The All Clear and Needing to Trust God – Part 6 of Series on Journey to see what is up with my Heart/Health

After no heart issues in the last 8 weeks it was time for my CT-Angiogram (Heart Scan with Contrast) as my cardiologist wanted to rule out blockages or other issues in the heart itself.  With my Cholesterol being high by the standards most follow – even with great HDL and low Triglycerides and very low LPa – and a CAC score of 103 he wanted to rule out issues usually attributed to those things.  In truth in looking at the CTA and what it can find I would say they should just skip a CAC if they are concerned – more on that when I talk about the results – but it is usually the case that to get a CTA covered by insurance you need a CAC over 100, high cholesterol and other factors – I guess thankfully I have those as it was covered.  I did listen to a doctor talk about why Insurance does not like to pay for the CTA initially is that 40-60% of first heart attacks are fatal, I did look up some info and saw 30-50% but close, thus while a CTA might help if they do not do it they save as often it is after a heart attack when a CTA is approved.  Bottom line if you are having issues a CAC test may be good but try and advocate for a CTA if you are concerned.  The other reason I would push for a CTA is my CAC score during the CTA was 10 – a 90% decrease – and not sure if it is because a different and more precise machine, actual drop or some other reason.  My initial guess is the CTA was more accurate.  The issue is if you get a CAC above 100 most doctors go into the “standard of care’ process and Statins are prescribed among possible other medications.  Again, this was just for info so you can ask the right questions.

 

A little info on a CTA as I had a scan with contrast for another issue a year or so ago and had no issue.  For this one they warned me that there would be a bad taste in my mouth, might get a little headache and that I may feel like I wet myself.  Did not have this when I did one before but sure did this time.  Thankfully the test is quick as the bad taste made me a little nauseous and did get a little headache.  As for the feeling of wetting myself  - well that warm feeling sure did happen – thankfully they warned me.  One thing the technicians were commenting on was that most people they deal with need medication to slow the heart down as it needs to be, I think I was told, under 60bpm.  With my resting HR at low 40’s my cardiologist said I would not need them.  Well, on the table during the test my HR was 43 and that helps with better pictures since the heart is not moving as much so the technician was happy and I was happy as did not need medication.

 

Here is the info from my CTA:

Coronary artery calcification findings:

·      The total calcium score is 10 indicating mild (CAC 1-100) calcified plaque in the coronary tree.

       o   Left main 0

       o   LAD 10  (Was 70 on first CAC)

       o   LCx 0  (Was 30 on first CAC)

       o   RCA 0 

 

Grading Scale for Plaque Burden: Angiographic Findings: 

·      The coronary anatomy is left dominant.

       o   An interesting one as puts me in the minority at like 8%

       o   Also, can have implications with surgery as there is a higher have a higher risk of perioperative myocardial infarction during cardiac surgery

       o   So good to know this 

·      Left Main: No significant disease gives rise to LAD and circumflex

·      LAD: Mild nonobstructive extraluminal plaque gives rise to 1 bifurcating diagonal 

·      LCX: Mild luminal irregularities dominant vessel posterior circulation gives rise to 4 obtuse marginal branches and PDA

·      RCA: Small nondominant vessel posterior circulation with mid free wall bifurcation bifurcation 

 

Noncoronary Cardiac Findings:

·      Cardiac valves: Aortic valve is trileaflet. There is no thickening or calcification in the aortic and mitral valves.

·      Pericardium: The pericardial contour is preserved with no effusion, thickening, or calcifications.

·      Left ventricle: Calculated LVEF 67%

·      Left atrial appendage: No thrombus

·      Non-cardiac findings reported separately by radiology. 

IMPRESSION:

·      Minimal (1-24%) 1 vessel disease. CAD RADS 1

·      Coronary calcium score 10

·      No non-atherosclerotic coronary abnormalities

·      LV systolic function (calculated LVEF 67%)

◦ A normal LVEF is typically between 50% and 70%.

◦ An LVEF of 67% is considered normal, indicating that the left ventricle is functioning well and effectively pumping oxygen-rich blood to the body.

◦ A LVEF of 67% suggests that the heart is in good condition and is not showing signs of heart failure.

