Ironman Triathlon

Hi All
Was looking for any on info on sport, in particular if anyone had ever completed the Ironman with a pacemaker. I am sure numerous people have and just wanted some advice when I found this site, which I think is a great idea.
In Short I have completed 2 Ironman triathlons before the dual lead medtronic was installed in Nov 08, and am dead keen to do one again. The cardioligist says I should, so I am looking for advice on doing it and also training with a heartrate monitor.

Regards

1 Comments

HR Monitor

by ElectricFrank - 2009-04-14 12:04:18

I don't know much about the Ironman (probably more like the Mushman).

Before you depend on a heartrate monitor be sure and check it out for correct readings. The pacemaker changes the shape of your ECG waveform, which can affect some monitors of the type that use electrodes. The pacemaker puts 1-2 pacing spikes in the waveform and monitor can read those as extra beats, or they can fool it into missing beats.

The infrared light type that read a blood pulse from a finger tip or ear lobe are affected. They have other problems, but none to do with the pacer.

Also, be sure your upper pacing limit will allow the HR you intend to have during the training.

frank

You know you're wired when...

You always have something close to your heart.

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