4 halfs on

After Knysna I got into a rhythm – a month rest and then start training for another half marathon. So it works out to about three a year which was manageable all through 2015. I ran the Two Oceans half which was a personal victory because of no afib throughout the run. Add to that the atmosphere, scenery and vibe and it was the most fun you could have while going through so much pain. My friends ran the 55k so my achievement was my own but it felt great to have ticked that off my list.

Midyear I was back in Knysna and bettered my time marginally. Again – no afib and I felt healthy. My third half in 2015 was my favourite though. I flew down to Oudtshoorn, woke up early the next morning for the ride on the ostrich truck out to the start and stood in the cold with my rusk and my blanket. It was a downhill run and spectacularly beautiful, ending in the little town of De Rust with a celebratory Coke and roosterkoek. Once again an awesome run with no afib – just sore legs.

It takes some time for my heart rate to settle in every run and it never really goes above 140 bpm thanks to the verapamil and the tambacor. Which means I’ll probably never do a sub 2 hour half marathon. But I am loving it and have my doctor’s approval. He’d still like to do another ablation but as long as I don’t try out a marathon, he’s happy. London 2017 may be calling.

I’m busy training for another Two Oceans, Vic Falls in June and Gun Run in Cape Town in September and feel great that I have found my rhythm. Not sure if my running is shortening my life span (or extending it) but I am doing what I love again.

Keeping it down with style

Running with afib is a bit of a mind&^%$#. You have to constantly try and regulate your heartbeat through either slowing down or regulating your breathing. It’s confusing as the drugs are keeping your rate artificially low and you’re not sure if it’s good or bad for you. Regardless one has time on your hands when running so I play constant games in my head to try and regulate the beat. I’ve set my own limit at 150, even though I should safely be able to push it to 175. It’s just that margin that creates the buffer and makes me feel in control. When I see it inching up to 150 I relax my shoulders and to a passerby must have the sloppiest running style imaginable. I lean forward on the uphill with loose arms swinging about and bend my knees on the downhills to reduce impact, all of which makes me look like it’s my first day on the road. A friendly attitude to runners or commuters going the other way keeps me calm, I keep telling myself. Which all results in me being the biggest geek on the road.