Ron Jacobs

My name is Ron Jacobs, I’m 55 years young and I live in Venlo.

After walking around with “vague complaints” for 2 months at the end of 2022 (at one point I could no longer walk 100 meters), I was diagnosed with heart failure at the beginning of 2023 and was shocked by this.

The pumping function of my heart was only 1/3 compared to a healthy heart, in one go I was a heart patient with 6 pills a day.

The prognosis for people with heart failure is generally not good and it is described as a progressive disease. My world collapsed……

I pulled myself together and did everything I could to improve my health. Put down work, start eating even healthier and if possible, move little by little.

In mid-June I got the results of an MRI scan and I can’t believe it to this day, my heart had recovered and the pumping function was back to a normal level. It had been a long time since I had received such good news.

Immediately asked the cardiologist if I could start exercising again? “Absolutely” was his answer, but slowly build up your fitness. Felt reborn, as if a new life was about to begin. And actually, it is.

I regularly saw advertisements on the Venlo city broadcaster about the “Dream Team” of the Venloop. Then I thought, “I have to do this”. I wrote a motivation letter and a day later there was an introductory meeting.

In the past I have run the 10 km with my father about 3 times and once alone, in honor of him after his death. At the time, we covered hundreds of km together with enormous motivation and a lot of fun.

In order not to have to walk alone and to overcome a lot of uncertainty after my heart problems, I signed up for the “dream team”. Training under the supervision of a very experienced trainer also gives a lot of peace of mind.

So far the best choice of the past year, super nice team with great people and each with their own story.

Hope to finish the 10 km on the Venloop 2024 but certainly don’t want to put too much pressure on myself. At the moment, the road to get there is at least, if not more important, than the final goal!

See you at the Venloon 24 March 2024, Greetz Running Ronnie