 

The takeaway from all this, and the direction my cardiologist wants to go, is to just keep an eye on things and no need for medication.  I will say I was pleased with my doctor on the initial consultation that while he talked about Statins – this was before my CTA and based on my blood test and CAC score of 103 – he did not push them and even commented that with me as an athlete I would not likely react well to them.  I was very thankful for this as means that while  he might have a Standard of Care protocol he also listens and understands my situation.  Also, while there may be minimal plaque at 67 and not having always been one who ate well this shows my high Cholesterol which most would say puts me at great risk shows I am not as they would assume by simply looking at individual numbers.  A big reason the things need to be looked at holistically and not mechanistically as the usual “Standard of Care” does.

 

I was told I can go back to training and I did ask if I can also ride, row or row, hard as I did before and was given the go ahead.  But was told to keep an eye on things and continue to use my Frontier HRM and track with the ECG it creates my activities.  From this I will continue as was starting to work at before and move to a more Polarized plan but likely at a  70/30 level till work back up to more time/miles as when under 10 hours the 80/20 is not the same.  I need to be careful to not overdo it as I am pretty good at doing and know when to push and when to not.  I may do a long ride in October and even then I need to do it for fun and not speed so as to simply enjoy the ability to take part.  I need to realize that at the end of the day I ride, row and run because I enjoy it and need to do all I can to keep doing so.  Will I race, probably but with an eye on my health and being ready to throttle back as need be.

 

In all this as I move forward I need to, as Proverbs 16:3 says, 

 

“Commit your works to Yahweh
And your plans will be established.”

Proverbs 16:3

 

to commit my plans to God and trust He will guide.  Now while some may wonder how this can be and is it some sort of incantation theology.  Well, it is not as to trust in God and is plans is to use wisdom, God granted wisdom, to seek out what needs to be done and trust God will reveal the path. While God can, and does still, perform miracles and divine leading more often than not HE simply uses means to reveal what needs to be done.  This happens by reading, studying and discussing all I can on what I may be dealing with and seek wisdom in putting it all together in a manner that glorifies God and leads to what God has for me to do.

 

I will post more on this as things take place that relate to it.  But may be longer between them but for sure will share more after my follow up visit in late January of 2027.

Past Posts in Series

• Part 1 – Plans Change: Be Ready for Them  
• Part 1B – What I Meant to Add to Part 1  
• Part 2 – All Means All  
• Part 3 – Sleep, Helmets and Anxiety
• Part 4 - Learning Patience
• Part 5 - No Excuse to Not Exercise

  Click on images for more information and if you want more info on OFM check out this post: 

• What is OFM (Optimized Fat Metabolism)

To order Vespa you can go here and use coupon code - tkonvalin15 -   for 15% off.

No Excuse to Not Exercise, How Much and How Hard is a Different Matter – Part 5 of Series on Journey to see what is up with my Heart/Health

I have heard over and over in my 54 years of running and 45 years riding:

• Running will ruin your knees
• Riding that much is bad for your heart – oh I can hear that one now:)
• We were not made to do such extreme things – might ask those in the past who did extreme things just to survive.

Oh, and there are others but the point is people all too often take the bad outcomes of others and instead of seeking an in-depth reason as to why they happened so as to learn use them as reasons/excuses to not partake in the activity at all.  The fact I am having what appear to be heart issues and have been running for 54 years and riding for 46 is not so much, in my opinion, related to having taken part in those activities for such a long time but that I was not wise in how I undertook them.  Truth is many that started when I did no longer do so but I see my longevity as a blessing from God.  Also, and this is important, my dietary habits for much of the time I have participated in sport was not the best and my being in shape and young, well for a while, allowed me to overcome the issues my diet was doing inside.  Changing how I eat has only been in the last 8-10 years and while it can halt or slow issues it is hard to undo what one did in the past – although I think that is still up for debate in some areas.

 

What I want to address here is that more often than not when one gets injured or has other issues with running, riding or even rowing it is not necessarily the activity, it can be, but how one went about it.  These activities when done correctly do not harm but will often reveal weaknesses and if one does not work to strengthen or correct those areas of weakness then yes partaking in activities can exacerbate the issues one already has.  Then there is the issue is that when one is not smart about training then, again, that can lead to issues.  In looking at most all my past issues – ruling out ones where I have had a physical accident that injured me – I do not know any that came about when I was riding or running wisely, sadly being wise about my training was not the norm.

