Question for runners

[William]

Hi Folks, I did a lot of road races (5K, 10K, half mara, and one marathon) before my operation. I had surgery Dec 8 and did my first 5K tonight. I took it REAL easy and had no breathing problems, no chest pain, finished at 37:00 where as I was in the 22 range before. The question is this - how soon after your operation did you really push yourself in both training and racing instead of running just at a confortable pace? My doctor said it's OK to start jogging, but my concern is it OK to start running? Will

 

[BillCobit]

Will

I'm sure everybody is different, but here's my experience (and keep in mind that I was not / am not the runner you are - I am a slug who would love to knock down a 5K in 22 minutes!)

I had surgery in January, and started doing short course triathlons in June. I could train and exercise at low intensity, but race intensity was really difficult to sustain for more than 30 - 40 minutes without my HR really spiking (close to 100% of max, and I felt awful). No lasting effects, though. I felt OK about 5 mins after the race was over. Was this smart? I don't know. I'm not aware of any medical significance of this - my fall checkup indicated everything was OK.

Things were different the following spring/summer - I felt great and started doing olympic and half-iron distance w/o the heart rate spike.

I've heard other active people say it was a year before they started feeling really great - that's consistent with my experience. So I'd say try out some races - but listen to your body and don't get too discouraged if you struggle a bit at the start. And if you don't struggle at all - terrific!! I know a Ross-procedure patient that did a marathon less than one year after surgery, so anything is possible. If you don't have any rhythm or ischemia problems (have you had a stress test or monitored exercise in a cardio rehab lab?), I'd think you are ready to start upping the intensity.

Maybe Les B will check in on this thread - I think I recall he did a 5K 10 minutes (exaggerating) after his surgery, and encountered his doctor at the race. Anyway, he was pretty aggressive in his return to running, and probably has some experience/wisdom to share.

Keep us posted on your accomplishments/progress. There are a bunch of us here who revel in post-op cardio sports - we'd love to read an update from time to time.

Stay well!

 

[Arpy]

Hi Folks, I did a lot of road races (5K, 10K, half mara, and one marathon) before my operation. I had surgery Dec 8 and did my first 5K tonight. I took it REAL easy and had no breathing problems, no chest pain, finished at 37:00 where as I was in the 22 range before. The question is this - how soon after your operation did you really push yourself in both training and racing instead of running just at a confortable pace? My doctor said it's OK to start jogging, but my concern is it OK to start running? Will

Will

My surgery was Nov 17 2004 and since then I did the walking thing until end of december when surgeon Ok'd the use of the bike. Since then I have been biking everywhere (currently sitting at about 1300km since January). My resting heartrate has been slowly coming down as Ive become fitter (~ 60bpm) and more recently Ive lent a polaris heartrate monitor to use whilst riding and have found my heartrate pushing into the high 160's when Im going for it. Whether my doctors would agree with this or not I dont know but I dont feel any adverse effects. In fact I feel much better than ever - in essence Im letting my body tell me whether I'm doing too much or not and Im not getting any bad signals.

Take heed of the doctors advice but the best person to know whether you have pushed too hard or not is you.

Regards

Russell

 

[tommy]

Will,

Following surgery in Nov 2000, I set my sights on a 5k fun run in April 2001. I started from scratch as an overweight, out of shape 46 year old. Cardiac rehab went from January to March. I waited until I "graduated" rehab until I jogged, so had little preparation for the 5k. I walked about a third of it and finished. 36 minutes. For me, it was a huge victory over heart disease. Every run is like that for me. Running came later, if you can call my times "running".

Since you entered surgery in good physcial condition, I would think that you could move along sooner than I did. But please don't rush it. Plod along until you and your doctor are aure that the heart is ready. Make your recovery a one-way street. No backtracking allowed.

