Bruce Rychwalski has much to be thankful for as 2013 comes to a close. The 64-year old Gates resident took second place in his age group in the 34th Apple Derby/Merkel 5-Mile Run this past October 5 with a time of 41:12. But as Bruce will tell you – that’s not the real story.
Back on April 19, 2011, Bruce suffered a ventricular tachycardia and was subsequently diagnosed with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) – a genetic heart muscle disease. On May 23, 2011, he underwent Implantable Cardiac Defibrillator (ICD) implantation surgery and on August 5, 2011, he ran in the Father Murphy 5K in Chili – winning a silver medal for finishing second place in his age group.
Bruce admits he was a little nervous about going back to running, but he wanted to do it.
“You can’t go through life being afraid of things,” he says, and truly lives up to his motto that, “an obstacle should not be an obstacle, it should be an inspiration.”
He explains that he does have to be careful not to push himself too hard while running, “… tachycardia can be caused by strenuous exercise,” he says. He keeps a relaxed pace while running and competing – an 8 1/2 – 9 minute mile, and a five-mile race is the longest he will do.
Bruce tries to be a role model and a source of inspiration for other individuals with heart disease and says he encourages his cardiologist to share his story with other patients – to let them know their lives are not over when they have been diagnosed with heart disease.
He began running while in the Air Force during the Vietnam War. “I’ve continued all my life with running and brisk walks,” Bruce says. “It relieves stress and keeps my weight in check. I do it for fun. I started running in 5Ks about five years ago and got hooked.”
When he suffered his April 2011 life-threatening tachycardia – a condition where the heart beats too fast (as much as 400 beats per minute) – medical technicians told him he was lucky to have survived. They said it was thanks to his life-long running routine that his heart was able to sustain the fast heart rate, Bruce says.
In December 2012, Bruce suffered a second ventricular tachycardia after finishing the Jingle Bell 5K Run for Arthritis at Monroe Community College. His IDC sent two electrical shocks to his heart to change the rhythm back to normal. An ambulance transported Bruce to Unity Hospital for observation and he was back running a week later in the 5-Mile Freezeroo Road Race at Pineway Ponds Park in Ogden.
As of November 13, 2013, Bruce had competed in 92 road races since his ICD implantation in May 2011. He was awarded the Bronze Greater Rochester Track Club Milestone Patch in 2011; the Silver Greater Rochester Track Club Milestone Patch in 2012, and he says he will be eligible again for the Silver Patch in 2013.
He is also an equestrian and goes horseback riding three times each week.
On September 20, 2013, Bruce – a 1967 graduate of Gates Chili High School – was inducted into the District’s Hall of Fame.
He spoke to health classes at the school and told them they can also be active as they get older if they take care of themselves.
Bruce gave members of the senior class this advice: “Let fear embolden you, rather than intimidate you.”
Now that’s advice everyone can take to heart.
Provided photos
11/24/13