 

How I trained started in college running at the University of Arizona which I went to as was in town, cheap (Yea cheap for in-state) and had a good team but was not on scholarship and to be very honest was way over my head.  As I was not on scholarship I did not really get any coaching but was just expected to do whatever everyone else was doing.  A topic for another post but if yu are younger and looking for a place to compete in college be wise and seek a lace where they actually have coaches and not managers – there is a huge difference.  This led to over training – yea I had some good races but largely not what I could have done if I trained wisely.  This led me to riding and even then I rode hard a lot more than I should have but thankfully riding is easier on the body so had fewer injuries.

 

This mentality, of riding and running hard more than I needed to, stayed with me as I got older and hence as I tended to get sick often and had a few injuries.  You think I would learn but never really having had a coach – even though I knew rest was needed – I just went as I felt which usually meant running or riding hard till I could not any more.  I have kept this up for many many years and was only in the past year I was trying to do a more polarized system with more easy rides/runs but still with hard efforts but not as many.

 

Using wisdom in life is of utmost importance but all too often I defaulted to just pushing forward.  Sadly, I often knew what was best but did not do so.  In Scripture wisdom is spoken of highly but when it speaks of having it the implication is you will use it.  Knowing what to do and not doing it is far from wisdom.  Proverbs 8:11 speaks to the value of Wisdom – nothing can compare to it:

 

For wisdom is better than pearls;


And all desirable things cannot compare with her.  (Prov 8:11 LSB)

 

It is also important to realize that while wisdom is often assumed to come with age –  in truth should but often does not.  Wisdom also comes from learning from others who have trod a path before you.  This is not simply head knowledge but learning from all you can see around you and applying it as is wise – that is wisdom.  Simply ignoring what you see and thinking it will not happen is not wise. 

 

I share all this as I do not think it is my 54 years running or 45 years riding that may have played with my heart/health but the effort I put out during that time.  To be truthful I have made it much longer than many I have ridden and run with so feel blessed with that.  I also pray my current issues can be taken care of and I will be able to still race and do some long rides and runs.  However, if not I am good with it as just want to be where God wants me to be.  I also hope these posts and what I have experienced can help others learn lessons from my mistakes and successes and work to increase their wisdom.

 

As an update to my current health – I have my CTA (Scan with contrast) on August 10th so hopefully answers will come.  That said I have to admit the scan is one of those things that I hope they find nothing but then we have to go back to look at other things and other tests. We shall see as just have to wait on God for his timing in this.

 

As far as training I have been pretty much riding easy with one day a week of rowing.  I have done a few rides with short hard efforts in them and have had no events show up heart wise.  I have also been trying to walk at least 20 minutes a day barefoot.  The reason for going barefoot is to strengthen my feet and to also get in 20 minutes or so of grounding.  Grounding is one of those areas that some may ignore but I think it has merit and in truth nothing to lose doing it. The other fun is as 5 of my grandkids live at the end of my drive I often get company on my walk.  So, with one more week till my test will just do the same this week and re-evaluate when I get my test results and consult with my cardiologist.

 

More to come.

Past Posts in Series

• Part 1 – Plans Change: Be Ready for Them  
• Part 1B – What I Meant to Add to Part 1  
• Part 2 – All Means All  
• Part 3 – Sleep, Helmets and Anxiety
• Part 4 - Learning Patience

  Click on images for more information and if you want more info on OFM check out this post: 

• What is OFM (Optimized Fat Metabolism)

To order Vespa you can go here and use coupon code - tkonvalin15 -   for 15% off.

Learning Patience – Part 4 of Series on Journey to see what is up with my Heart/Health

After about 5 week I had my initial visit with a cardiologist, last week, and as I expected would not get any specifics as more testing needs to be done to determine the source of the issue.  As I have mentioned before the main thing to figure out is if the issue is: Electrical, Valve related or something else.  The treatment/s change depending on the nature of the issue.  

 

The cardiologists's initial thought was that it was not an electrical issue but may be linked to something else, maybe lipid related.  As my Total Cholesterol is considered high and my CAC (Coronary Artery Calcium) score was 103 ( LAD 70, Cx 30 ), over 99 they tend to look in that direction, so leaning towards other than being electrical was where he went and sort of expected that.  The good point in that while he mentioned statins he did say they may not be good for me being athletic – that was good to hear.  He did mention some new drugs out that currently that show no side effects – too new to know long term – but they take jumping through hoops if you need them to get insurance to pay for them but it can be done.  All that said he stressed, again, we needed to figure out the issue before any plan is put in place – good to hear that.   The next step right now is a CT-Angiogram as they can get a 3D model of my heart and arteries so see what is there and then maybe an FRR which is a flow diagram made from the scan.  

