2012 Running Thread

eulabt

Kks_rd and orangemat- thanks for remembering! Today is the day. Just got up(4am) and am drinking my coffe:) I am very anxious and nursing a minor injury. Still hoping to PR, but have heard that Central Park will be hard because of so many runners! Going to enjoy the craziness and will report back in a couple of hours! Running this for all of my pink friends!

iswimibikeirun

great negative split, orangemat!  I don't think I'll be as lucky as you with a HM pr any time soon.

good luck eulabt!

 Did my last run until after recovery yesterday.  Ran with a friend whose slightly faster.  Thankfully, she decided she was going to cut it short too.  We managed 7 miles (although we originally planned 8).  It was nice since she wanted to run with me and see me before Monday's surgery. 

goldlining

Creeping up in my conditioning, improved to a 7:09/km pace (11:26/mile) in my 5K this morning. it felt good and no injuries sustained. The weather is warming up here so hope to keep at it now outdoors.  Looking forward to the race report from NYC! 

eulabt

The race is over and it was pretty hard. I finshed in 1:45:59, a PR for me. Didn't hit my goal of 1:44, but pretty damn close:) it took all I had in me to finish.

goldlining

But sooo close. Congratulations! I will never see that time, so it looks good from here!

firstcall

eualbt - what a great run!

ymac16

Congrats eualbt! You all are an inspiration for me to try for a half this year!

orangemat

Wow, congrats! I know it wasn't the time you wanted, but still an excellent time. And a PR to boot, woohoo!!

kks_rd

Awesome eulabt!  I worked on speed intervals today... tomorrow is the first run for the Couch to 5K group I'm leading - using this with the hope that I can get back into some kind of routine.  There were over 50 people who wanted to be signed up on the mailing list, we'll see how many newbie runners emerge from this group

iswimibikeirun

Great job, eulabt!  I can only dream of a 2 hour half . . . 

thriceblessed

I ran my first marathon (Rock and Roll USA in DC) this weekend!  5 hrs 19 minutes.  Take THAT cancer!

Prior to cancer dx 2 1/2 years ago, I was a couch potato - no exercise, never considered running.  As a triple negative, I wanted to develop a habit to exercise an hour a day to keep the cancer away, and put a 5K on the calendar as an incentive. Then a half marathon.  Then yesterday's marathon.   You all inspired me and were part of my success...Thanks!

goldlining

thriceblessed, awesome!! That is so amazing! It makes me wonder, now that most of the surgery is behind me, whether I can improve my pace enough to try a full marathon. (Currently, a half marathon is as long as I can go without snacks!) That was great to read! So inspiring!

thriceblessed

Why do you have to go without snacks?  Is eating goo or powerbars etc an option?

goldlining

I think I would need a whole box of bars. As it is, every pocket on both SPIbelts is full of things, otherwise I actually might just carry a box of bars! (I am still confused about the soy thing and estrogen and whether it is a good or a bad thing to eat those running bars that are full of soy whatnot.) I am not able to do goo yet - it is a texture phobia - but I can eat as much as a bagel and peanut butter and yogurt and banana before the start and a package of ShotBlox during a half marathon and sometimes it's only the thought of the food at the finish line gets me through the last mile. At my current pace, I would be eating my windbreaker by mile 15. I always thought if I could get the half down to 2:30, then I might be able to find a way. Getting to that is a milestone itself, but then the full marathon would be such a big win. I envy and admire it!

orangemat

I can't stand GU. I just started trying the Clif Shot gels and the consistency is much more palatable. Thinner, and not as cloyingly sweet. Though I haven't tried any during a run yet so far, only just before, so we'll see.

As for soy products, I believe the word is that if it's processed, we should avoid it, like in soymilk. But in a natural state, like tofu and edamame, it's OK. Goldlining, if you're on FB, there's a group there called Women Who Run the World with lots of experienced and knowledgeable women runners and athletes. Lots of newbie runners too, discussing all sorts of issues and questions that anyone of us might have. It's a wonderful and supportive environment, and sometimes it's good to step away from the BC world for a bit, if you know what I mean.

thriceblessed, major congratulations to you!! And that's a really good time for a first marathon, fabulous! So what's next on your race calendar? 

