2013 Running Thread

lovestorun

LoveLulu - yet another wonderful thing about this sport and this thread  : )  Roan, am glad you, your husband and friend are okay.  

I feel a little wierd asking this, as it seems kind of selfish in light of Monday , but I'm one week into radiation and I sense my days of wearing compression to hold in the jiggle during a run are dwindling.  Those of you who went through radiation and for whom this was an issue - any tips?  Or did you just walk / do low impact activities for the duration? 

groovygirls

I am going into Boston into Boston tomorrow morning to try and get my medal. Can I try and get yours, First Call and Roan? I may need your bib #.

I am still reeling. My family was near the finish. Five minutes and this may be a different story for me.

dltnhm

So thankful you gals, Firstcall, and family members are all right and good to 'hear' your voices here on our running thread. Firstcall is my double BCO.com buddy as we are Feb 2012 Chemo starters as well as fellow runners. Our chemo family was tracking his bib.



Hugs to you all!

dltnhm

lovestorun,

I was able to run through rads and ran a 10K 2 days following my last treatment.

BUT .... My rads were following a umx and chemo ... so I suspect my field of radiation was much different than yours based on your having a lumpectomy. Your breast is the concentrated area - for me, my axilla and supraclavicular nodes were more so than my breast.

What did help me in some areas was using a dressing made by Curad - Xeroform Petrolatum Dressing. It's a fine mesh gauze infused with medication/lubrication.

I only had some minor areas right around my collar bone. I would put this on then cover that with a sterile medical pad (both cut to what was needed) and secure with paper tape and then put on my sports bra.

My RO nurse supplied me with this - but I also had a lot left over from my umx with DIEP reconstruction - as this was used on my DIEP incision and the visiting nurse had ordered a good amount.



Maybe something like this will help?

Donnabelle

You are so right Luvlulu - we are all together as Americans and we will not tolerate this evil. So glad that the Yankees supported the Sox. It truly shows that we are one.

Roan, that was an unbelievable account of your day. Yes! You would have made your goal time for sure. I am so sorry you, first call and groovy girls that after all the hard work and training the race ended in this sad way. Gosh, I don't know if I'm saying anything the right way in this post. So many people, the whole country really, profoundly affected. God help us all.

Peace and love, Donna

lewing

LuvLuLu, my heart goes out to you.  Roan, I'm thinking you were in the same hotel as one of my Detroit friends . . . he posted on Monday night that he was on lockdown as well. 

Just thinking about the chaos and confusion is horrifying, and the terrible injuries . . . too awful for words.

Linda

Anonymous

Groovy Girls, 

You are so sweet to offer to try to get my medal.  It's ok really.  My husband finished and he has his...we can share!  He hangs his marathon medals on a nice holder in our closet, so I can look at it!  I keep my medals in a drawer.  Ha!

I hope you get yours though!  Thanks for offering!  I am so glad to be home.  We got home yesterday after 12 hours of traveling---we got up at 4:00 AM (3:00 my time) to fly home.  2 hour layover in Atlanta, and then 1.5 hour drive home from Memphis airport.  I was so happy to see my five precious children!!

lovestorun

Roan, GroovyGirls, FirstCall, LoveLulu, and others...if you want to feel some running love, check out the following facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Run-For-Boston-417/613135315380603

On the right of the page, where it says "recent posts by others" click on "See all"

I don't know if you have to have a facebook account to see all of the photos people have sent in.

You are not alone.

Annette47

Lovestorun - I didn't have any skin problems, but did have a lot of swelling and tenderness, especially during the last couple weeks of rads, to the point where even doubling up on the compression bras wasn't enough to keep things comfortable.   I just stopped running for a few weeks and stuck to walking as much as possible.    