 

In watching a video on the scan it looks to be very accurate in showing any physical issues.  Also, in reading up on it, and in the video, it is a scan that while a great tool to deal with issues early is not often paid for by insurance unless you are deemed to already have issues so may be why the doctor also went the direction he did since if he went the electrical way it may not have been as easy to get the scan.  The frustrating part is I had my appointment on July 8th and can’t get in for the scan till August 10th.  Seems like a long wait but am guessing the doctor is not worried so that is a good sign.  

 

In reference to my episodes where my heart has gone to rates that are not normal for the effort and even for a hard effort gone higher than is anywhere near close to where it should be he said it is called Exercise Induced Tachycardia (EIT).  Now in one sense this is normal as when one works out the HR goes up.  The issue with mine it went up abnormally high and stayed there longer than normal.  So it may be more and indeed may still be AFIB but will have to see.  I can say while most all my rides have been easy I have done a few harder efforts and also rowed and not seen an increase like before since but just have to watch it.  He did say we need to see why it does not go down quickly as normal but again the hard part is figuring out the issue to provide the correct action.

 

While I wait for the scan, and am sure there will be other tests, what am I doing?  Well, I am keeping my workouts mostly in Zone 1-2 but do put in a few harder efforts just to see how things go but not too push it too much.  For now I am sticking to riding my indoor trainer so I can stop if my HR gets too high.  I am not just watching for the super high numbers like 198 and 206 I saw a month ago but also just watching for an abnormal number for the effort as I saw a month ago when I was on a ride where I was at 100-130 watts and HR was at 135 and not going down, so stopped as that was far from normal.  It is frustrating as I I like to ride hard but just not smart right now.  I also have to realize depending on how things go this may be the way it is from now on.  While I would like to race if it is not to be so be it.  In reading The Haywire Heart Lennard Zinn talks about how he had to realize while he could ride the days of going for PRs and such were gone but just found enjoyment in riding for riding sake.  For me I will have to adjust but will work to see how this works for running as well as for me it is much easier to control things riding than it is for running.

 

In all of this I am learning patience as while I have more patience than I once did I do struggle with wanting answers and wanting them now.  What I need to focus on is as James speaks to in 1:3-4 and trust in God for His timing:

 

“knowing that the testing of your faith brings about perseverance. And let perseverance have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

 

It is in times like these, where you do not have all the answers or in some ways any answers, that I have to rely on the gift of faith given by God.  A faith when tested brings about perseverance which is key to growing in Christ.  We live in a world where everyone has an answer – even if wrong – and with all the sources of information we expect those answers right away.  Part of the issue here is learning to live with a medical system that often does not make sense.  Like how does it take a month to get into have a CT-Angiogram unless there are hundreds of people getting them.  Then even more absurd was when I was asked about making another appointment, I had not seen the doctors notes yet, they said it was in November and I was WOW but then I heard her say November 2027 – yes 2027.  That said she said if things come up on the tests then they would get me in – that’s nice.  Then when I got home I saw that the Doctor said to have a follow up in 6 months so I put in a request for that since he was the one that said it but have not heard back yet.  While I do not want to just sit back I do have to realize this is the system we have and my God is greater than the system so things will go as HE plans.  Thus, I have two places teaching me to trust in God – Finding out what is wrong and also dealing with what might be a change in what I do.  

 

My main goal in this series is to first of all Glorify God and then to share my journey so others than avoid the errors I have made.  Not to void doing hard things but doing them with wisdom and looking to how it all fits in with the future.  It seems people tend to swing to one extreme or the other but I also don’t want to promote mediocrity.  But, instead learn from mine, and others mistakes, and work to be the best you can be.  If you are a Christian my encouragement is to live out your faith such that in all things God gets the Glory.

 

More to come after my test in early August – well unless things change before them.

 

Past Posts in Series

• Part 1 – Plans Change: Be Ready for Them  
• Part 1B – What I Meant to Add to Part 1  
• Part 2 – All Means All  
• Part 3 – Sleep, Helmets and Anxiety

  Click on images for more information and if you want more info on OFM check out this post: 

• What is OFM (Optimized Fat Metabolism)

To order Vespa you can go here and use coupon code - tkonvalin15 -   for 15% off.