Kat, so how was your beginning runners' group yesterday? I've often thought about leading a group like that. There are Fleet Feet stores in my area that have organized Couch to 5K lessons as well, a resource I never knew about when I first started running. How wonderful to pay it forward like that.

Yesterday I ran 4.5 miles in my neighborhood into the park and back home again. It's only 1.5 miles into the county park from my house, but I'd been driving to run there recently since it's all uphill going home. So yesterday was the first time I tried negociating the hills since surgery two weeks ago. Maintained a consistent 10 min/mile pace for the entire run, perfect! Tonight is the track workout, which I won't do, but I'll go run there in the company of my running club and do my laps.

Hope everyone's doing well! 

groovygirls

You guys are so FAST! I am week 3 of training for my half marathon. I have roped a co-worker into doing it with me. She is a beginner and we go out at lunch and do 3 miles (and she is having a blast!). It is HOT today- 70s in March in NH!

goldlining

Thanks orangemat - that seems to confirm my bypass-the-bars instinct. I eat granola bars that have no soy (although not specifically as a running bar). I would eat an edamame if it was in my salad but I wouldn't go looking for it. Tofu, just not for me. Likewise Facebook. I do enjoy Runner's World magazine which I can usually read in the physio waiting room and not have to buy it, but some is online. I usually pick up new information there.

It is gorgeous where I am today too. Although not as hot as predicted, it's still nice. It might be good for running after work. Anniversary schmanniversary ;-)

eulabt

thericeblessed- congrats! What an amzing accomplishment. I don't know if I have it in me to do a marathon, but I am, going to try. Thanks for the motivation!

Anonymous

Hi everyone!  I am new to this list.  Today marks the two week mark since my bilateral mastectomy, sentinel lymph node biopsy with tissue expanders put in.  I am learning how to navigate this list...and I will learn all of the acronyms, hopefully!  I notice that some of you have a list of your diagnosis in your posts....I'll be honest, I don't know all of the exactness of my diagnosis.  My husband is a physician, and he explained everything to me in laymen's terms for the most part.  I know it was DCIS, high grade, 2cm,  I had 2 lymph nodes removed and they were negative, and I am hormone receptive, whatever that means.  I haven't met with oncologist yet.  I have an appt, with my general surgeon later today.

Anyway.....I am a runner.  I ran two marathons (my first two) last year.  I have run 11 or 12 (can't remember) half marathons.  I am 42.  I have 5 children, ages 6-16.  My whole family runs.  We are all going to Boston in a few weeks for my husband to run the Boston Marathon.  Today, I walked our 1/3 mile driveway.  Yipee!  Also, prior to my diagnosis, I finished the Insanity workout program.  It took me 65 days instead of 63, because I had to rest for two days after my first ultrasound guided needle biopsy. 

So I am looking forward to reading how soon after your mastecomies did you walk/run, how you managed the tissue expander discomfort with running, etc.   

goldlining

Welcome Roan. I think this is the happiest thread on the BCO site. 

I started treadmill at 4mph 2 weeks post blateral DIEP, with the abdominal incision being a big factor (I could not stand up straight for 5 1/2 weeks). I ran 5K at 6 weeks in about 39 minutes, and did a half marathon 2 days later in just over 3 hours. I had just started running 18 months before my diagnosis and I was conditioning and improving and had just run my first half and then it's been 2 years of surgery and starting over. My personal best is only 2:43 for a half so I was not unhappy with 3 hours considering the 5K was the first I had run post-op. 

I think the tissue expander people might have more of value to share. I had more difficulty running after lumpectomy (jiggle) than I did after the first mastectomy (no jiggle). And since DIEP I have jiggle plus abdominal tightness to contend with.  

