NEW WORLD RECORD
As previewed in our April edition, local runner Rebecca Reid succeeded in her attempt to set a new world record for running a marathon whilst fitted with a Subcutaneous Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (SICD). This is a medical device implanted under the skin to monitor for and treat dangerously fast or abnormal heart rhythms.
Two years ago, Rebecca collapsed on a training run, and her heart rate reached 283 beats per minute, which is life-threatening. This was her second heart-related issue, and a doctor told her that her running days were over.
However, after an eight-hour procedure under general anaesthetic at the Royal Brompton hospital, and the fitting of the defibrillator, she took specialists’ advice and resolved to get back into training, with this year’s London marathon as her goal.
“I have had to change my whole approach to running”, Rebecca reports. “I now keep a constant watch on my heart rate. This means I had to do even more training, to get myself as fit as I could. The objective was that the extra fitness would allow me to run whilst keeping my heart rate within what we call ‘Zone 2’.”
This year’s London Marathon was run on a very hot day, and after18 miles, Rebecca made the conscious decision to slow down as her heart rate was rising. Even so, she was able to finish in 3 hours and 37 minutes, which was 23 minutes faster than the previous world marathon record.
Her achievement was confirmed by the Guinness Book of Records.
