John Hannon has not let his heart condition hold him back, as he completed three marathons and a half-ironman triathlon after undergoing open-heart surgery.
Allen Carkner Excellent read. Thank you for sharing. Gives me hope that I can continue to be into athletics for a l ... Read more
Allen Carkner Excellent read. Thank you for sharing. Gives me hope that I can continue to be into athletics for a long time despite having had two heart valves replaced.
Rose Madura Great to hear! Congratulations on your success!
Paul Lebel Loved reading your story John.Just over 2 months since my MV bovine replacement. Back in the pool doi ... Read more
Paul Lebel Loved reading your story John.Just over 2 months since my MV bovine replacement. Back in the pool doing 2k of my normal 3k sets of IM/ free. Back on my bikes for shorter than normal distances. AND last week got back to my "age in burpees" (70) in 15min. Recovery is slower than I expected, but I can see the end of the tunnel!
John Hannon Thanks everyone! And WOW on those burpees Paul! I don't think many 70 year olds can do that so you... Read more
John Hannon Thanks everyone! And WOW on those burpees Paul! I don't think many 70 year olds can do that so your light seems pretty bright
Paul Lebel Every one hates them including me. But they are the take anywhere workout when your bike and pool a ... Read more
Paul Lebel Every one hates them including me. But they are the take anywhere workout when your bike and pool aren't around.
Jan Findlay Awesome, inspiring journey John. Stay thriving!!
Stephen Berry Congratulations on your achievement John!
I was pretty fit for a 67-year-old before my mitral valve repair 2 years ago. I have run 7 marathons, climbed all of the volcanoes in the Northwest, bicycled from Seattle to San Francisco, etc. I was running 6-8 miles, 3 times a week just 6 months before my surgery. Now, 2 years later, I can barely run 2 or 2 1/2 miles at a very slow pace before I have to stop due to shortness of breath and leg fatigue...this despite doing aerobic activity 3 times a week and strength workouts another 3 days a week. I have had stress echocardiogram and pulmonary stress tests and everything in the heart and lungs is good. My cardiologist says that my heart and the mitral valve repair are perfect. I have been discouraged and thought that I would never get back to the fitness level I had before surgery.
Your post inspired me. If it took you 5 years to get to the triathlon level, then maybe I just have to stay at it for a couple of more years. ... Read more
Stephen Berry Congratulations on your achievement John!
I was pretty fit for a 67-year-old before my mitral valve repair 2 years ago. I have run 7 marathons, climbed all of the volcanoes in the Northwest, bicycled from Seattle to San Francisco, etc. I was running 6-8 miles, 3 times a week just 6 months before my surgery. Now, 2 years later, I can barely run 2 or 2 1/2 miles at a very slow pace before I have to stop due to shortness of breath and leg fatigue...this despite doing aerobic activity 3 times a week and strength workouts another 3 days a week. I have had stress echocardiogram and pulmonary stress tests and everything in the heart and lungs is good. My cardiologist says that my heart and the mitral valve repair are perfect. I have been discouraged and thought that I would never get back to the fitness level I had before surgery.
Your post inspired me. If it took you 5 years to get to the triathlon level, then maybe I just have to stay at it for a couple of more years.
If you have time, I would appreciate any more detail on what exercise program you followed to get to where you are now and any hurdles that you encountered on the way.
Again, congratulations! Fantastic achievement.
Stephen Berry
John Hannon Hi Steven, I love taking about this kind of thing so, sure - I was frustrated at first and thought th ... Read more
John Hannon Hi Steven, I love taking about this kind of thing so, sure - I was frustrated at first and thought they messed something up in there they weren't telling me. It took me 13 months to jog one block without stopping and I'd be too wiped out to try again the same day. I just kept walking 3-4 miles at a time until I could jog and then would jog a block and walk a block, that kind of thing until eventually I could keep going at around a 12+ minute mile. I biked around the neighborhood at around 12 mph and worked up from there. Also did strength training at a gym about 3 days a week. Went back to swimming at probably 2.5 years out. Swimming is my strong point and when covid came along I got a swimming wetsuit to swim in cold lakes and that was the start of the path to triathlon. When gym closed for covid I started using the Nike workout app (it's free) - on there are lots of strength workouts that are also aerobic. I'm still using that and only go to the gym for swimming now if not going to a lake. There are four strength workouts on there that I cycle through. My first 10k was about three years after surgery and I extended that to a marathon a few months later. I'm still making gains. My Garmin watch says I'm at a 53 VO2 max and it's been saying that for six months though I'm faster than I was back then. I was at about 45 VO2 max when I got the watch 18 months ago.
Thank you such much for sharing this information. My cardiologist said that most patients plateau in aerobic improvement about 1 1/2 years after surgery, but I don't think you and I are in the standard group given our previous high aerobic fitness. Maybe we just take a lot longer to get back to our previous level....and have to keep working hard at it.
I also could only do about a mile walk-jogging for the first year after surgery and was wiped out after. Two years post-surgery I can now run 2 1/2 miles at a 12:30 pace but hadn't seen any improvement in the last several months. Having written that, for the last couple of weeks, I have not felt nearly as bad after my run. I used to feel tired for the rest of the day, but now actually feel energized after I take my post run shower. Your story makes me think that I may be getting to the same point you were in your post-surgery recovery. ... Read more
Thank you such much for sharing this information. My cardiologist said that most patients plateau in aerobic improvement about 1 1/2 years after surgery, but I don't think you and I are in the standard group given our previous high aerobic fitness. Maybe we just take a lot longer to get back to our previous level....and have to keep working hard at it.
