Death during Nationals

Bobinator; Re betablockers, Over the last six months I've experimented and settled on a non-generic BB called Bystolic. It seems to slow my swimming less than the std stuff. Pricey though.

Bobinator; Re betablockers, Over the last six months I've experimented and settled on a non-generic BB called Bystolic. It seems to slow my swimming less than the std stuff. Pricey though. I've heard Bystolic is good. I check in with the ep 1X per year so I'll ask him about it next time. Thanks Steve!

Like Dewey, I would prefer to die doing what I love, either riding my bicycle or while swimming a hard set/racing. Blessings and best to Dewey's family. May we learn from his example, and may his spirit carry on… As mentioned by another poster, I have to be vigilant about recognizing "symptoms that might indicate trouble", due of my history of over-training for decades as a highly-trained athlete in other sports. Decades of over-training and not maintaining a consistent routine, year after year, manifested a mitral valve prolapse condition. This condition was revealed my former cardiologist, marathon runner, Kenneth Baughman at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine when I was 34. And like Bobinator, I too freaked out when I learned about my condition, especially because my VO2 uptake and fitness level, stress test stats always returned results in the 95%+ range. It, however, wasn't until ~2008, at the age of 47, when I was training with Dennis Baker in Oregon, swimming even 30s splits for 10 x 50m freestyle when this condition really reared it's head. I literally thought my chest was going to explode on the sixth/seventh interval. I immediately stopped, because I wasn't too keen to have my chest pounded on. Because of this experience, I took several years off, thinking I would never be able to swim with intensity again. Having an unusually high threshold for pain doesn't help, either--and I think one always needs to be mindful of this. This mitral valve prolapse condition requires being ever so mindful about how I am feeling, carefully monitoring my heart rate, and being able to discern between a persistent sharp, burning pain radiating down my left arm (when I sometimes pull my intercostals out of alignment when swimming backstroke) versus a pain escalation only when I am exerting myself through sustained, high-intensity aerobics. Feeling like my chest is going to explode is another indicator--something I'd rather not experience again. And because of my condition, I train the duration of most sessions at a moderate intensity. And when girded on to participate in a swim meet, I also only race sprints now, because it's usually not long enough for the discomforting cardiac pain to present. Occasionally, I'll ramp it up during training sessions when I am in the zone, feeling good, and show Coach Marcia Benjamin that I can still notch it up at times. Perhaps one day, I'll be able to put it all back together and achieve a Top 10 individual time. But the fear of that pain is ALWAYS in the back of my mind, and I too am "slowly working my way to fearless confidence." It is dubious if I will ever swim under 30s for 50m freestyle again, like I did in my teens and 20s, but I am going to try. And so, in general, I have resigned myself to adhering to Dr. Baughman's advice to practice fitness for life instead of 'blowing a gasket', which I am sure I would do if I were to train like the banshee I was in a past life. My priorities now are to use swimming to manage my arthritis, manage my stress, achieve the post-swim, endogenous morphine elixir effect and learning how to finesse my fluid mechanics in an effort to become an efficient swimmer. I also try to practice a mantra Dennis "Superfly" Baker imparted to me some years ago, "It's all about the process."

If anyone has the urge to visit Fresno, we're having a Dewey Memorial workout on September 7. The main set is a 45 minute straight swim, no breaks, no mixing it up, no easy, build, descend, drills or kicking, just crank it out for 45 minutes.

kimgerly --- Thanks for a fine post. I, and I'm guessing many other Masters swimmers, share similar realities. Sometimes it's just so frustrating.

I'm guessing many other Masters swimmers share similar realities. My sense is that Mike would be guessing correctly. This thread points to the need for USMS to strengthen its preparations and procedures for meets (and workouts) to ensure a robust response in the event of a heart-related problem. As good as our organization has been in providing for an emergency response, any organization can improve its readiness for low-probability and high-risk events.

Mike, thanks for raising this preparedness issue. It was difficult coming to the conclusion to be more forward and open about this very private matter. But, coming from a family with members who wear the titles of RN, physical therapist and athletic trainer, prevention, preparedness and proactivity are key, cultural operatives for minimizing traumatic events. In the recent past few years since I have returned to swimming with USMS, I informed my current coach and lane mates about my condition. I do this mostly with the ultra-competitive sorts I train with, so they don't heckle me too much when I sit out an interval or back-down in intensity--this is out of necessity for managing my condition. Not to mention, this way they are apprised and more aware about the potential, and will likely be more aware and prepared to deal with the situation if it ever presents, again. Additionally, my hope and aim by empowering them with this information will minimize any emotional shocks, too. I also carry around a copy of my DNR order in my wallet, in the event my heart stops or I stop breathing while swimming. I have also showed this document to my coaches, so they are apprised of my wishes, and so any confusion is minimized. I reiterate, if I have to leave our 'space ship' prematurely, I can think of no better way than while I am swimming. NB: I entered a few meets in the recent past , but posted NS, mostly because I was terrified of 'hurting' myself. And altho I finally got around to taking the plunge in October 2012, 31 years since I had competed in any swimming events, I reluctantly raced ultra-conservatively, posting rather slow times. Overall, it was fun and memorable. A good introduction back. On-the-fly, at the last minute, my CALM teammates at the time, and I entered the 'low-hanging fruit' 4x100 IM relay. And to our surprise, altho much slower than what we set out to do, we posted a Top 10 time last year. The psychological aim to race again was to start taking baby steps back, commence progressively overloading and practicing consistency, variety and balance for life. For me, on top of pain management and stress management, because I'm still possess the competitor's mindset, I require a goal to achieve. I need to race. But I need to do this mindfully and without reckless abandon now.

Yes, Fresnoid. It was due to my history as an all or nothing rowing athlete. What Dr. Baughman was able to discern, from his years of experience treating elite athletes, rowers in particular, he saw this as a 'fairly common' condition in rowers. And in my case, when I was a sweep rower in the 4's and 8's, I was known as the 'engine'--my role was to make up for any strength that might be lacking by my other mates in the boat during a race--an utterly painful, out-of-body-experience role/job. What happens to a great many rowers is the myocardia/heart wall muscle enlarges to accommodate the increased blood flow to sustain the rather intense demand placed on the larger muscle groups. The myocardia can sometimes markedly increase size as a result of this demand. Kind of like what happens, especially if one is genetically predisposed, and lifts heavy weights--in body building circles this is sometimes called hyperplasia. What transpires in a great deal of rowing athletes, if they do not maintain a consistent, regular training regimen is the the outer walls of the myocardia reverts to it's former size, loses elasticity. When this happens repetitively , elasticity of the wall muscle is quite compromised/lost. Additionally, there what is known as a back-wash/mitral valve prolapse--where the valve flaps of the mitral valve do not close smoothly or evenly, yielding chest pain I'd rather not revisit, if I can help it. When Dr. Baughman sat me down in November 1994 after performing all his tests (stress test, echocardiogram) his report concluded: - enlarged left atrium - normal left ventricular size and left ventricular dysfunction - mitral valve prolapse with valvular redundancy - mitral regurgitation (mild) - tricuspid regurgitation AKA back-flow (mild) At the time, I was only at the beginning of the off-season training schedule, and he was able to catch this condition, before it escalated what could have been a fatality. He sat me down and issued this sobering advice, giving me two choices: Choice 1. I could continue to try out for the national rowing squad, but there was a VERY GOOD likelihood I would 'blow a gasket.' Choice 2. I could give up the intensity of the sport of rowing, and find other activities for practicing fitness for life. I opted for Choice 2.

kimgerly, in your first post are you saying that mitral valve prolapse was brought on by your training?