http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Endurance+cycling+tied+to+lasting+heart+damage-a0139678542

Runners, read the last sentence of this one.

http://www.roadbikerider.com/stresstest.htm

Runners, for marathoning and hill running this applies to you too.

Been doing searches and lots of reading.  These two sites are representative of what you will find and what the best researchers have put out there.  The jist of these is that LONG INTENSE (>3 hours) riding/running may increase your chance of a heart attack....through in age and/or family history...you are an accident waiting to happen.  I know that very well.

In my recovery...I'm on day 36...I'm up to riding 13+ miles in an hour at HR = 100 bpm.  I'm doing 3-4 hours of light aerobic work, stationary cycling and fast walking, per week.  Doing some light core work with low BP exercises, some light leg weight work, too.  Right after this email, I'm doing my first road ride in my neighborhood at ~10-12 mph for ~20-30 minutes just to see how it feels.  I intend to keep building that up.  Learn from what I'm thinking....here is my current plan:

1 - I will wait till after my 18 Sept meet with my cardiologist before I start any intensity riding with a HR above 120 for more than an hour to an hour and a half.  Keep my weekly training volume to ~4-5 hours.

2 - I will push to have him give me a 12 lead EKG stress test again...preferably cycling, but I will take running...to be sure there is nothing funny going on.

3 - I will push to have ultrasound testing or any other testing he thinks is appropriate to be sure I can exercise safely on a bike.

4 - I will likely stop doing any rides over 3 hours...I will stick to 50 milers and less as well as stop doing full sprints up hills or otherwise with max HR.  But, I'm open to more riding, faster riding if I pass the first 3 tests and it is his opinion I can do more.

5 - Be aware of all the symptoms that precede a heart attack: unexpected fatigue, breathlessness, dizzyness, passing pain in shoulder, arms, chest, frankly any general malaise that is out of the ordinary should have you being more focused and listening better to your body.  I experienced the breathlessness 2-3 days before, passed it off, but that memory helped me decide I was having a heart attack while it was still developing...I got help by the time it was beginning to be dangerous and painful.

BTW: If I get a clean bill on 18 Sept...I intend to ride either the 25 or 50 miles of either the SFC or HFH...I absolve GCC of any and all liability, here and now for all to see.  If I can do that...I will be enjoying the whole thing as a celebration of being back on the road with the rubber side down.

What do you bet Lance is putting together a team with a large percentage of 30-40 years aged riders??? These wily old dogs will be tough to beat in 2010. That keeps me inspired, too.

Spin the hills...Bob Howland