2012 Running Thread

firstcall

 Share your thoughts about running, before, during and after treatment here.

Running is a great way to stay in shape, and an important part of our lives.

Whether you are a new runner, an experienced runner, fast, slow, or somewhere in between, share your experience, and support with each other.  Walkers, and runner wannabes also are welcome. 

Lets help each other stay active and healthy as we go through this experience.  You can do this!

Who's running? 

Jan 10-13-groovygirls - Goofy Challenge

Jan 10-13 - TriChick - Goofy Challenge 

Jan 12 - Goldlining - Donald Duck Half (part 1 of the Goofy)

Jan 13 Roan- Disney Marathon 

Feb 17 - SharonLC - Run with Donna Fight to end Breast Cancer Marathon/Half Marathon/Relay

Mar 10 - CLC - Celebrate Life Half Marathon  New York

Mar 16 - 301724 - Shamrock Shuffle Lebanon, NH  1st Race after Dx and Treatment!

Apr 15 - Roan - Boston Marathon

Apr 15 Firstcall - Boston Marathon to celebrate 1 year after Chemo

Apr 28 NatsFan - Nike Women's Half Marathon Washington DC  

May 11 - 301724 - Road to Pogue - Woodstock, VT

May 26 - LuvLuLu - Boston Run to Remember Half Marathon

June 3 - 301724 - Covered Bridges Half Marathon

Sep 1 - goldlining- Disneyland Half Marathon

firstcall

Well, I just did my first run of the year, and first run since my surgeries.  My last surgery was two weeks ago.  I kept it an easy pace, but it wasnt as easy as I had hoped.  15 minutes into it and I wasnt sure I could make it for 30 minutes.  But by 30 minutes, I felt a little better so I went another 15 for a total of 45 minutes.  It was about 4 miles, with a couple of good hills in there.  It feels good to have that first run in. 

This week will be the week to work on my decision about chemo.  I'll be meeting with my onc sometime this week for that discussion. 

The other big thing, running wise is this.  I am signed up to run the Boston Marathon in April.  No, I'm not fast, I'm on the medical team.  Of course, when I signed up, I had no idea that I would be diagnosed with bc and have all these curve balls coming at me.  It is 3 months to the marathon, and I just did my first run.  I have no idea if I can pull this off or not, but since I'm all signed up, I guess I'll just see what I can do.  If I run it, it will truely be just to finish, and if I'm in the midst of chemo, I will consider just running what I can of it.  I really don't know. 

I'm hosting a marathon and half marathon on Presidents day in three weeks.  That was planned before all this started as well.  I will go ahead with it, and just have to lean on others a little more to help out.  I don't know if I will run that day or just host. 

But it does feel good to get this first run in. 

orangemat

Hello there! Thanks for starting off the new thread, Adrian. Best of luck to you with your training. I'm signed up for a half marathon (the More Magazine Women's Half in Central Park, NYC) that's the day before Boston, six weeks after my upcoming surgery. So I can be your virtual partner in "recovery training" if you'd like. Actually, I was hoping this year I'd be able to be in Boston to be a spectator at the marathon, something I'd always wanted to do but hadn't put any effort into doing until recently. We have a cousin who's doing it, plus I have a bunch of virtual runner friends who'll be there that I'd love to finally meet in person. Doesn't look good for this year as well, travel logistics and all, but we'll see.

CLC, you will rock that 5k! You can definitely count on me for encouragement... what race is it, if you don't mind me asking? 

Today's run was 6.36 miles in 58:37, a 9:13 avg pace, which is the fastest I've been in what feels like ages. So maybe I am finally starting to recover from this marathon after all... I have a 5k I'm signed up to do on February 11 and I'd like to keep it under 27 minutes, just to save face. My best so far has been 26:24 which I did just this past New Year's Day. So yeah, while I'm not fast compared to lots of people out there, I do have my own standards. 

CLC

orangemat...it is the Port Jervis, NY Delaware River Run.  Like I said...a little town, no name run.  Just where my social anxiety can be subdued enough to go for it.

A 26:24 5k sounds awesome... I just got my run under the 30 minute mark...so I guess I have my own standards, too!  Let's hear it for just getting out there and doing it...:)

I have just started contemplating trying to do a 10K.  I haven't run that far since last spring and then only a handful of times.  Four miles is really at the top of my comfort zone.  I am scared that I will injure myself...in fact, I think I may have a very mild adductor issue going on.  If I run too much or too fast, I have a pain from the groin to my thigh.  It might just be time for new sneakers...

Sorry...rambling here...

Have a good night gang...

