Training update: tough week...

I am 46 years old. I had my Medtronic Adapta PM installed 8/08. I have several postings on this site regarding my post-PM racing and training. Please refer back to my other posts.
I am currently training for the Blue Ridge Relay, a 208.9 mile relay race through the Appalachin Mountains of North Carolina. My team is an ultra, we have 6 runners. My legs total 32+ miles. We are vying for the win.
This weeks training thus far:
Sunday - weekly "beer run", a group of runners runa 6.5 mile hill course followed by nice cold beer. Run at 7:20 pace
Monday - 8 miles of very hilly trail running in 90+ heat
Tuesday - AM 4 miles easy
PM warmup followed by repeat miles; 5:47, 5:55,
6:05 followed by a cooldown
WEDNESDAY - picked up at 6:15am for a drive to the mountains for to see the course and run portions. Our first run was 8.5 miles of rolling hills. One hour later 5.5 miles of bigger hills including a steady pretty steep 1.5mile climb. 2.5 hours later we ran "Goat Hill', the toughest leg of the race, 6.5 miles in total. The first 1.5 miles are a steady climb, followed by an incessant 5 mile steep, unrellenting climb of more than 1300 feet. (http://www.blueridgerelay.com/maps/view.php?leg=31&submit=Go%21), absolutely brutal. Ran it in what would have been a top time in last years race. 20+ miles for the day in 3 runs over 5 hours.

It is Thursday morning I have 45+ miles for the week (haven't run yet today). I run because that is what I do. I wear a heart rate monitor and am constantly aware of my body and the signals that it sends me. Doctors, especially non-runner doctors, want to hold me back. My main cardiologist (who happens to be the king pin of a 100+ cardiologist group (Sanger Clininc)) is a runner, he tells me to train and train hard.
I am just like many of you, basically a healthy person with a heart with "issues". These "issues" are taken care of by my medically implanted device. I do what I do. No excuses, no stories, no waiting. Do what you do. Live your life.

4 Comments

thanks for the answer

by golden_snitch - 2009-08-13 01:08:04

Dear Cyborg Runner,

it's good that you take my post as constructive criticism because that's what I meant it to be. As I said, it is really great what you can do although you have a pacer, and I certainly do believe that there are other patients who are encouraged by your story.

I know lots of stories from marathon runners with pacers, it's just that I have never heard anyone of them talk or write the way you do, listing what you have done and when. But that's your style, and others might like it.

Wishing you well for all your races!

The reason why

by Cyborg Runner - 2009-08-13 01:08:54

Snitch,

First, I accept your comment as constructive criticism... I initially posted perhaps for a pat on the back, but mainly to show others what I have done, that having a pacemaker does not end your active lifestyle. From that posting, and every other posting I have received many, many comments and messages from people that have been inspired and encouraged from my postings. I don't need a pat on my back, without asking I get enough outside of the cyber world. I mainly want to get the message out that you need to be your own health advocate, and push your doctors into getting you back into your pre-pm lifestyle. And to find a doctor that understands that whatever your previous activity was, be it running, biking, gardening, whatever, and have them help you to get back to whatever it is that you do. I hear too many stories of doctors that are overly cautious, sometimes simply fearing for a malpractice suit, and try to hold back their patients from doing what they do, or did.

Certainly I understand that there are many that have far worse problems than I do. I understand that there are many here that cannot resume their old lifestyles. My postings are mainly to those who "simply" have a pacemaker, which I'm guessing are most readers here.

Initially my postings were to show how determination and perseverance can get you back into doing your thing as quickly as possible. I coach soccer, and though I don't go into detail regarding my heart, I do let the kids know that you should never give up. I pushed hard to get to "come back" as quickly as I did, telling the docs even after two failed ablations, that taking drugs that would alter my lifestyle, and ultimately my being, was only a last resort. Luckily my third ablation did the trick.

Yours is the first comment or message that I have received to let me know that my postings are for my own benefit. I am doing well because I push hard to, and have been fortunate that I have received good medical care from a likewise thinking cardiologist. I do not need to do this, for any reason. I only want to inspire others. I am sorry if anyone is offended by what I write. If there are others of you out there that feel the same way as snitch, please let me know. I want to help, not to hurt.

FYI, I pace about 28% of the time. Without my pacemaker I will probably be dead within a day. I actually am not really sure about my utilization of the rate response feature, though I do not think that I use it much.

I hope that you are doing well, and I am glad that you are doing the best that you can do. That is what I encourage all to do.

Best regards

I'm with you

by Micah - 2009-08-13 12:08:07

Hi there, Cyborg Runner. I was training for a marathon when I got checked out for dizzy spells. I took some tests and ended up at a cardiologists office. One day later I had a pacemaker. I don't run nearly as much as you, but I'll be damned if I'll slow down. In fact, I am more determined than ever to run a marathon in 2010. The 2009 marathon plan got a bit delayed, as you can understand. My doc has always been good about my running. The very first thing he asked me on my two week check up was how much running I had been doing. I was a little shocked and said none. I gave myself 4 weeks off to fully heal, and it's been 6 weeks as of today since the implant and I'm raring to build my miles again.
I love the sound of the race you are doing. Very exciting. Make sure you tell us how it goes.

Why?

by golden_snitch - 2009-08-13 12:08:52

Hi!

I'm starting to wonder why you keep posting this... I mean, it's great that you are running this much, and it probably will encourage some patients. But on the other hand I do get the impression that you feel the need to prove something to you or us or whoever. Do you want us to pat on your back everytime you post an update?

Just keep in mind that many of us have some more heart problems than "just" a pacer or ICD or CRT, and I also believe that in many others the pacer is not taking care of all arrhythmia. There certainly are some excuses, stories and good reasons to wait. How much a pacer patient can exercise also depends on the pacer model and the expertise of the cardio to find the best settings for a patient.

I, for my part, am living my life. I do what I want to do, but it often takes me more time than healthy people. And as for many other heart patients, for me the key to success is moderate endurance training.

May I ask two questions: how much do you pace and do you need the rate response feature? Just wondering because the Adapta's rate response is not exactly perfect for running.

Best
snitch



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I have a well tuned pacer. I hardly know I have it. I am 76 year old, hike and camp alone in the desert. I have more energy than I have had in a long time. The only problem is my wife wants to have a knob installed so she can turn the pacer down.