Frustrating at the time, but now, 6 weeks later, a blip on the radar screen!

groovygirls

I was able to pick up my medal and FirstCall's medal today. On the floor going into the room where you get the medal was a finish line that was the same one at the official end. It allowed me to cross the finish line. I sobbed when the volunteer place the medal around my neck. Lots of tears shed by everyone.

sandpiper1

I just cried as I read that GG. Hugz and ty for sharing that moment

(W4D2)

NatsFan

Groovy - thank you so much for sharing that.  I also had tears.  What a perfect idea they had to set up the finish line so the runners who were stopped could cross it. 

firstcall

Thank you groovygirls for helping me get the medal!   I still need to put my story down in writing. Its going through my head all the time, but I've found it hard to write it down.  Its just so overwhelming. I was never afraid, but I am so saddened by the losses other sustained.  I will write more soon. 

lewing

I'm crying too, gg.  And looking forward to reading your account, firstcall, whenever you're ready to write it.

L

ReneeinOH

Your stories are so touching.  Thanks for sharing.

Anonymous

Groovy Girls, I am so glad they had the finish line! How awesome! Your telling about it made me cry! I feel like I am in a fog just like last year during my diagnosis time and BMX.



It's been one year since I was cleared to run again. I am so grateful for my progress and my good health.... But the Boston trauma has set me back emotionally.



I have signed up for the Tupelo 14.2 Miler on September 1. Also, I am running the Coke 10K with my 9 yo daughter on May 4.



When I post about my Boston experience on my blog, I'll share the link.

goldlining

Wow, that was really thoughtful of them. I am glad you got to do that, and not just "here, take it". Very moving. I cry at a normal finish line. I would have been a basket case there. Looking forward to reading the reports when the stuff sorts itself out for everyone.

LuvLuLu

Hey runners, as I sit here the city is in lockdown. One suspect is dead, the other is on the loose but I think they have him holed up somewhere, hopefully trapped like a rat. I'm actually at work, one city over and we're watching the situation unfold on tv.

There was a "movement" asking everyone to wear Boston items today in support. I have on my Boston Marathon long sleeved t-shirt from way back in 1996. I never wore it, saving it for a special day. Well, today's that day and I wear it proudly.

One more note, my beautiful niece who I posted about earlier wrote on her Facebook page that she qualified for next year's Boston and, she wrote, "I WILL BE THERE!"

Keep moving, all....one foot in front of the other!!  xoxo

301724

Have to share with you what a tough runner my daughter is.....she ran a 17 mile trail race on the weekend. At mile 2, she fell on the ice (hey - they're still getting snow in the Upper Midwest....). She got up, shook herself off, and continued the race. So - she ran 15 more miles, then drove herself 2 hours home. Then decided she probably should go to the ER. Turns out she broke her elbow - ended up with surgery to put in a plate and 6 screws. She's planning an ultra in 5 weeks. This is one amazing kid!

RunFree16

Goldlining, I'm with you about the crying at ordinary finish lines--so the story about the re-created Boston finish line is a multi-hankie!  I'm eager to read more about Roan, groovygirls, and firstcall's experiences.  Roan, I don't wonder this is hitting you as a setback.  The races you have planned will be good therapy.  Your 9-year-old is awesome!  My 12-year-old son ran a 5K with me last summer, but I can't see him running a 10K, and my 15-year-old daughter doesn't do anything athletic.  I've been fixated on this Boston story like everyone.  The Boston area was and is a big part of my life, although I don't live there anymore.

301724, your daughter is a boss!  Sorry about her elbow but obviously she doesn't stop for anything!

lovestorun

Good morning all.  There will be lots to process and lots to learn, but the meantime, I hope everyone slept a little better knowing that suspect 1 and suspect 2 aren't still out there. 

Beautiful spring morning here - joined 700 or so other runners and walkers in a community 5K.  Thanked as many volunteers as I could along the route.

My weekly report:

-Wed. - 2 miles run for Boston
-Fri. - 4.5 pool running miles
-Sat. - 3.1

I've said it before or think I have, and it bears repeating - thank you to all of you on this thread for posting, sharing and being here. 

SharonLC

Natsfan and LuvLuLu sorry that you all had personal connections to this horrific act of terror, too.

Roan, GroovyGirls and FirstCall so good to hear from you all again and thankful that you all are home and safe ... finish line/medal receiving experience GroovyGirls, so happy for you but crying too along with the others that it happened under these circumstances. GroovyGirls I pray that your children are doing okay being so close. Roan, I pray that you will be able to run the races you have registered for ... moving forward is the best way to go as hard as it's going to be. I was relieved to read that your children were not in Boston and I know you  and GroovyGirls have hugged them hard many times this week as I have done with mine, too.