Claire

groovygirls

I am not signed up for any races in the near future. I am in for the NYC Marathon that will be first week of November since I deferred last year (stupid breast cancer!).

I have been a medical volunteer for several years for Boston. It is alot of fun- unfortunately I am too slow and will never BQ. 

Adrien- how did you get on the medical team to run?

I am thinking of signing DH for the MCM and I can get Vinnie Myers to do my 3D nipple tattoos the same weekend!

orangemat

Since we now have a new thread for 2012, might as well leave a forwarding address... see everyone there!

groovygirls

Congrats Goldlining on FINISHING! The medal looks amazing and there is nothing quite like a disney race. Goofy next year???

orangemat

Yes, finishing is what matters. Of course you need to start before you can finish, right?

I just signed up for another race, this coming Sunday, a 4-miler where you're encouraged to wear a superhero costume. I'm clueless... the best I can do is wear my Mickey antennae again, heh. Unless anyone has any other suggestioins??

firstcall

Gradually increasing my runs.  Stll limited by my post surgical status, but doing what I can, which is4-5 miles presently.  I think I'll try for a little further soon.  

Groovygirls - the medical team that I'm referring to is the AMAA group (American Medical Atheletic Association), which basically a group made up of doctors who run.  You have to be a physician, and you have to donate or fund raise.  I already did my fund raising, and I'm all registered.  

I did 9 marathons in 2011, so I'm not totally unprepared.  I'm not fast, but I have run a lot of miles.  I'll have to see how the next couple of months go.  I'm meeting with my oncologist soon to work out chemo details.   

groovygirls

Would they take a lovey nurse practitioner? (me)

goldlining

Thanks groovygirls. Since I posted this on the 2011 thread, I will recap here for digital integrity... I didn't see that this thread was created. (orangemat's forwarding address turned up in this thread, and I've fallen behind in the active topics while I was away).

I arrived at Disneyland on Friday and went to the Expo and got a last-minute registration for the 5K that evening. It was a great course, starting right in front of the castle, with live performance by Tinker Bell herself flying around the castle (really!) and the run wound around entirely within parks and backstage areas, 4000 people or so. Just a great route for a 5K and a great tune up run for the half. I was just 6 weeks post mastectomy and DIEP, and had only been walking on the treadmill for 60-90 minutes once a week, so wasn't sure how the half was going to go, but I discovered I was actually able to run most of the 5K and that reassured me so immensely. I alternated about 3 minute run and a 30-60 sec walk. My net pace was 13 mins/mile which is the pace I used to have when I first started running, and about 2 minutes/mile faster than I have been treadmilling this past month. By the time we got back to the hotel after the run and refreshments, I had been up for 24 hours straight, so Saturday was just park time. 

Sunday I was there for the Half with my wings on at 05:30 (late for a Disney run but at Disneyland the starting line is right outside the hotel). That course was also really nice, very well provisioned with water and powerade etc. and lots of entertainment. It was my worst finishing time ever, but I beat the straggler bus by probably 45 minutes, and that was all I asked of myself. I ran (with walk intervals) about 2/3 of it and my pace was 11:30-12 mins/mile there, and slowed down to maybe 13 or 13:30 for the brisk walk of the rest.

I sustained no sports injuries, not even a blister. Am just a little stiff, which is entirely appropriate for my level of conditioning. I ran in the CW-X tights, and put on the zensah calf sleeves afterwards. I did have a lot of swelling on one DIEP flap (the side that had nodes removed in the mx last year) and I wonder if it's truncal lymphedema. The seam at the top of the flap became a dent because it was swelling above and below, but the scar did not stretch/swell. I've been wearing a compression top to try to knock it back. The PS cleared me to even ride roller coasters while I was there (I didn't) and the flap is still warm so I don't think it's become compromised but I am going to watch it.

As appealing as it sounds, I am not sure about the Goofy for me quite yet, but I will finish the runDisney 2012 Coast to Coast challenge with the Wine and Dine Half at WDW in November. The registration for that opens in mid-March (and likely will sell out by May). If you run in a tiara for the Princess and in wings for the Tinker Bell, I wonder what you wear for the Wine and Dine... That gives me summer to work on conditioning without this big anvil over my head I have had the past two years. In 2014, maybe I'll sign up for THE Disney marathon weekend (but not the Goofy) and do the Chip and Dale marathon relay with the significant other. I don't see myself doing the whole 26 miles (let alone a half the day before) until I improve my pace to be able to get to the food tent faster! 

orangemat, I just got the superhero reference on your weekend event. It's on Super Sunday. Very clever. I think you should be Wonder Woman! 

