Coincidental Heart Club

I forgot to mention that Dave's excellent 4:04 in the 3 Peaks on Saturday was gadget assisted.

 

Remember the pacemaker and heart monitor episode before the 2007 Jungfrau Marathon?  Well the only other person I know to have one of these monitors was Dave and he had both the three day and seven day monitors at the same time as me.  This was completely coincidental. Well he went on to have his heart zapped to stop it beating irregularly.  That worked for a couple of years but now its back and he has had another 7 day monitor fitted.  He ran the 3 Peaks with this thing strapped to his chest.  

Talking of coincidences our race numbers in the 3 peaks were invertions of each other.  Dave was 168 and I was 891. Wierd. Also, number 666 was a guy called Wulf.  Now that can't be coincidence. 

Talking of heart monitors.  I've only recently (two years late) found out that the results from my 7 day test (back in April 2007) were fine (in so far as they don't want to fit a pacemaker).  Nice of them to let me know.

While I'm on a roll I'd just like to note that there was a handful of runners from my local club doing the 3 peaks on Saturday.  One even got onto page one of the results sheets.  Many years ago I went on a couple of training runs with the club but they weren't very good so I didn't bother joining.  They all beat me on Saturday so now they're too good so I won't bother joining!  Only joking. I may wonder down one training night if I ever get back in the UK on a week day.   

Keep on running (or at least thinking about it).

Miles Out

Maybe I was a bit too enthusiastic the other week and got carried away with the miles as I'm now suffering the consequences. When I first did the canal run into work three weeks ago it took me 50 minutes. It's now taking me 53 minutes. My average heart rate on these runs has also dropped from 139 to 127. That suggests to me that I've overcooked it in the previous weeks.

In the three weeks coming back from injury I did 40km, 40km and 81km all at 7 min mile(ish) pace. Previously I hardly ever did more than 15-25 km a week (and still somehow managed sub 90 min half marathons) so this was a big step up in mileage (kilometreage?) for me. I think I need to be a bit more realistic and focus on the quality rather than the quantity.

Also, I'd stopped enjoying it. In the last twelve years at home I've not run the same route twice thanks to the plethora of paths and bridleways around us. On the work run I was running the same boring route 4 time a week.

Regarding the 7-day heart monitor. I handed it in on Monday and have not yet heard from the hospital, unlike the last time when they rang me up the day after. I reckon no news is good news.

Toodle pip.

All wired up and no place to go

Five down and two to go. I had the monitor fitted on Monday for my seven day retest. It's not going to get any prizes as a fashion accessory. This is a slightly different model to the previous one and has a coiled wire loop around the neck. It's difficult to hide and looks like I've got a secret service wire tap so I had to wear a tie all week to hide it. The monitor and the other wire (see picture) clip on to pads stuck to the chest.

There's a button in the middle that you press if you think you're having an 'episode' and last night I accidently unclipped the monitor and in my rush to clip it back on I unintentionally pressed the button. They'll think my heart stopped beating and whip me in for a pacermaker if I don't tell them what happened! I'll be glad to see the back of it on Monday.

Anyway the running's going well still. Did the work run (7 miles out, 8 back) on Tuesday. Didn't do it on Thurs because it was the lovely Rosie's harumpty something birthday so I had to be home on time but got out for a short lunchtime run. Will try and get out with the dog today and stretch my legs for a couple of hours on the road tomorrow.

Ich lerne Deutsch

Well, after the inital fuss and panic from the cardiologists I've yet to hear about my seven day heart monitor. I suspect that they are trying to fit me in to their existing appointments. So, in the meantime I'm busy learning German while driving to and from work. It beats listening to the banal tripe on the radio these days. Is it me or is even Radio 4 annoying as hell, especially that John Humphrys? His permanently confrontational attitude winds me up something chronic.

Anyway, the CDs I use are excellent. They are by Michel Thomas (amazing life story). I learnt French with his CDs last year. I learnt more in an hour with them than I learnt in four years at school. Criminal!

Haven't been running since Saturday as my calves have been aching. That's what taking six weeks off running does for you. It's both my calves so I don't think it's anything to do with the recent calf strain in my left leg. I'll hopefully get out tomorrow (Wed) night.

On a more poignant and pertinent point it would have been Tony's 43rd birthday today. Indeed it is his twin brother Bob's birthday today. Happy birthday bros.

Auf Wiedersehen pet!