When I let my daughters see a news segment of the bombing ... my 7 yo first frightful words were I am not doing any more races, but through reassurance but not promising it can't happen again ... she is okay with it ... our family is walking/jogging along with hundreds of others in a 5.2 mile fundraiser on Sunday night that our city is having in honor of those who didn't have the opportunity to finish and raise money for the families of the victims.

Emotional week ... still heartbroken ... such a senseless act of terror ... loss of lives, injuries, emotions impaired ... but also ... heroes and heroines, families, communities and running/sport events pulling together ... cried many tears of sadness and ones of joy at the aftermath last night with all the wonderful people coming out on the streets and cheering and applauding the brave first responders/fbi/police/emergency workers/etc after the second one was caught. Thankful for this thread and we will return, in due time, to being the "HAPPIEST THREAD ON BCO".

firstcall

Boston Marathon 2013.  A long awaited day.  A day of celebration, being one year after the completion of chemo.   I boarded the bus for the starting line about 630 am.   The weather looked good, but chilly at the start.  Accordingly, I picked up some sweat pants and shirt at Goodwill beforehand, planning to leave them at the starting line, where they will be returned to Goodwill.  I looked at the$10 as rent.  Good enough to keep me warm while I waited to start.  The bus seemed to take forever.  Stop and go, and finally arriving at athletes village.  Time went quickly there.  Porta potty lines were a problem, with everyone hydrating so faithfully.   I wore my compression top, (thank you LE) with a light tank over it, and compression knee highs as well.  A hat for the anticipated sun, and bright red/orange lightweight racing shoes.    Last minute sun screen and vasoline in place, and I took my place in the last corral of the last wave. 

