A follow up on my heart

After a month, I finally got my ECG result from my Annual Physical, and test say I have Sinus Bradycardia.  Basically, it’s a pulse-rate below 60 bpm; in my case its 54.

I have read about it and its common among trained athletes, same with the enlarged-heart issue that my X-ray showed (which by the way made me hold back to running).

To quote wise geek:

Sinus bradycardia symptoms can vary. Aside from a slow heart rate, patients may encounter rdizziness, vertigo, lightheadedness, hypertension, and syncope; chest pain, shortness of breath, and an inability to exercise may also be experienced. Irregular heat beats can also occur, including junctional, atrial, or ventricular ectopic rhythms. Fainting may also result should the heart delay to a very slow beat. It can be caused by choking as well, which is known as the vasovagal reflex — since sinus bradycardia patients already have a slow heartbeat, when the heart slows even further during choking, fainting can result.

Now can I say that I don’t have any cardio-related issues?  Assuming my conditions were related on the less-healthy side, I think I couldn’t possibly go through my run-bike activities and simply collapse or something (knock on wood!)

Although, relying on Dr. Google is not a very reassuring means to know my real condition.  (Soon, I just have to find it in my heart to do it) I will have to get this checked to confirm.  But for now, I’m still hanging on to my run-bike training.  I skipped weekend ride yesterday as I got a broken seat clamp that was due to over-tightening.  I’m glad it broke while I’m not on it.  Otherwise would have been a very awkward way to ride back home.

So while I have these conditions and recommendations about my heart that I’m just brushing aside, there’s the challenge:

The Alaska Cycle Philippines (40km bike) on May 18; and the Run United 2 (21km run) on June 1.  This comes as a challenge as I’ll be training for both races at the same time.  While I enjoy running (but not as much as biking), weather’s sooo not very good for both.

First thing first - I have to register in RU2, and this proves to be the first challenge I have to overcome.

TMI blog survey - a short look at my current state of mind

I chanced up on one of my favorite blogger, Adam for his TMI post and I thought I'd do it as well (even if I wasn't tagged in it like all the bloggers who did it).  I had the time to do it and quite enjoyed doing it.

Its true that the social network age makes us, at times, post too much than we really have to.  And this blog just rubs it in.  So while I know that you won't really care that much about my response, if you have the time to think a bit, do it yourself! :)

TMI Blog survey

1. What are you wearing?

My lucky sleeves that I used to wear whenever I have a job interview.  And a set of pants that I used to wear 10 years ago when my waist-line was the same as most girls my age (yes, I shrunk back to size)

2. Ever been in love?

Yes and still am, to the same woman and a kid

2014 Valentines'

3. Ever had a terrible breakup?

Yes, as with the rest of terrible breakups, it was terrible.

4. How tall are you?

5’4” but could get to 5’6” with a special shoe that I don’t wear too often

5. How much do you weigh?

125 lbs, same as I was 5 years ago but with a bulging tummy

6. Any tattoos?

No, and I don’t plan on getting any

7. Any piercings?

Yes, left ear during college, I don’t know if its still there, will check tonight.

8. Favorite song?

Right now its “let it go” as we sing this every night

 

with their tiaras while singing to the tune of Frozen

9. Quality you look for in a partner?

Supportive, in every aspect of my inconsistent life

10. Favorite quote?

One that’s signed and agreed by a client (cha-ching!)

11. Favorite actor?

One who takes the blows and always end up winning in the end

12. Loud music or soft?

Soft music definitely

13. Where do you go when you’re sad?

I don’t get sad that much, but I do go out of the office when I do.

14. How long does it take you to get ready in the morning?

This morning was 10 minutes prior to running

15. Ever been in a physical fight?

Once, and it turned out to be fine for me, but that was a long time ago and it was a group fight.  I don’t see myself doing that again.

16. Turn on?

Good sense of humor

17. Turn off?

Don't like diva's. I don't know how to call it, but pretty much to this one 

18. Fears?

Heights and falling of ‘em

19. Last thing that made you cry?

Disciplining my daughter, just last month, I think.  As much as I don't want it, just had to make a point; nothing physical though, let me be clear on that.

20. Last time you said you loved someone?

Last night to my daughter

21. Meaning behind your YouTube name?

Just my name

22. The relationship between you and the last person you texted?

My wife informing her that I’m near the place where I'd meet her

23. Favorite food?

Pizza-pasta

24. Place you want to visit?

A good, conducive spot to run, with good runners and a nice weather, similar to my San Sebastian run

 Do you have a crush?

At my age I don’t’ believe in this anymore.  But I do admire people’s personalities.

26. Last time you kissed someone?

This morning.

27. Last time you were insulted?

In-my-face kind, can’t remember.  But at work, most of the time.

