Posts Tagged ‘stress test’

…or Echo Stress test, whatever the order is.  Anyway, as expected, nothing was discovered, though it was an interesting experience.

First, they stick a bunch of things on you and look at your heart via ultrasound, take a bunch of pictures, then stick a bunch more stuff on you and you get on the treadmill.

They start you walking and then every few minutes, they increase the incline and pump a little more speed.  For my age, they would ordinarily stop the mill when my heart rate hits 145 but since I’m Runner Chick, they let me keep going.  I was on there for 20 minutes total though I didn’t reach my max HR (193 is what I’ve clocked a couple times), only reaching 186.

Also, you’re not allowed to take your hands off the bar in front of you (I think they’re afraid people will be whisked off the back or will faint or something).  So I learned that it’s a major pain in the ass running without the use of your arms.

While on the treadmill, they periodically take your blood pressure and mine behaved perfectly.  Then it was back for another lie-down with the ultrasound machine.  I got mucho kudos from the doctor and technicians for being such a healthy specimen, and they were all so sweet that when I left, hugs were exchanged (talk about your strange bonding experience).

Of course, it’s fabulous that I’m so fit, but leaves me with nothing solid on which to blame the collapses.   C’est la vie, it’s what I expected and now that the evil summer is over, I’ll just attribute it to weather and not let it worry me until next year.

Latest Runs
Wed – 7 easy @ 8:44, Thurs – 6 easy @ 8:28 + stress test, Today – frickin’ hard tempo intervals.

Actually, it was a solid workout albeit tough thanks to my legs feeling yesterday’s treadmill hill fun coupled with 23mph gusts of wind.  For the wind alone, I would have rescheduled but tomorrow’s a huge regatta which means forget the bike path and also, I want my 17 on Sunday to be on fresh legs.  On the good side, it was a lovely 55 degrees.

The workout was 9.5mi w/ 3 x 2mi @HP, 2min rec’s.  Warmup was 2@8:12, Cooldown was 1@8:20, average for the entire run 7:40.

Starting directly into the wind, the first mile sucked @7:21, but after that things improved.  The 2mi splits went 7:16, 7:11 and 7:08, avg 7:11.  Not bad, really.  Also, my HR was lower than usual for that pace, so double not bad.

And with that, I return to sloth mode with a rest day tomorrow.   Have a great weekend, friends.  May you enjoy some fine running and Halloween stuff, if that’s your thing.  Personally, I can’t wait till this silly holiday is over so I can stop thinking that stuffed scarecrow doll in overalls on Green Street is not a human being.   It’s annoying being tricked every damn time.

Later, loves.