Do you keep track of your heart rate? Can the doctor give you an HR limit?
Glad that you are well enough to consider resuming running. vsvsvs

 

[Les]

Will,
I did squeeze out a 5K rather quickly after my first AVR ( but longer than 10 minutes after ) mainly in defiance of being stricken with Bacterial Endocarditis and losing my valve and most of the feeling in my left leg because of an aneurysm one week after the heart surgery. (So much for eating right and exercising...) My mantra is from Hawkeye Pierce: "I won't let the ******* win." It got me through that first 5K and subsequent running all these years, including the Chicago Marathon. My docs were in agreement of my stepping off the porch and pounding the pavement as soon as I felt I was ready. However, I take such an elephantine dosage of beta-blockers each day that I can never achieve a target heart rate. Thus, I am content to enjoy running either with thousands of others or just by myself, headphones blasting, and enjoying the scenery without worrying about times or pacing. Your body will let you know if you are going out too fast or too soon. Listen to it. Remember, you will always be faster than everyone else who isn't out there and take pride in the fact you have elected to keep exercising and not let heart surgery give you an excuse to lie around on the couch all day and feel sorry for yourself. Tom, Bill, Mark and I, along with a few others on this board are proud members of Tom's "Valvathoners" and we enjoy the trials and tribulations of all who bike, swim, run, row, whatever it is that keeps the blood flowing. There's still road left...get out there and use your part of it and keep us informed how you're doing. The best to you.

 

[William]

Thanks for all your advice! I guess that the best thing to do would be to contact my Cardio Doc and see what the max HR I should be at while running. I've got a heart moniter I can use, but have been neglectful about wearing it. Will

 

[Buzz Lanning]

Running post-surgery

Running post-surgery

Hi Folks, I did a lot of road races (5K, 10K, half mara, and one marathon) before my operation. I had surgery Dec 8 and did my first 5K tonight. I took it REAL easy and had no breathing problems, no chest pain, finished at 37:00 where as I was in the 22 range before. The question is this - how soon after your operation did you really push yourself in both training and racing instead of running just at a confortable pace? My doctor said it's OK to start jogging, but my concern is it OK to start running? Will

William,

First, you?re doing great running a 5K within 2 months (or so) after surgery! Second, your cardiologist should provide you any limitations.

In my case, I slowly increased my pace throughout my cardiac rehabilitation program. By 3 months, I was allowed to exercise at the levels required to achieve 85% of my maximum heart rate. Note: This level was based on two treadmill tests before and mid-way thru my cardiac rehabilitation program.

Today, almost 8 months after AVR, I?m running 5 miles again (~ 8 minute mile pace). I have no restrictions. My times have slowly decreased each month (in a very linear fashion). I?m hoping to run the Idaho Springs to Georgetown (Colorado) half-marathon this summer to celebrate my one-year anniversary!

In summary, you & your cardiologist will determine how hard you can run. I would recommend a maximum treadmill test before you push too hard . . .

Good luck!
Buzz

 

[William]

Thanks for the info Buzz. I got a voice message today from my cardio doc that said that was OK to start doing what I use to do, as far as exercising goes. I find myself able to keep up a slow pace for the distance, but when I start to speed up I can feel it, a lot more then before. Maybe I'll start some interval runs to get over it. Will

 

[tommy]

I'm jealous of you guys that went into surgery in good physical condition. I started from scratch, whereas you start somewhere in the middle. I have yet to run any race at 8 minute pace.

Still, I think that small but steady increments are a good idea. It was cardiac rehab that taught me that, and later applied it to running.

Buzz.....Good luck with the "half" this summer. I'll bet that will be beautiful........and hilly.

 

[Buzz Lanning]

Half-Marathon

Half-Marathon

Tom,

Actually, the Georgetown to Idaho Springs half-marathon is downhill; starting at 8,500 feet & finishing at 7,500 feet above sea-level. Although, the altitude will off-set some of the downhill advantage.

Thanks for the good wishes!
Buzz
P.S. - I've read several of your posts; you've had an excellent recovery!

 

[tommy]

Buzz,

Yikes. Downhill can be brutal on your quads. Good luck.