28. Favorite piece of jewelry?

My wedding ring that I don’t get to wear anymore, but its still my favorite.

There it is my version of TMI, quite fun reading it.  I'm sure I'll have a lot of laughs on my back-reads. #enjoythelittlethings

Injured... again

Last week was a great week for run-bike.  I logged 33kms total run for the week and 43km on a bike ride.  This may look low for an avid runner/biker but given my current fitness level, this is high-level.

sudden peak in running workout this week

My usual weekly mileage (since I got the bike) was around 15-20 km.  That consists of 3-4 runs per week, so basically its just a usual, morning run, just enough to sustain a bit of fitness.

Last week with the holiday Wednesday, I managed to clock in 18kms, which was just supposed to be a 10km or a 10-miler.  Given that I still had enough, I squeezed in a few hundred meters.

It was a good feeling to run that distance again.  I fell in love again.

Come Saturday, we cancelled our usual active day on account of tamaditis of the wife.  This was an opportunity to run again – so I did a 10k.  At around 7k, I felt tired and close to finishing I felt like I’m about to bonk.  Just the same, I finished strong.

Sunday came along.  Of course it’s the usual bike-day, so I went along with it.  Usual route was at MOA – where bikers and runners are free.  I decided to up the effort a bit and do couple more intervals than the usual.  It was a good ride.

But that’s where it hit me, and it hit me hard.  I’m now down with the chest-cold, I feel tired, and my knees feel weak.  Normally it would be sore legs – I would choose this over weakness of my knees.  Although this came to me given the mileage and the increased effort in my bike intervals, I would assess this if it came from it (too much too soon), or if it was my form.

For now, my new best friend is Ibuprofen.  I took one as I can’t function well in the work place.  Chest cold is still here and I find it painful to talk.  I might need to get some fruits today as well.

I’ll do recovery run on Wednesday again.  I will have to give my body enough time to recover.

LTO registration and more run-bike updates

(late post)

I just got back to the office after a very irritatingly hot registration I did for my car.  Its April, second week and Monday’s all I have to work on it to avoid the additional penalty if I come in late.  Now why the heck on a Monday?  Tuesday’s coding, Wednesday’s a holiday and Thursday-Friday I’m in La Union.  So it’s a pretty busy week and I had to squeeze that in today.

Irritating in the sense that it takes an average of 6 minutes per vehicle for the emission testing!  I came there serving #19 and I’m #29.  So it took me 1 full-hour to be tested and another 10 minutes to get billed.

Anyway, after that was a slightly faster pace (although it was already almost 11:00am and the sun’s up high) with a few under-the-sun process of taking the engine and chassis number.  Good thing the stencil guy didn’t bother taking the engine number anymore as it is very much hidden in the engine.  One thing to note was the public assistance desk officer who got my papers and told me to just wait in the waiting area.  Now before that “helpfulness” will set you back a few hundred-pesos, but at the end of it, didn’t even look at me for anything.  I now believe that our government has a chance.  Even the stencil-guy didn’t even wink.

After that, true to the public assistance desk officer just handed me a small piece of paper indicating the window number and price to pay, just waited a few minutes and I was called.

Unfortunately similar to last year’s, there isn’t any available stickers.  It’s a just a stamp on my OR and I was out.  Basically took me around 2-2.5 hours to process – could’ve been faster if there were other available emission testing around.  So this set me back for P3, 280 .00 (almost similar to a Shimano R078 shoe):

1. Registration fee – P1,930
2. TPL Insurance – P 950
3. Emission testing – P400

It’s a good thing this just happens every year.  This was my first time to do this by myself.  Usually I have my dad do this for me as he has more time than me, but there’s always a first time, and I’m glad I did it (well, I’m back in the office now, comfortable).

Soooo that’s that!  Now for the more exciting stuff

Well, running has taken the back-seat now that we have been consistent with the weekend active fun day.  So the first we did the run-and-play-in-the-park-then-eat-at-Jollibee day, then we two consecutive run-bike-throw-stones-at-the-river weekends.

With that, there’s no more LSD.  It is true that I enjoy weekend active fun day more than the LSD, but there has to be something I can do to maintain my fitness level.  I keep on doing those 5k morning runs (at 5:40+/- pace).  But now I don’t know if I can sustain that for even a 10k!

Good thing for a holiday this April 9, I guess I can do at least 10k or better a 10-miler at best.  Let’s see how it goes. (update - yes, I did a good 18k unforced run)

Been a long time since I did a 33k/week run and this had me beaten up!

For now I’m consistent with my weekend bike rides.  And I feel I’m improving as it gets along.  And I SHOULD, as I AM spending quite a lot on this.

I’m looking forward to that brick training.  I guess if I can manage to man-up this weekend, I’ll know where I’m at. (update - no, I didn't get the brick.  I did get my body beaten up - which means training backlog again!)