grade 2 strain/tear of my left MCL, sore hips both sides, sore shoulders (at least one separated in the crash but went back in on its own), a few broken and bruised ribs, some big time hematomas on both thighs (I tore the seat off my bike with my right inner thigh and it looks like I am smuggling a softball under the skin of my right upper thigh which is also VERY colorful (red, purple, blue and black). Needless to say it will be a least a few more weeks, if not several more months before I am physically able to get back on a bike out doors.

Anyway, if you have any other questions on the HRM's let me know.

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