Sleep, Helmets and Anxiety: Part 3 of Journey to Discover what is up with my Heart/Health

Nothing to report doctor wise as my appointment is not till July 8^th but did have a week or so I would have rather avoided.  

 

About 2 weeks ago I came down with a cold and initially it was just a slight head cold and as was not riding much so decided to just not ride and let the cold get better sooner.  Well, that did not happen as the cold just seemed to get worse to the point where I had to take a couple days off of work.  Then the fun and why I titled the post to include Sleep and Helmets.  As some quick background – when I get sick I do have a tendency to get light headed and have had issues passing out quite a few times over the years.  A few times I have taken some bad falls in trying to get to bed and moving too fast and losing it.  This past Saturday was one of those days as with the cold and lack of sleep I was feeling a little dizzy when I got up in the night.  I thought I was doing fine but then knew it was not good and instead of my usual race to the bed I got down on all fours so did not fall.  But when I got there my head suddenly felt like it weighted 100lbs and it banged to the floor – fortunately was only from being on all fours and not standing.  The strange part was while I laid there I tried to lift my head and it felt like it was stuck to the floor and could not lift it.  It felt like a while but am sure it was not but finally crawled to bed and all was good.  I did get a bump and bruise on the noggin and a little sore but all good.  So maybe I need to wear my helmet to bed when I am sick – or at least when I get up

 

As it would happen I was wearing my Frontier X Plus HRM for a 24 hour period so I could see what the ECG showed when I fell.  However, from what I can tell the HRM did not show anything out of the ordinary but for a slight elevation from 45 to 80 BPM for my HR but nothing else but will have it for the Doctor if he wants to see it.  

 

Now a week later I am still dealing with the sinus/congestion from the cold but for me that is sort of normal so slowly getting back to normal.  I finally got in a Zwift ride Friday  for an hour and just rode so as to keep HR in check and had no issues.  My HR averaged 110 with a max of 137 on a climb but unlike when had issues a couple weeks ago it went right down and for an effort on a climb the HR was good and ECG looked normal.  Then the next day I did an easy 2 hour Zwift ride with some sprints to see how it went.  The ride was a banded one – as long as you pedal you stay in group but also more watts only does so much as it also keeps you back – as they are good to control effort and ride in a group.  The banded part of the ride was 1:20 long so the last 40 minutes was mostly in a group with normal drafting and dynamic.  During the banded ride I did 8 sprints but not all out – 576w max – and my max HR was only 138 and went down right away and the average for the 2 hours was 103 and my ECG also did not show anything abnormal.  I did take my blood pressure after the ride – as usually mine is a little on the higher side – and contrary to what I thought it would be as they often tell you to relax before a BP test – it was 116/79 w/HR of 60.  In looking it up it is quite normal and called “post-exercise hypotension” where during exercise your muscles need more blood, so blood vessels widen (vasodilation) and don't immediately return to normal size when you stop exercising, which lowers resistance to blood flow and can reduce blood pressure – did not know that. 

From Satruday's 2 HR Ride

Also, did a rowing workout today (7/5/26) to see how that felt.  Kew it would be hard as still congested and tired, let alone having not rowed for maybe 2 weeks.  During the 20 minute warmup wondred even if I could go under 2:00/500m average but figured give it a go as not sure what will be up after my Cardiologist vist Wednesday.  I did go into it with the mndset if my HR goes up to 155-160 or I get the breathless feeling when my heart wacks out I would stop.  Not the fastest I can do but HR did not go up past 152 and was farily consistent and while tired got it done.  Was also hot even with the AC on as blew a fuse halfway through so was off for half the workout.   Info on workout below:

In the last few weeks I have been reading up on heart issues as AFIB was just my doctors, and some other I know with AFIB, first thought.  What is interesting is so many of the symptoms of various heart issues – tiredness, increased heart rate, feeling off and others – are often the same for any number of issues.  With some being valve issues and others electrical – like AFIB.  For right now I do not know what is going on and may be a bit before I do as will take some tests and that often takes time.  Not having had any issues in the last weeks with high HR it may be I have caught AFIB early or it is entirely something else.

