6 Months 3000km's

[Arpy]

I havent posted for a while but today is my 6 month anniversary of the AVR so I thought I'd post where Im at on the recovery trail.

Initial 6 week walking programme - 230km
end of street
then
around the block
then
around several blocks
then
around the suburb
then
around several suburbs
then
into and out of town.

Now walking is great and all but

then I got the go ahead to ride.....

December 04 - 39km
January 05 - 709km
February - 579 km
March - 735 km
April - 530 km
May 05 - 284 km (to date)

Total to date ( 6 months) - 2873 km

Total including walking, cycling and a bit of kayaking - 3162km

Heart rate initially starting at around the high 90's and now into the high 50's at resting.

Initially my aim was for 3500km by the 12 month anniversary - that will now be blown out of the water. 5000km is now the goal and the reward will be to retire my current aging bike and lash out and buy a new one.

Its fair to say that this site / members of this site have been a great inspiration and motivating factor in the recovery and fitness programme. Im looking to compete in a few triathlons this coming summer following the examples set by many here.

Regards

Russell :D

[BillCobit]

Very impressive, Russell! That's a very nice recovery. Be sure to give us reports on the triathlons.

Great to see you are doing so well.

Regards

[PapaHappyStar]

Initially my aim was for 3500km by the 12 month anniversary - that will now be blown out of the water. 5000km is now the goal and the reward will be to retire my current aging bike and lash out and buy a new one.

Its fair to say that this site / members of this site have been a great inspiration and motivating factor in the recovery and fitness programme. Im looking to compete in a few triathlons this coming summer following the examples set by many here.

Regards

Russell :D

Thats great! I also want to get myself a new bike, there is a triathlon in a couple of months that I am aiming at as well -- but since I havent yet begun swimming or running I think I may not be in good enough shape to be competitive.

Regards,
Burair

[Mary]

I havent posted for a while but today is my 6 month anniversary of the AVR so I thought I'd post where Im at on the recovery trail.. . . .
Its fair to say that this site / members of this site have been a great inspiration and motivating factor in the recovery and fitness programme. Im looking to compete in a few triathlons this coming summer following the examples set by many here.

Regards

Russell :D

Russell,
Your post also is a great inspiration to me as it helps to keep my focus on the future,
and the unlimited possibilities offered by a new aortic valve!

[Les]

Russell,
Very impressive. I hope your recovery program will inspire many others to get off the couch and get moving! Valve Replacement is NOT the end...it is the beginning. Great going!

[hensylee]

Russell, that's super. Congratulations. It is good when we hear from a VR member we haven't seen for awhile. So far today I have seen 3 'oldies'.

[PJmomrunner]

Good for you, Russell! Keep at it!

[Arpy]

Thanks Guys.

Like Les said "Valve Replacement is NOT the end...it is the beginning".

I guess with the incremental degradation of valves (yeah yeah I know thats a generalisation!) we all tend to reset what we regard as normal over the course of time and probably attribute our gradual slowdown to getting that bit older, putting on a bit of weight etc. when the more sinister stenosis, regurgitation and calcification was having a greater affect than we were happy to admit ( ahhhhh... denial where would we be without it!!!)

After the AVR, for me at least, it was like someone opened up the gate valve and let the blood flow - which I guess is esentially what happened.

So whereas before I was flat out (almost literally) walking the kids 650m to school on level ground at 2 months I had endless energy and now at 6 months I'm either shaming or inspiring several "Non valvers" at work to ride in or participate in a bit more exercise.

Admittedly they are at a disadvantage without the "Go Fast" stripe down the front!!!

Regards to all

Russell

Bill: I trust your training for the Ironman is proceeding as you'd like and that all disciplines are on track for the race

Burair : "but since I havent yet begun swimming or running I think I may not be in good enough shape to be competitive"
I'm also much in the same boat at this stage with an abundance of riding but minimal running and swimming - good luck with your training.

[BillCobit]

Bill: I trust your training for the Ironman is proceeding as you'd like and that all disciplines are on track for the race


Doing OK, Russell.

I took a trip to Lake Placid at end of April to ride the bike course. It was windy and cold, and I was sloooooooow. I rode 1.5 loops of the 2 loop course at a pace that would get me DNF'd on race day. But it was very early in the season, and I was not in good form at that point. Still, if I could have achieved adequate pace while not yet in shape, it would have relieved my anxiety a bit. My knees were bothering me for a while after all the climbing, but I seem to have worked through that. I'm continuing to make the bike my training priority.

I'm also happy to report that I haven't injured anything yet, nor have I fallen asleep at my desk so far.

Just a little over 9 weeks to go!

http://www.ironmanusa.com/images_course/usabikepro.gif

[Arpy]

[QUOTE My knees were bothering me for a while after all the climbing, but I seem to have worked through that.
I'm also happy to report that I haven't injured anything yet, nor have I fallen asleep at my desk so far.QUOTE]

Coming from Western Australia hills are alnost non existent over here so I guess you look on the bright side and know that once you have got up them its a little easier on the downhill run!

I hope that the injury free run continues throughout the training and the race.

Good Luck

Russell