I also could only do about a mile walk-jogging for the first year after surgery and was wiped out after. Two years post-surgery I can now run 2 1/2 miles at a 12:30 pace but hadn't seen any improvement in the last several months. Having written that, for the last couple of weeks, I have not felt nearly as bad after my run. I used to feel tired for the rest of the day, but now actually feel energized after I take my post run shower. Your story makes me think that I may be getting to the same point you were in your post-surgery recovery.
I thought I would never be able to even do a 10K again, let alone a marathon. You are evidence that is possible. I will continue to run three times a week and do strength training 3 times a week. Unlike you, swimming is my weak point, but perhaps that would be an area I could also work on. Thank you for sharing your exercise routine and the use of the Garmin. That might be a good investment for me as well.
Best wishes on your continued triathlon success!
Steven
John Hannon Thanks Steven. Another thing I've been doing the last year or so is short bursts of high intensity. ... Read more
John Hannon Thanks Steven. Another thing I've been doing the last year or so is short bursts of high intensity. Started with going all out running for like 10 seconds and then recovering and doing it again. I think that's helped me improve quite a bit. The Garmin watch will suggest things like that and that is usually where I'm doing less than it recommends.
I've also used Inside Tracker to look at blood biomarkers. Found quite a bit I could improve on there. For example, my ferritin was 9, which is very low (maybe from daily aspirin) and I've since brought up into the 30's and I don't get as cold as I used to.
Stephen Berry I really appreciate your sharing all of your experiences and work out routines. I also have a low fe ... Read more
Stephen Berry I really appreciate your sharing all of your experiences and work out routines. I also have a low ferritin level (and am taking a daily aspirin). Will be interesting to see if I can get the ferritin up higher.
Can't tell you how hopeful I am now after reading your story. Thanks!
John Hannon That's great! If you think you can do another ride down to San Francisco then you can. If you think ... Read more
John Hannon That's great! If you think you can do another ride down to San Francisco then you can. If you think you can't then you'll also be right.
Hi All, I haven't posted in a long time and wanted to give an update. I just completed the Ironman California on 10/22/2023. This was almost five ...Read more
Hi All, I haven't posted in a long time and wanted to give an update. I just completed the Ironman California on 10/22/2023. This was almost five years after second replacement of my aortic and pulmonic valves. I've been steadily progressing towards this ever since. I'll probably keep it up with California International Marathon next up in December (will be my fourth marathon).
Marie Myers OMG! You are the poster person for successful cardiac rehab!! Congratulations on your hard work!
Grace Mason Amazing! Congrats John. It is great to see how well you are doing. Gives me hope to have that long wi... Read more
Grace Mason Amazing! Congrats John. It is great to see how well you are doing. Gives me hope to have that long with my new Ross.
Rich Butela That's inspiring. My goal is to do another Savage race at some point in the future. I think my hea... Read more
Rich Butela That's inspiring. My goal is to do another Savage race at some point in the future. I think my heart will be up for it not sure the rest of my old body will agree
DeWayne Adamson Going to ask my doc for extra sutures so I can go crazy. lol
Pamela Gregory Wow! Awesome John! I love that you are really living your life!
Ana Brusso You go John, show us off š. Seriously, Iām glad you can continue your training and competitions. ... Read more
Ana Brusso You go John, show us off š. Seriously, Iām glad you can continue your training and competitions. God bless you
Eric Camil Wow John you are an inspiration. I am one month post-op 6 heart bypass and about a month from start... Read more
Eric Camil Wow John you are an inspiration. I am one month post-op 6 heart bypass and about a month from starting rehalb.
Jennifer Euteneier Congrats - so glad to see that it is possible to get back to IM racing post surgery! Just 19 weeks po ... Read more
Jennifer Euteneier Congrats - so glad to see that it is possible to get back to IM racing post surgery! Just 19 weeks post valve repair and ascending aorta replacement - finished IM Arizona prior to my surgery and would love to beat my time!
I'm about 2 1/2 years out from second replacement of pulmonic and aortic valves and largely back up to speed. I ran 48 miles over two days by doing 4 miles ...Read more
I'm about 2 1/2 years out from second replacement of pulmonic and aortic valves and largely back up to speed. I ran 48 miles over two days by doing 4 miles every 4 hours for 48 hours. That's a record for me.
Deena Z speechless. that's a lot of miles that your heart supported!
I just completed the Lost Coast Trail along the northern California coast with my sons. It's a 25 mile backpacking trip along an isolated stretch of beach. ...Read more
I just completed the Lost Coast Trail along the northern California coast with my sons. It's a 25 mile backpacking trip along an isolated stretch of beach. https://www.wonderlandguides.com/hikes/king-range/lost-coast-trail
We took four days to do it and all survived - yay! The uphills are hard for me but luckily there is not a lot of climbing on this one. It's just a lot of varied terrain along the beach - boulders, cobbles, bedrock, loose pebbles, and some surface that is stable. We left a vehicle at the beginning at Mattole in case we needed to turn back (people usually hire a shuttle to get to the start and leave a vehicle at the end). It was my 12- year old son's first backpacking trip and he did great - better than me on the uphills!
Mike Roskowinski That looks awesome. Congrats on the long backpacking trip. I would love to do that someday. I am j ... Read more
Mike Roskowinski That looks awesome. Congrats on the long backpacking trip. I would love to do that someday. I am just 2 months out and walking 8 miles a day in my neighborhood but I imagine this one is way more strenuous. Keep up the awesome recovery.
https://health.ucdavis.edu/news/features/heart-of-a-champion-how-john-hannon-went-from-open-heart-surgery-to-an-ironman-triathlon/2024/02 ...Read more
https://health.ucdavis.edu/news/features/heart-of-a-champion-how-john-hannon-went-from-open-heart-surgery-to-an-ironman-triathlon/2024/02
Recovery is slower than I expected, but I can see the end of the tunnel!