doing 5k's once more

I am 72 and always jogged and lifted weights. In 2004 I was told I was in a-fib and had bradycardia. I have had a pacemaker since that time. I have very slowly been able to regain some of my running form and have done a few races this year. Right now I am at a 10 minute mile which usually places me in about the middle of the pack in the over 70 age group. I would like to hear from anyone out there doing this and how is it going for you. My recovery time after a race seems to take much longer but maybe that's more age than pacemaker related Bill

6 Comments

WOW

by randrews - 2007-09-20 09:09:53

Nice work Bill!!
You just became one of my role models. I'm 48 and doing about 10 minute miles. I've had a pm for 6 months and just completed 13.1 last weekend. My biggest problem I believe is that my pm is set at an upper limit of 170. At times when I'm running I find myself not being able to catch my breath. When I slow down I breath fine. My other running problems involve knee pains and general aches. I think that's due to being 220 lbs. I'm hoping to run more trails and hopefully do my 1st marathon in the Spring.
Your running is really an encouragement. Keep up the good work!!!
Rusty

10 minutes

by hotform - 2007-09-22 08:09:23

10 Minute miles Bill? I need to get my butt moving then. Your 24 years older than me and the best I have been mustering lately is a 9 minute mile. Like Rusty, I am a big guy though. Your running at 70 is encouragement, at least for me. I often wonder to what age I will be able to run?
I haven't had any pacer problems with the running. My biggest problem was breaking my left ankle in Feb. 2006 while running across an icy parking lot. The resulting change in my gait caused me to have some knee problems with the other leg that I had to have corrected.
All in all though, running with a pacer has worked great for me. I know I am not going to win any running awards when I go to the races, but I like to go and talk to people I know.
I did win a $100 door prize at a local race this summer. Got a new pair of shoes with that.
Sometimes you don't have to be fast, just lucky.
Rick

doing 5k's once more

by ridera - 2007-09-27 12:09:02

Go for it wlrcpa.

I'm 71, had my PM implanted 1 Sep 2006 for SSS/exercise intolerance.

Started training again in Oct, and ran my first race then. Since then, I've raced 18 times, 5Ks, 8Ks, 10Ks, and 10milers.

I'll be running the Twin Cities Marathon 7 Oct and the JFK50miler 17Nov. I've been training hard for these, lots of track, hills, 25 mile runs, etc. I've not found any heart related limits to my training and racing.

One thing you may find helpful: Get a recording HR monitor Garmin, Timex, etc. [Amazon.com has great prices] and keep track of how your heart responds to exercise. Transfer the data to your PC and graph it. You can use the graphs for discussing your heart's response with your cardio or EP.

Running is a hobby for me so I treat it as such and I like competition. Plus, it's the best thing one can do to help keep their heart healthy.

Good luck....

RIDERA -

by axg9504 - 2007-10-01 04:10:11

"....had my PM implanted 1 Sep 2006 for SSS/exercise intolerance"
Great role model! Could you please summarize your symptoms. I'm 63, used to run in my 30's-40's. I have exercise intolerance too. My rate will go up initially but then settle back to 90's which will only permit walking at 4 mph for a couple miles. I then have s.o.b. What's really weird is that my rate really goes down after I quit exercising for a couple of hours with symptoms. I've been advised by 2 EP's to get a PM but I may have to take some meds to settle an atrial arrythmia and I already know that I don't get along with drugs. I'd appreciate if you could tell a little more about your symptoms, Thanks

ridera reply

by ridera - 2007-10-01 08:10:25

Your symptoms are virtually identical to mine before the implant.

A PM was the only treatment I was able to find through endless hours of research, and, consultation with a top EP. Incidentally, one of the well known, local EPs recommended against it. The bastard said, at 71, I should be happy to just tinker in my garden and go for slow short walks.

One problem you may have is finding an EP that knows how to program PMs for athletes. We are a very small market segment and most EPs don't have any experience with runners. Be certain to get the PM mfgr's technician involved. He/she will have better access to the technical support folks.

Just a brief outline of my settings. The whole story is too involved for this forum. In my case, I knew my resting HR was about 42bpm and my upper rate was 158bpm. [At 63 yours should be about 165bpm.] So, we set my minimum at 45bpm, no scientific reason for this. It just seemed like a good choice. My upper pace setting is 160bpm when I pound the ground running fast.

I recommend buying a recording HR monitor. [Timex, Garmin, Polar is no better and is pricey. Check amazon.com] You can upload the data into your PC and see exactly what is going on. And, you can use the graphs for communicating with your EP.

Good luck. I've had super results with my PM and I'm sure you will also.

Thanks Ridera

by axg9504 - 2007-10-23 03:10:37

Sorry, just got back to reading your reply and you may not read this. However I'm inspired reading your reply. I'm no way close to being fit like you, 5 years of this problem has made my shy away from regular workouts. You say your symptoms were identical to mine, but with a resting bpm of 42 you may not have felt the symptoms I do after exercise. Mine goes to 40 sometimes 30 after exercise when it should be 70-80!
My current EP is saying I can eventually do 'pretty much what I want to' so I'm hoping to take him up on it.

You know you're wired when...

You need to be re-booted each morning.

Member Quotes

My pacemaker is the best thing that every happened to me, had I not got it I would not be here today.