This Cycling Instructor Had a Heart Attack During a Fitness Class
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."
Name: Ratona Harr
Age: 47
Hometown: Florence, Kentucky
Occupation: Studio owner/instructor at Full Body Fitness & Yoga and cycling instructor at CycleBar Hyde Park in Cincinnati, Ohio
Time Cycling: Since 2006
Reason for Cycling: I love it. That’s the true answer, I just love the feeling that’s created inside of me when I ride. I often say, it’s the best therapy.
I love the indoor cycling experience, but I first started out as a runner. I ran the Flying Pig Marathon in 2006 at the age of 30. However, a few months later I ended up with back surgery, which ultimately led me to cycling.
Soon after I ran the marathon, my body fell apart. I had four herniated discs in my lower back, and was in such severe pain I could barely walk. I had to crawl at times because walking was too painful. Once I recovered from my surgery, I needed a way to replace the feeling I would get from a good run or cardio session with no impact. Cycling was it.
Later, I became an instructor at CycleBar in 2015, after working as a group fitness instructor since 2005, and have been in love with riding ever since.
My life suddenly changed, though, when I survived a massive “widow-maker” heart attack in February 2021. Two days before my heart attack, while teaching at CycleBar, I experienced pressure in my chest. However, I did not go to a doctor or have it checked out.
It was a Saturday morning and I was teaching my regular strength and cardio fitness class, which was full of students.
About 20 minutes into the class, it felt like an explosion happened in my chest. The sensation was as instant as flipping a switch, and then boom. I could not feel my arms, I could barely breathe, I was sweating buckets, freezing cold, and flopping around the hall of my studio trying to figure out what was happening to me.
I nearly lost my life. The main artery of my heart, the left anterior descending artery (LAD) was 100 percent blocked. At the time, I didn’t know I was having a heart attack. I was 44 years old, fit, healthy, and never had a heart issue before (with the exception of that pressure two days before the attack).
My class started at 8:30 a.m., a client called 911 at 8:56 a.m., and I was getting two stents in my heart to save my life not long after 9:30 a.m. Unfortunately, the heart attack caused significant damage to my heart resulting in congestive heart failure. As a result, I was hospitalized for four days and could not leave the hospital without wearing a LifeVest, a wearable cardioverter defibrillator, designed to protect patients at risk of sudden cardiac death.
It’s wild to think I went to teach a class on a Saturday morning, and three days later I was wearing a device because my heart was so damaged and weak and I was at high risk of going into cardiac arrest or having another heart attack.
I wore the LifeVest until July of that summer while I went through 30 cardiac therapy sessions to rebuild my heart—three times a week for 10 weeks, with each session lasting about two hours. You can think of cardiac therapy like physical therapy for your heart, aimed at making it stronger and prescribed by a cardiologist. It’s part of the path to recovery after a heart attack.
Cardio exercise is the primary component of the therapy to strengthen your heart. So my sessions were combinations of cycling and rowing, as well as going on treadmills and ellipticals.
In addition to exercise, you get educated on heart health, medications, diet, and more. I also took (and still take) several medications to both heal and help my heart so that I can be active again.
I took six months off from full-time work to focus on my recovery, stopped teaching, and spent time rebuilding myself both physically and emotionally.
The recovery was challenging and the heart attack was traumatic. I was doing my work, in my place of business, and almost died. So coming back to fitness and doing my work was scary and mentally taxing. But now, two years later, I am back, but with boundaries in place to protect my heart.
At the time of my heart attack, my doctors were not sure if I would get back to cycling, but thankfully, I have been able to with “parameters” in place. I returned to teaching in September 2021, but now only teach a cycling class once a week, while mixing in strength and yoga classes. Before my heart attack, I was teaching four cycling classes a week, in addition to the strength and yoga.
I must keep my max heart rate no higher than 150, and I now take time during my rides to back off or come off the bike to check in with my body. I physically can cycle for 45 minutes straight, but don’t because pushing the boundaries isn’t worth it. I want to ride and feel good!
The biggest piece for me now, which I believe many are missing in their fitness routines, is rest and recovery. Healing from my heart attack taught me the importance of rest.
I often joke that I ride a bike that goes nowhere, but takes me everywhere. When I ride at CycleBar I feel empowered, happy, healthy and free, and I love to share that feeling with others!
I believe the reason I survived the day of my heart attack was because of how strong my heart was prior to my heart attack. It was strong enough to carry me through to get to the hospital. It’s like all the times I showed up, I was training for the day I needed my fitness most.
These tips have made my cycling journey a success:
1. Find music that motivates you
For me, there would be no riding without music. The music matters. Create a killer playlist or follow my CycleBar Harr playlist on Spotify.
2. Put zero expectations on yourself
Be proud—you are doing it! I often tell my clients and riders: “The hardest part isn’t class, it’s showing up.” You showed up, good job!
Just get on the bike with no expectations, and give yourself time to find what works for you. Don’t think of a destination—think of how you want to feel along the way, and then find how you like to ride, and where you like to ride, and just keep showing up.
3. Listen to your body
There is only one of you. This has been a crucial understanding since my heart attack.
Ratona’s Must-Have Gear
→ TIEM Cycling Shoes: I love the colors they offer, and they feel and look great!
→Maxwell House Coffee: I have coffee before I teach or work out. I rarely teach or work out at night, but never miss my fix before I start.
→ Lululemon Align Leggings: I only wear Lululemon leggings because they fit and feel good. I hate shopping, so I’ll buy several of the same.
→Yeti Tumbler: I am always thirsty after I teach or work out and will stop to treat myself to a refreshing drink after, but hate the idea of throwing away a straw and cup.
We want to hear how cycling changed you! Send your story and submit your photos to us via this web form. We’ll pick one each week to highlight on the site.
You Might Also Like