(edited for clarity) 

orangemat

Oops! I meant to post the forwarding address on the 2011 thread, duh... glad you found your way over here anyway, goldlining. Excellent report on your race! So this was the 5k, yes? Sorry, I seem to be having trouble with all sorts of details lately, haha... glad to hear you had no issues, blisters, etc. I hope I feel just as good at my half marathon on April 15, six weeks after my "re-exchange" procedure. 

goldlining

I did 5K Friday at 10:30 pm as a tune up, then the half marathon Sunday 05:45 with much more confidence thanks to the 5K. I credit a business friend who was doing the same for giving me the idea. It was a great way to settle in especially after my long layoff without training. I had not run more than 3 minutes since October, just treadmill walking once a week for a month.

kks_rd

Adrian, thank you for starting this thread.  And Esther, thanks for posting the link!!

C130sunshine

Thanks for starting this thread. 

I have joined a "local" running group.  They are great and they accept that I am not a fast runner (I run 5K in about 31min)  but it is nice to have a place to be able to talk to people who been through some of the same things I have. 

I am going to try a marathon in November.  I am going to start working on a run/walk program.  I have an appointment this afternoon with my primary doc and on mid Feb with my oncologist to get cleared.  I have a :slight: issue with my foot....I am hoping that it is not neuropathy starting.

Keep running/walking.....

firstcall

I'm hosting a marathon on Presidents day.  It is a small event, and I had it planned before all this BC stuff started.  We'll have a half, a whole and a 50K run simultaneously.  We'll likely have around 100 runners.  A small, friendly, club running event, with a pot luck afterwards.  I'll likely start chemo before that, so that should be a challenge.  Any good runs planned for this weekend?

groovygirls

I signed up for a half marathon end of May- Boston's Run to Remember. It is for police officers and their families who were killled in the line of duty. The course looks beautiful and it will be a beutiful time of year. 16 weeks to train!

orangemat

Good for you, groovygirls! 

Here is a list of my upcoming races:

02/05 - Super Sunday 4 Miler, Morristown, NJ

02/11 - Cupid's Chase 5k, Glen Rock, NJ

04/15 - More Magazine/Fitness Magazine Women's Half Marathon - Central Park, NYC

07/27-28 - Ragnar Relay Colorado (tentative)

I'll probably sign up for a couple more races in between, but those are the definites in that I'm planning for them. With surgery on March 5, should be interesting! 

dltnhm

Love to run. I amnot fast but consistent and can keep going and going for hours if I want to. I ran over 7 miles the evening before my surger(y)(ies). When the nurse had me do the spirometer in ICU the next morning she exclaimed that she had never had anyone get such high results the first time! That was so encouraging.



I have been walking and am at presurgical pace but awaiting t he all clear to run. I hope that will be 4 weeks post-op and at the latest 5 weeks. I am at 3 1/2 now.



Surgery included 3 in 1: left nipple sparing, skin sparing mastectomy, immediate DIEP reconstruction, and axillary excision (after sentinel biopsy revealed two positive odes while I was in surgery.) total node involvement is 5. Vascular connection was made through excision incision so breast scarring is minimal (1 scar). All my surgeons and MO want really good healing at that site before I begin physical therapy for additional lymphadema prevention and before I resume running.



It is hard to wait but vigorous walking helps a great deal and I asked my friends to run for me and post their daily r weekly runs on Facebook complete with pics and detailed descriptions. they are doing that so it really helps me and some re now deciding running isn't at all as hard as they once remembered. Others are avid runners and are just pulling out the stops to support me in this.



Chemo running? Anyone doing this? My start date is 2/22 and my Chemo nurse is encouraging me to go for it! :-)



Love the thread.



Diana

eulabt

Thanks for starting this. Running really helped me get through my diagnosis and treatment last year. Once I was diagnosed-12-17-10, I knew I wanted to run a half. I ran my first on 9-18-11 in 1:54:27. Only 3 1/2 months after my Exchange. I figured Cancer can't take that away from me. Now I want more. I am running the NYC Half on March 18, 2012 trying qualify for the full on Nov. 4th.

dltnhm

Congrats eulabt! Sounds like you are rocking the pavement!

The runners high ... Endorphins kicking is ... s unmatched in my experience,

I bet those races give you something to strive for!



