1 year Post Op update (by auld long distance runner)

autoazure · October 11, 2020, 03:45:54 PM

Well, it's been 1 year since my op. I have an annual checkup coming up so I will keep this brief. Absolutely a life-changing procedure for me, very few issues (all minor) and resolved quickly during my recovery. I am now running a steady 50 to 55 miles per week and have already completed the 1/2 Marathon distance in under 2 hours in training. No racing due to Covid however, just as well as recovery is a long process and one should not just dive in! At 64 years' old I am really appreciative of still being able to run every day without pain. This is also true for other physical activities such as heavy slab laying, gardening, working on and under cars etc and etc. I now have full range of motion in both hips and can bring my knees to my shoulders easily. I remain wary of doing too much for example increasing training distance and running too fast especially downhill, only time will tell. I will post results of my metal ion and x rays from my checkup.

Pat Walter · October 12, 2020, 08:38:59 AM

Congratulations on your 1 year anniversary. I hope you have many, many more! I am sure you will. Thanks for stopping by and giving us an update. I am so happy you are back to running. It wounds like you are doing great. I look forward to reading about many more anniversaries in the future. I wish you the best.
Pat

stevel · October 14, 2020, 12:15:15 PM

Do you monitor your heart rate during running?
I do and it is 155-160 when running 5 mph or 12 min/mile and 140-145 when running 4.5 mph or 13.33 min/mile.
I run on a treadmill at a 3% grade for about 45 minutes.
I am not short of breath or fatigued afterwards but I don't want to overdue it as the recommended athletic training heart rate for my age, 67, is about 130.

autoazure · October 14, 2020, 04:03:55 PM

Thank you for replying stevel, sorry, I have never used a heart rate monitor (even as a youngster) and at this age and fitness I can not go fast enough to be out of breath unless I run up steep hills hence my increase in hill work! I always tended to listen to my body and monitor how my breathing rate and leg strength felt. If I was totally gasping for air I was working too hard! Great to see you are also running in your 60s, I intend to keep it up into 70s and perhaps 80s?

petemeads · October 15, 2020, 04:11:31 AM

Hi Stevel - perhaps we need a new thread but basically I use HR since the devices became reliable, I can hit 165 as a reasonable maximum in a sprint finish at 5km and train around zones calculated by my watch - Base level stops at 130, Tempo about 145 and VO2 Max above that. For me, staying below 130 means a pace around 6:40 per km or 10.5 minute miles, 165 would get me 8 mph briefly.
Phil Maffetone has a training method online, aerobic base is built on mileage at 110 or 115 HR - but I can see that when walking!
What is your resting HR? Mine is 46, and I will be 70 at Xmas...

To Autoazure - keep up the good work, not sure how you manage 50+ miles a week!

stevel · October 15, 2020, 10:15:24 PM

Hi Petemeads, My resting heart rate averages 65. I visited my doctor for my annual physical today, and he said 160 was a good max and 130 was a good training rate. I also swim 20 laps or 1000 yards in one hour averaging 130-135, twice a week. I scheduled a stress ekg on a treadmill (slope and speed is gradually increased) next Wednesday to see how I do. I did this in 2004 and I reached a maximum of 170 in 12 minutes, 37 seconds, when I was age 50, and I was assessed as being in good aerobic condition, with negative symptoms for cardiac problems.