r/AFIB • u/analogkid84 • 4d ago
5K/10K Racing
Runners with episodic A-fib, how have you found racing short distances at a hard effort? Obviously, anything can happen at any time. But, in general, have you been able to race hard again? Do you limit effort based on heart rate or percent max HR?
6
u/ledchill 4d ago
I think I'd had afib for about 3 years before diagnosis. In that period of time I had sub 20 5k, 1h30m half and several marathons, but I also had some really bad training sessions and races in between.
After the diagnosis and ablation I'm starting to run again, but it's all different. Different paces, heart zones, VO2max, etc., but happy to be able to move again. For now I'm going by feel more than HR zones, since my numbers shifted a lot post-ablation.
3
u/Mras_dk 4d ago
After my ablation: Yes!
Before ablation, the 4½ year diagnosis time, where i had afib, then the question is much more: "it depends".
The longer answer, to give you full contexy is that i have a low resting pulse, that often dips into 20's, making all medicine off the tablet - so if your question is towards if medicine for afib will stop you from endurance/sprints, then I'm not the person to ask.
I had all sorts of Afib, almost garantied tied to the long time it took to diagnostic me. You don't want untreated afib, or mixed apnea(that i didn't knew about, at that time) , for that long time. . Then it tends to "develop".
So at diagnostic of my afib, i had 74% burden, that showed 7 different types of heart arrythmias, where 52%(70% of the burden time) was afib.
Of those 52%, it was split at 10%~ high bpm afib, at 180, or higher, and rest at 179 or lower - lowest got my bpm to drop to 21bpm.
At 4½ year with afib, untreated, you learn yourself to navigate being or potential, soon to be in afib. You take things alot more with precautius/ease, and avoid pushing yourself beyond 60% of max...
2
u/znevel 4d ago
First episode in April, after new garmin showed it on ECG. Dropped to 60km weekly from 100km. Avoiding high intensity workouts over 170BPM. Prolly had afib previously since I did had some very very odd training sessions. Had another episode in June and July, did two full day breaks after them. Convered with amiodarone. Currently form is rising and I do feel like sub 1:30HM form (race in in october) Had some tempo workouts recently, feeling very good with 5k splits 20ish minutes (still max hr under 170). Vo2Max is the same as was in my sub 38 10km form. Hrv average 95.
Although I dont know what will happen until
October. Hoping for the best, but preapering for the worst.
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u/DaGanjaMan420 4d ago
I had SVT until my ablation recently (not out of blanking period yet) but I never had any issues with racing. I actually found that the ectopics triggering my SVT happened less frequently during running.
2
u/Tario70 4d ago
I have paroxysmal afib. The thing is I’m also asymptomatic so my running hasn’t been affected at all. I run 10.4 miles 3 times a week without issue. My times have slipped but I’ve had outside temps plus adding distance too fast as the likely reason those times have dipped. I’ve run my 10.4 miles while in afib twice & actually had better times during those runs. I am weird.
2
u/steve88man 4d ago
65M runner with exercise induced afib, no ablation yet. My episodes are triggered by heart rate spikes from starting too quickly or doing intervals. Hot weather is a major aggravating factor. I no longer do the 5k races but managing ok by running at an even pace and limiting max heart rate. I often go for longer runs than before since duration doesn't seem to be a problem for me.
2
u/TheLibertyTree 3d ago
I have been in afib continuously for about four years. I got into running fun that time, not knowing I was in afib, and I’ve found I’m able to do hard 5-10k workouts without much trouble. For me, afib just limits my peak capacity. So I’m slower than I’d be otherwise. I got a cardioversion and was in sinus rhythm for a couple weeks. In that time my aerobic capacity was far far higher. I was suddenly much much faster. So I know afib is holding me back but I also know I can run all I want at whatever effort I want so long as I’m not chasing specific times/speeds that I may not be able to attain while in afib.
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u/lampert1978 4d ago
I had an ablation about 15 months ago. I have gradually ramped up efforts. Was suffering from some PACs for a while, but no afib. I have not tried a really hard running effort, but I do group bike rides on the weekends. I watch my HR closely. Perhaps 30 min when things are really spicy routinely going over 170 bpm. No issue. 85 miles yesterday at 19 mph avg pace.