Diana

goldlining

Too true dltnhmI: I love to read the race reports from other people's events and the endorphins even from treadmill walking help with discomfort. I was treadmill walking at my regular walking pace at 2 weeks ... but I can't do that racewalking - those walkers that keep passing me when I run are annoying :-)  

I don't have any signed-up events yet. Waiting for the runDisney Wine & Dine Half registration to open. I've been monitoring the inbox of local events. Was thinking of a local 10K in April but will be travelling. Achilles St Patrick on Mar 18 is a 5K I might do. I enjoy the local Midsummer Night's Run 15K in August. Has very nice shirts, benefits a children's hospital clinic that treated my daughter's condition. But generally, I find it hard to look forward to local events because the scenery is so familiar and not much different than just training. I think I will just see what spontaneous events I will join in, and otherwise just train the spring and summer to get my pace back. It'll never be eulabt's 1:54:27! But maybe 2:30 if I am very diligent about it. I have noticed already that getting rid of (a) the asymmetry between mx and non-mx and (b) the large leftover breast and the weight of the foob and (c) ab flab and exchanging all that for compact DIEP (bilateral) makes a difference to how I feel when I run. It's not so heavy or effortful, even in my breathing and heart rate. When I really finish healing, I am sure it will be much better.

groovygirls

Welcome new runners!

kks_rd

Not to burst anyone's bubble, but I had difficulty running while doing chemo (last summer). Then again, I am still quite an inexperienced runner.  My goal became keeping my existing level of fitness during chemo, then advancing as able around my surgeries (both last fall). Now that I am doing rads, it has once again become difficult... my stamina is just kind of shot at the moment.  I did run 5K on the "dreadmill" today after a zumba class though (it's a good day!). 

My immediate goal is to do my best, whatever that may be, until rads and the SEs are done... maybe another 2-4 weeks.  Hopefully by mid-March I will be back on a real training schedule.  I do have a goal to race at least one 5K in March.  Ultimately, I would love to get a 10K under my belt this summer and perhaps work up to a half by fall.  That's all achieveable, right?

I will say I was impressed with how, after months of very intermittent running, I was able to work up from 5K level to being able to do 5 miles easy between chemo ending and my surgery date.  Somehow it remembers, and responds to the challenge.

goldlining

Yay Kat! Now is the time to be kind, and taking whatever we can get. Upright and smiling!

CLC

Kat, you are inspiring...it is so important to recognize our victories for what they are...you are doing that with style!!

I ran 6 miles today for the first time in almost a year....but it was on the treadmill...does that count???  I find it so much easier to run on the treadmill and I can go so much farther than on the road.  I prefer the road because I have my dog with me, but when my kids are at their dance classes, it just makes sense for me to be at the gym next door while I wait.  Is there something that I am doing wrong on the road, or something I can do better, to make the road experience easier, like the treadmill?

The other problem I have is my right adductor muscle starts barking..it is what stopped me today.  My heartrate was only 150 after the hour of running and everything else felt good...just the adductor...any suggestions????

firstcall

CLC - the treadmill does count.  Yes you can run a little faster on the treadmill, but it counts.  A few years ago the top woman in the Olympic trials was from Alaska.  She did her training on the treadmill.  If you are having trouble with your adductor, spend a little more time cross training, like the elliptical and recumbent bike.  

CLC

Adrian...

Thank you for the expertise!!  That is just the kind of info I was looking for!!! 

Claire

eulabt

goldlining....whether walking or running, timing doesn't matter. It is the fact that you are doing it:) It is so amazing to me how something like running has become my lifeline and I love sharing that with you guys.

eulabt

CLC- the treadmill totally counts. I do almost all of my running on that in the winter. I also can go faster, which I love. I have to get outside more in the coming weeks.....

ymac16

I'm glad to see this thread!! I ran my first half last June and then started training for the October 30 MCM. Was diagnosed in mid-September but specifically asked if we could hold off on the surgery until after the marathon, which they did. Managed to finish, though the time wasn't great, 5:42, but was so happy that I accomplished it despite the BC troubles. Had a bilateral mx 2 weeks later. Had planned to have immediate DIIEP flap reconstruction, but cancer spread to the nodes, so they put in TEs and will do reconstruction after my chemo treatments are done. The TEs are awful and when I first tried to run, they sloshed around so much it was uncomfortable, so gave up running for a while and just went for walks and to the gym to get in the elliptical. But, nothing really compares to running for me, so I bought some super supportive sports bra and finally went for a 3 mile run last week - it was so wonderful! Then, had my first chemo tx on Thursday - nurse told me no running the first week after but that I can the 2 weeks before the next treatment. So, hopefully I'll be able to get back into the game - I want to try to run a half sometime this year. Chemo should be done by end of May and I want to have the next surgery around November so planning on doing an event by Ocotober.