28:26 with no falls

I'm back to running after a short stint away due to a few issues... I ended up in the hospital the first week of January due to heart palpitations, bradycardia (slow heart rate), dizziness, exhaustion, falling and a slew of other symptoms. Well, after 2 days in the ER and hospital, multiple tests (CT, MRI, MRA, etc.) they diagnosed me with vertigo and a slow heart rate and set me free.

Interestingly enough, the day after, I went back to my doctor for a follow up and to start my "vertigo" physical therapy and he does a quick test and says "you don't have vertigo". Okay, back to square one. Followed up with my Cardiologist and he concurs; "it's not vertigo". He really thinks there is something going on with my heart. Between the mitral valve prolapse they found when I was pregnant 2 1/2 years ago and the new bradycardia (my heart rate is as low as 40 bpm at times), he isn't convinced that all the symptoms are for nothing. He thinks I have "neurocardiogenic syncope" which simply is a fainting disorder of sorts that is controlled by being able to recognize the symptoms and take measures to prevent an "episode" as they call it.

Well, as you can imagine, this put a bit of a hurdle in the middle of my quest for running greatness (i.e. finishing the Long Island 1/2 Marathon on May 2, 2010 - note slight exaggeration on the "greatness"). However, I was determined to get back to running as soon as possible. I had already signed up for the Winter Run Series and missed the first race so last Saturday, 1 week after being in the hospital, I decide to run 3 miles in my neighborhood to see if I can finish the race scheduled for the next day. Doc says I can run as long as I don't feel dizzy so I was all for it. 2 miles into the run I suddenly fall. I don't know what happened... maybe I missed a step or I blacked out. I have no clue because it happened so quickly. What I do know is I was right on the side walk in town on Main Street and there were a ton of people watching. So, I peel myself off the ground and keep running, hoping no one saw me. No one said anything but I know they were thinking "idiot". Now I'm running (or rather limping) along and finally make it home 1.1 miles and 15 minutes later. That was the slowest 1.1 miles I've ever done (I think). My whole side hurt where I fell and my foot, my good foot, the one that never hurts was killing me. Another episode of... plantar fasciitis! How exciting!!! I ice all day and night and still can't really walk in the morning. Missing another race in the series was killing me. But again, I was determined to make it the next week, with no falls.

Fast forward to this Saturday, I ran 3.1 miles in 30 minutes - not too bad. My foot hurt but I iced it and did the tennis ball stretch (rolling a tennis ball under your foot with pressure to loosen up the tendon). This morning, I was ready to go. Bundled myself up in my new gear that my wonderful husband bought for me for Christmas and drove myself all the way to Caumsett State Park on the north shore. It was cold but nice out until it started to drizzle. I started out pretty good, even faster than I thought. My first mile was 9:18, second mile was at 18 something and then the third mile was at 27 something. Finished the race at 28:26, my best time ever. I'm very excited and hopeful for all the tests I have to do this week to show that my "episode" earlier this month was just a passing issue.

Tomorrow I have an Echo-cardiogram, Tuesday - blood tests, Wednesday - Endocrinologist for Thyroid, Thursday - Stress Test... it's going to be a busy week!