 

This all fits one of those weeks where the saying “When it rains it pours” fits.  Not enough that I have the heart/health issues that I have no idea what it is but now having to deal with a cold that wiped me out for a few days.  It is one of those times when it I easy to get frustrated with all else going on and frustration often leads to being anxious just for it all to be done.  It can be easy to get down and get into the “oh who is me” mindset.  What I have to remember is that as believers it says in Philippians 4:6 we are called to not be anxious for ANYTHING:

 

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

 

This is not meant to be a pollyannish platitude where one just puts on a happy face and ignore the realities around one.  No, life is real and fake smiles do nothing.  The call is to take our frustration, anxiety and concern to God and in prayer and thanksgiving.  Not because otherwise He does not know them but it is to change us to what we are relying on.  Also, here we need to remember that to rely on God does not mean we do nothing.   God is a God of means and He uses our, and others actions, to accomplish His plan.  The result of this is we do what we need to do but realize it is all in God’s hands.  Confusion, pain and discomfort may continue – or it may not – but our peace comes in knowing we are relying on God.  It is also not a fatalistic look at life as fatalism results from no hope.  But is a look at life that has hope that to be in the center of God’s plan is always the best – I did not say most comfortable or easy, no matter what the hucksters of fake Christianity sell.  This is what I have to lean on as I am one likes answers and right now there are none.

 

More to come after my appointment at the cardiologist this week – even though I realize it may bring up more questions than answers in only one visit.  I also pray the doctor is open to looking at non-pharmaceutical answers when at all possible – so many are not.

Previous Post in Series:

• Part 1
• Part 1B
• Part 2

  Click on images for more information and if you want more info on OFM check out this post: 

• What is OFM (Optimized Fat Metabolism)

To order Vespa you can go here and use coupon code - tkonvalin15 -   for 15% off.

All Means All - Part 2 of series on my journey to discover what is up with my heart/health

Those that know me know I sift everything through the filter of the Bible.  I know this is not for everyone and also know that while the Bible addresses everything in life it does not always give direct answers but often gives principles and direction – both are important.  In this post I want to address how this current health issue aligns with God’s promise in Romans 8:28 and then will put a rundown of what I have found this week health and training wise.

 

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”  Rom 8:28

 

When it comes to looking at health issues – for that matter any event or occasion – that is pretty universally seen as “BAD” the question arises about where is God in this.  For so long the Gospel has been sold as a “get out of hell” card as in a board game or marketed as a life enhancement addition.  When God and the Gospel are presented, or saying it in a more crass way Sold, this way many do not know how to respond when life seems to throw one what seems to be a curve.

 

To be honest while we may want to figure out why something happens at the end of the day a Believer simply has to have faith it is in God’s will as it is possible you will never know till Glory.  This does not mean we do not work to deal with issues or situations but do so knowing that God is sovereign over everything and knows what is best for us and what will most glorify Him.  Yes bad, from our perspective, can be good for us and how we deal with it will for sure speak to our relationship with God.

 

It is also important to understand that God is God and we are not and as Isaiah 55:8-9 says:

 

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

 

Due to this often we simply have to trust in God and do as He leads.  Again, this not only builds ones faith but shows the world we truly follow God even when things are not going as we may have planned, understand or the world sees as beneficial.

 

With what is going on with my health I will admit I am bummed but that will pass.  But, being bummed does not stop me from seeking to see where God wants me in this.  While the obvious place is to seek him for healing be it via medical intervention or divine intervention – well even both – but there is the issue I dealt with in a post a short time ago about asking myself if my actives were an idol -  Is it an Idol.  Let’s be real while I want this to turn out great and can go back to normal – well a revised normal I was aimed at before this started - it could go a different direction.  In reading The Haywire Heart Lennard Zinn, and have heard this from others, had to change what he did.  He could still ride but not race or go as long but in this still found enjoyment and realized he had time for other things as well.   If my outcome is more like Lennard’s than those who go back at it then so be it and all to the Glory of God.

 

Often in the midst of what we do as Christians we claim we do “ALL” to the Glory of God but as have not been faced with an alternate reality are not really tested to see if we really mean “ALL.”  I shared Romans 8:28 to start that says that in God’s sovereign plan “ALL” things work for the good of the called of God.  Again there is that word “ALL.”  Yea in scripture the word “all” does not always mean everything as can mean “all kinds” but here it is the all inclusive “ALL.”  So, when what seems not so great, or even bad, to the world we often have to check our faith and see that we really do see that God means “ALL.”  Yea, we have to work with our emotions and human nature and will maybe struggle but that is fine.  Just as with most athletic endeavors we gain more when we struggle and it strengthens us and so it is in our walk with God and thus all part of the “Good.”