Looking forward to your run reports! 

kks_rd

Hey, thanks for assking!  My C25K group is doing well.  We had many people sign up to get the info by email and about 8 people have showed up each day this week.  There are some natural pace leaders which is a huge help -one is faster than me and one kind of brings up the rear; I'm in the middle.

I was running alongside one woman who didn't get the chance to join us on Monday. This was her first time running in like 25 years, and she said she was terrifically out of shape.  She made it through the first six 1-min intervals and struggled through the last two... BUT.... she finished the workout today.  She thanked me and said she felt awesome even though her lungs were "on fire." 

eulabt

Welcome Roan! this is such a great thread to be on. 

kks_rd- i love what you are doing with your group. WTG

I just signed up for a fu  5K this weekend and another half in 5 weeks. I am telling myself that I am just running the half for fun. Haha, we'll see:) 

firstcall

I enjoy reading about each of your running successes.  I'm in the middle of chemo presently, and I have continued to run.  I'm planning to go the Boston Marathon which will be a few days before my final treatment.  I have no idea how I will do running that distance with 'chemo legs', but I plan to give it a go.  I'm not running with the expectation that I will even finish it.  I'm anemic because of my chemo, and I'll have to double check that just before I go.   Too low could be a deal breaker.  Again, I don't think I will finish it, but they give the T shirts at the expo, I'll at least get my T, and I'll see how it goes.  So....any suggestions for what I should put on my T shirt that I will wear to run?  

thriceblessed

firstcall - you're made of iron!  and inspire me.  I wore on the back on my T-shirt: Front says: I run...  Back says: to keep cancer away.  Then has my dx date and stage.  Got lots of encouragement along the run.

goldlining

Yes firstcall, you have to start it and get the shirt! And because it's BOSTON, even if running the whole thing was out of the question, I'd be thinking, "how long and fast can I actually keep up walking, because they have enough medals for everybody, if only I can get there."

I was thinking about messages on my shirt for the half, like sort of "excuse my slowness but six weeks ago I had 11 hours of surgery, sliced open from hip to hip", but in the end I couldn't think of anything concise and I realized people would probably talk to me if I did, and I don't wear my hearing aid when I run. I do love reading the other shirts though. (Favourite, on man in green tutu skirt at the TInk Half: "my wife is pregnant, so here I am.")

How about "Boston > Chemo"? Nobody can argue with that math! :-)

eulabt

firstcall- you are amazing. Good luck in Boston! How fun:)

groovygirls

Firstcall- I will be thinking of you and lovingly packing your race bag for you. I volunteer for the Alzheimers Association and pack up the race bags! Want a sneak peek of the shirts this year?

CLC

firstcall...Working off of thriceblessed's shirt...how about "I run" on the front and "because cancer won't stop me!" on the back...  Or, "I am proof"..."chemo doesn't have to hold you back"...

You're an inspiration!!

groovygirls...how cool, filling the bags!!  What fun!

I am still experimenting...but having foot and adductor issues, so running a lot less and cross training a whole lot...and soon the pool will be open and I will start my swimming...  But I come here and read up on what you all are doing for inspiration...you are an amazing group!!!:)

orangemat

Wouldn't it be great if we could all meet up at a race or even just for a run sometime! All of you inspire me so much... make me feel good about my commitment to keep going, doing what I'm doing, just because I can.

Still working my surgery-recovery tactic of alternating walking and running days. Walked 10.7 miles yesterday in just under 3 hours, felt good all the way, so I'm happy to know my strength for extended time on my feet is doing well. Today I hope to run 8, maybe even 10 miles, just to see how my cardio endurance is going. Firstcall, I'll be thinking about you all during my HM the day before Boston, sending you good vibes for the strength to press on. I only wish I could come up to Boston that afternoon to watch the marathon the next day!

eulabt

Ran a fun 5K this morning for a great cause. I did it in 23:08 and won 1st in my age group! I'll take that:)