Hi Ivan and Tim,
Ivan, how old are you? Without knowing your age, my advice to you is to ease off and take things slower. I'm pushing 70 and had my heart attack and CABGx5 at 67, immediately followed by pneumonia complications that nearly killed me, but I didn't try running again until around 4 1/2 months post-release from the rehab hospital (around 5 1/2 months post-surgery). At that point, the running went fine, although I was so slow that I it was not much faster than a walk. Eventually, my running days were ended by recurrent sciatica. By the way, suffering from sciatica was the second worst feeling I'd ever felt, the worst being measles as a kid-heart attack and OHS recovery was easy in comparison, but I digress.
The point is that I was no stranger to running or racing. I began running at the beginning of the running movement during the 1970's, just after Jim Fixx wrote his iconic book about running. At the time, I was a mid-twenties former wrestler and gymnast and still an active weightlifter. Although I was more heavily muscled than the classic long distance runner, I found that I was pretty good. During my peak years through my mid-40's, My weekly mileage would fluctuate, but I frequently was running between 45-60 miles per week and I was racing middle distance 5-10k races at around 6:20 minutes per mile, and training at around 8 minutes per mile. Even un my 50's, I could and did string 50-60 mile weeks together, although at a pace around 2 minutes per mile slower than at ny peak.
The point is that I was no slouch or newbie and I proceeded very slowly post-heart attack. I even found advice for post-heart attack returning runners, including advice from cardiologists, instructing us to take it real slow and easy running for the first year post heart attack because it is much easier, during that time, to dislodge some more plaque and precipitate another heart attack.
My advice to you and every athlete like me out there is to take it real slow and easy that first year back, pushing yourself very gradually while listening to your body with laser like focus. You will get where you want to go eventually, but never forget that heart recovery is a long distance run. As a great Masters ultrarunner used to say, "I start slow and then ease off."
Good luck and train wisely,
Ira
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Ira Reid
Hoboken NJ
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-19-2020 20:29
From: Tim Purgacz
Subject: Return to Jogging
Cheers Ivan - good to hear others experiences - we are lucky to live in the time of HR trackers - the rehab would be very hard without my Fitbit!!
Stay safe out there especially atm being early post op
Tim
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Tim Purgacz
IT Analyst
Australia
Original Message:
Sent: 03-19-2020 17:32
From: Ivan Gum
Subject: Return to Jogging
I'm at 7 weeks, post cardiac arrest and CABGx3. I've been slowly upping my pace and heart rate, especially the past 2-3 weeks. Right now I'm doing about 1 hour fast walking a day at about 14.5 minute/mile pace. In the middle I take a couple minute break to give my heart a break letting the HR go down under 90bpm. I started to do a couple 30 second or 1 minute very slow jogs and when my HR got up to 135, I went back to walking. I don't want to push it too much right now. Last night I walked 5.8 miles taking 1:20 moving time. Longer than I usually go for but I was feeling fine so I kept going.
My doctor was going to refer me to cardiac rehab, but the rehab folks didn't call back. I guess its non-urgent outpatient stuff that they don't have time for or want to risk spreading infections due to this coronovirus right now. I guess I'm on my own. But it makes me nervous whenever my apple watch loses the HR tracking during exercise which it does often when the HR goes up. Not sure if its an uneven HR or some normal issue with the apple watch.
Overall I'm happy with my progress. Just go slow and steady. We all have our own situations. Many of us here are lucky to have second chances. I was lucky someone close by knew CPR and there was a AED on site.
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Ivan Gum
Original Message:
Sent: 03-11-2020 02:29
From: Tim Purgacz
Subject: Return to Jogging
I'm 8 weeks post Aortic Valve and AAA replacement repair (44yo fit male)
Rehab going really well stepping up the walking 45 mins to an hour at pace .. or 15 mins solid stationary bike
Anyway tried a few short little 20 metre jogs at slow pace .. felt ok but def got the HR up .. high 130s .. about as high as I've pushed it so far
Anyone got any opinion on timing re returning to jog / run ..
Cheers Tim
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Tim Purgacz
IT Analyst
Australia
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