 

For me there is a big question mark as to what is ahead.  The one thing I am assured of is God will be with me in all that is ahead and my identity is in Him and not riding, running, rowing or any other activity.  Are they important to me – for sure – but not the most important and not even 2^nd or 3^rd when am honest.  While I want to come out of this so as to be active – as see that as part of being healthy and being able to do all I need to do – and even be able to do some racing if it does not go that way I will adjust and give God the Glory. One thing that came to mind – as I tend to enter the longer events offered.  I wrote a blog post - It’s OK to Want to Only Run 5K’s: Or any other Distance for that Matter!! – that applies to riding and running and basically asks WHY do we always seem to want to do the more extreme events when even the so called lesser events are even extreme. I think Unbound is a great example as if you tell someone you did that race they will ask about the 200 miler and often not even contemplate the 100 miler in such a manner that 100 miles – a long way – gets minimized and it should not.  Bottom line is to know your why for what you do.  If in my case it means if I want to race in the future I have to do the shortest race/ride then so be it and I will do it to the glory of God.

 

Again, I know that some who may read this will not share my view on God and the activities of life but I see God involved – be it directly, indirectly or simply taking His hands off – in all things.  I also pray that no matter how one may view God that He will be seen as central to my life.

 

As an update to how things have been going here is an update for the past week:  

 

I did 5 rides on Zwift this week and in general kept them easy.  Did have one ride that I stopped early as HR went up more than it should have but then at end of the week while tired did a couple rides where watts were significantly higher and HR was fine.  Did get my new Frontier X Plus HRM that takes ECGs this past Thursday and so far have not seen anything during rest or riding as have done a number of ECGs.  Did not get it early enough to see what might have been there on the ride I stopped.  That said I did have it on overnight once and while felt strange a few times nothing abnormal seemed to show on the ECG.  Am in the process of wearing it for 24 hours with a 2 hour ride at the end of it to see what shows up. Right now just collecting data to give to the doctor when I visit on July 8^th – thinking he might be a little surprised as pretty sure he does not get a lot of patients with all this info ready for him.  Starting to wonder if this is AFIB or something else as can have other issues that seem like AFIB or even cause an AFIB event.  Then again might be early on in AFIB where events are not as frequent - we shall see.  Plan for this week is to just ride about the same – will try a 2hr easy ride on Monday but then no more than an hour the rest of the rides for the week.

 

Monday (6/15/26) – Banded Hour Zwift Ride

Watts – 96W Avg, 102W Normalized, 247W Max

HR – 92Avg, 130Max

Felt tired but HR fine, one jump but went down quickly

 

Tuesday (6/16/26) – Planned 30min to 1hr Easy Flat Zwift Ride

Watts – 107W Avg, 110 Normalized, 156W Max

HR – 116 Avg, 144 Max

Stopped early as HR went up once early but came down then went up near end and while not supper high was not going down.  HR was overall high again for the effort.

 

Thursday (6/18/26) – Super Easy 30min Flat Zwift ride

Watts – 101W Avg, 104W Normalized, 128W Max

HR – 112 Avg, 128 Max

Easy ride with no HR spikes and went up when ending.  HR is higher than normal for a ride this easy and still a little tire

 

Friday (6/19/26) – 1HR Flat Ride on Zwift

Watts – 173W Avg, 184 Normalized, 435W Max

HR – 94 Avg, 126 Max

Started using new HRM that takes real ECG - Rode harder - 184w normalized - and no HR spikes. Even did about 30 seconds at over 400 and only went to 126. Nothing showed up on ECG

 

Saturday (6/20/26)  - Easy 1HR Zwift ride with a Couple hard efforts

Watts – 174W Avg, 192W Normalized, 674W Max

HR – 102 Avg, 133 Max

While no heart issues did feel off a little and legs felt a little tired but have not done much so not quote right. In two sort hard efforts HR did not go too high at all.

 

More to come:

Part 1 

Part 1B 

  Click on images for more information and if you want more info on OFM check out this post: 

• What is OFM (Optimized Fat Metabolism)

To order Vespa you can go here and use coupon code - tkonvalin15 -   for 15% off.