Back in the Saddle Again

Like Aerosmith's Steven Tyler, I'm back in the saddle again. Here's how I tackled a problem that almost ended my running "career".

This morning at 8:00 a.m., I eased into my five mile loop from my son's school in San Felipe del Agua, Oaxaca. From there, I wind past the Panteon (cemetary) and head up the incline towards the mountain range that borders the city of Oaxaca to the north.

One mile in, a steep incline spits me out of town and into the campo (countryside). I've hit my rhythm and prepare for the big 400 meter hill that lay in wait around the next bend. I'm feeling good, as recent runs have brought me near racing fitness.

Half a year ago, I didn't know if I'd ever have this exhilarating experience again. Most days, if I tried to run hard, I'd experience an irregular heart beat and I'd have to slow down. I'd recently been diagnosed with an electrical heart block, which means the electric signals that tell my heart when to beat were blocked on one side. My cardiologist assured me I could still run. However, I noted that if I experienced the irregular beat while running, I had to slow my pace.

I'm 56 years old, and I started formally running at age 15 in 1972. It's a huge part of me and I could barely believe I had this problem. I first felt the irregular beat at age 17 after running a P.R. in the indoor mile, but it never actually impacted my ability to run, and run hard.

I did the research and tried to mitigate the problem by cutting back on caffeine, sweets, alcohol and even marijuana! It all helped but did not solve the problem. It had just become more pronounced as I age.

This is where my sister, the well known nutritionist Judy Converse enters the picture. I mentioned my problem to Judy, and without missing a beat she recommends I try an amino acid supplement, Taurine, along with a magnesium supplement. It turns out Taurine has been used as an effective treatment for cardiac arrhythmia.

So here's a hats off to a nutritional solution to my problem! Researching it on the medical front, I found recommendations for a pacemaker, or an invasive procedure where your heart tissue is scarred in order to shock it into beating properly. I was not keen on either of these ideas! The medical industry offered zero information on a nutritional solution to my problem.

So I tried Taurine. The day after my first dose, I ran seven miles without incident.

The upshot of the whole thing, I can once again run a hard rhythm over my five mile, hilly course at 5600 feet in the altitude of Oaxaca, and I am a very happy camper!

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Oaxaca Altitude Run with Suicide Hill

My favorite run in Oaxaca, Mexico starts at just over 5000 feet in altitude from my house in Colonia Antiguo Aeropuerto. The loop is a tad under 7 miles. I wind my way north through the neighborhoods of Volcanes and San Felipe Del Agua, where I climb a steep 100 meter hill that places me at the edge of town at Parque Colosio. Thus far, I've chugged a couple miles climbing to about 5 - 5300 feet.

I've posted a video about the route here.

From there, I'm on dirt roads heading out of town towards the 9000 foot ridge just north of the city of Oaxaca. I'm just hitting my rhythm as I hit a killer hill, about 600 meters of a very steep pitch.

If my rhythm and fitness are good, I chug right up this monster. I'll admit, some days I can barely get one foot in front of the other. In any case, at the top, I'm rewarded with a panoramic view of the city of Oaxaca and the three mountain valleys that converge at the city. The hill plants you at about 56 - 5700 feet above sea level.

The run back to town continues along the Libramiento, a closed off ridge road skirting the side of the mountain. It ribbons along the slope, undulating rolling switchbacks that further challenge your stride. On a good day, I can maintain a consistent rhythm and pace through this part. The inclines aren't as severe as the earlier hill. Few cars make it up there, but there are cows, goats, other runners and bikers.