Precerpt from Grandma's Ninja Training Diary: Training with a Murmur and a Block

 

I’ve had a heart murmur since birth. Never bothered me. Never bothered the Army docs, either. More recently, I picked up a new badge: Left Bundle Branch Block (LBBB). My EKG shows it doing its thing. My annual echocardiograms? Normal. So I pay it no mind.

But should I?

🫀 What Is LBBB, Really?

LBBB means the electrical signal that tells your heart to beat travels a slower, roundabout path to the left ventricle. It’s not dangerous by itself—especially if your heart’s structure and function are normal, as yours are.

💨 Does It Affect Breathing or Exercise?

• Breathing: LBBB doesn’t directly affect lung function. But if the heart’s pumping efficiency is reduced, oxygen delivery can lag behind demand during intense exertion.
• Exercise: Most people with isolated LBBB and normal heart function can exercise safely. But endurance may be harder to build, and recovery might take longer.
• Heart murmur: If it’s benign (as yours seems to be), it’s just background music. But always worth keeping an ear on it—literally and figuratively.

🧘‍♀️ Ninja Strategy: Train Smart, Not Fearfully

• Keep doing what you’re doing: Cardio class, stair climbs, long walks—all excellent.
• Monitor fatigue: If breathlessness or dizziness increases, that’s a signal to pause and reassess.
• Stay in dialogue with your doctor: Annual echoes are a great safeguard. You’re already ahead of the game.

So yes, I train with a murmur and a block. But I also train with wisdom, with joy, and with a heart that’s been beating to its own rhythm since birth. And that, my friends, is definitely ninja material.

Reference for further reading: American Heart Association Cleveland Clinic

Grandma’s Ninja Training Diary is the inspiring true story of a 70-year-old grandmother who dares to dream big—by training for American Ninja Warrior. Teaming up with coach and trainer Brittany Renz, she embarks on a three-year journey to build strength, resilience, flexibility, balance, and endurance—starting from scratch.

Told in a dynamic mix of diary entries, coaching insights, and behind-the-scenes reflections, this book chronicles the ups and downs of late-in-life athletic training. From gym workouts to rock climbing, yoga to injury recovery, sleep to mindset—every aspect of the transformation is explored with honesty and humor.

Grandma shares what she’s learning; Coach Brittany explains why she’s right—or wrong. Together, they offer a realistic, encouraging look at what it takes to pursue an extraordinary goal at any age.

Part training manual, part motivational memoir, Grandma’s Ninja Training Diary is packed with practical tips for readers over 50 who want to improve their fitness, health, and confidence. You’ll also get insider insights into the world of American Ninja Warrior, strategies for balancing real life with ambitious goals, and hard-won wisdom about success, failure, and the joy of simply showing up.

To read more precerpts from Grandma's Ninja Training Diary, click HERE.

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