I heard the ‘pop’ of the starting gun, but no one was moving.  It took several minutes before my group started to move.  I slipped out of my sweats and handed them to a volunteer, trusting that they would make their way back to Goodwill.  I double checked my phone, which was secure in a zip lock bag in a waist band, and my two Shuffles.   I had carefully selected my music so that each song had a cadence of 180 bpm, which is the speed I wanted to run at.  (Yes, I remember Marching Band days).  I wasn’t taking any chances, because I wanted music, so I brought two shuffles just in case one died.  I also brought two headphones.  If you get too much moisture on the earphones, they stop working, and it takes hours for them to dry out again.  I had 6 fruit roll ups in a pouch on my waist.  As I crossed the starting line, cameras flashing, I pressed the start button on my GPS.  There were people everywhere, favorite music ringing in the air.  The first couple of miles are downhill, so I thought I would run it a little faster.  5 minutes into the run and my IPOD shuffle stopped working.   Did I not charge it right?  So I switched over to the second one.  Mile 1 marker at 9:44.  A little too fast, I know I can’t hold that pace, but I also know it’s a downhill, and it should be a little faster than the other miles.  Mile 2 was still downhill and I pulled back a little at 10:25.  People were still shuffling positions and working out who would run where.  It was hard to pass people because there were so many, and I didn’t want to use up my energy weaving in and out.  Mile marker 3 was at 10:28.  Steady pace, which is what I was looking for.  Mile 4 10:26.  Now things were a little more level, and kind of a rolling hill stretch.  I’m still running a little faster than I had planned, and I’m thinking I may pay for this if I’m not careful.  Mile 5 11:34.  Mile 6 11:18.  Mile 7 11:37.  Lots of people.  I mostly stayed in the center of the road, it seemed like the surface was a little more even there.  Mile 8 11:58, I was hoping to still be hanging onto the 11 minute mile but it was slipping away.  Mile 9 11:57.  I see a sign on the side of the road, which says ‘slow’.  Seriously?  I already knew that.   And then I see someone holding up a sign which says, ‘Toenails are for sissies’.  That brought me a smile, thinking back to running during chemo and having all of my toenails fall off.  Before I reach the halfway mark I start to really feel some fatigue in my legs and my feet are hurting.  I start to have thoughts of ‘If I’m hurting this much now, how am I ever going to run those hills?’  Then the crowd at Wellesley.  All the girls with the ‘kiss me’ signs.  I was pretty sure that they didn’t mean that for this sweaty old guy, but their energy helped pass that mile by, and my legs and feet felt a little better by mile 14. I know that the longest downhill is coming up and I start to prepare for it.  I’m going to try to pick it up again when I come to it.  It starts at about mile 15.5, and I do find a good pace, and manage another 11 minute mile.    Next up are the hills.  There are 4 hills, the first is at about mile 17.  I backed off a little at mile 16, wanting to have strength for the hills.  Rounding the corner at the fire station in Newton, its time for the hills.  There were people walking on the hills.  I was determined to keep running.   I was passing bushes and trees like they were standing still.  I was able to pass the walkers slowly.  I didn’t notice the second hill, I think it was minimal compared with the others.  The third hill started at mile 19, and I was still running.   Well, kind of running, I was still able to pass the walkers, barely.  A brief leveling of the road, a turn and there it was, heartbreak.  This is the steepest hill on the marathon.  Still determined to keep running, and slowly but steadily passing the walkers, I climbed to the top of heartbreak, mile 21.  From here there is a gentle downgrade, although at this point the downhills are uphill.  I was surprised to find myself feeling better than I had a few miles before, but my feet were getting pretty sore.  As I approached Cleveland circle I heard a siren coming from behind.  An ambulance passed by, and then another, lights ablaze and their low frequency siren wasn’t as bad as some of the other sirens.  Still running I heard more sirens.  This time it was high frequency, piercing sirens.  Motorcycle cops, coming from behind.  One, two, three….then I lost count.  Do they really have to make all that noise?    More aid cars, lights flashing, all coming from behind.   At some point I overheard a sidewalk policeman on his radio, and I thought I heard him say something about them closing the course early, and at some point I heard some chatter about something happening at the finish line.  I still did not know the magnitude of what was happening, and I wondered, ‘Seriously?? Why would they close the course…..I’m not that slow!’  And I don’t have much further to go.  I pulled my phone out of its waist pouch, and I keep running.  It was a little too bright for me to see the screen, so I autodialed my voicemail.  I was surprised to have a dozen urgent messages from family and friends.  ‘Where are you?!’  ‘You need to get out of there!’  Messages from across the country about bombs at the finish line.  Still running toward the finish line, I try to process all of this.  A young man running near me said ‘You’re old enough to be my father, and I can hardly keep up with you’.  We paced together for a few minutes, but I lost track of him as I tried to get a couple of calls out.  It took several attempts to get a call out.  I managed to make contact with my office, and my receptionist said ‘thank goodness you called, the phone is ringing off the hook, all of your patients are calling to see if you are ok.’   I reassured her that I was fine and asked her to pass that on to anyone who called.  Passing the 25 mile mark, it starts to sink in…..there is no finish line.  I once had a running shirt that said that, but now it has a new meaning.   No finish line…  Now there are barriers over the roadway and a few volunteers directing us to leave the course.  ‘Leave the course?  One mile to go, and I am supposed to leave the course?  Where am I supposed to go??? I continue to run, now on the streets of Boston, and I have no idea where I am.  It doesn’t take long and my GPS is well past the 26.2 miles of the marathon and I am totally lost.  I have no idea where I am, I don’t recognize anything or anyone.  By now I know that this is a total disaster, and I am lost and alone.    There are more sirens, and I am now in a world of chaos.  Fortunately, I didn’t have anything to pick up at the finish area.  I didn’t know what to do, so I kept running.  I have no idea if I’m running toward the finish or away from it.  It seemed that the thing to do is move away from danger at this point.  Where is that?  I saw a city bus, stopped in traffic so I ran to it, and pounded on the closed door.  As the door opened, I blurted out, ‘I was running the marathon and they closed the course because of the bomb….I’m from out of town and lost, can you get me to the train?!?’  ‘Climb on’ came the reply.  My phone rang again, and someone said, ‘Where are you?’  ‘I have no idea where I am!’ I exclaimed.  At that point the bus driver is laughing out loud.  ‘Its just the way you said that’ he said.  I guess I don’t talk like the locals there.  Several minutes later the bus stopped and he pointed me to the train station.  A kind lady sensed my situation and walked me to the entrance.  As I enter the station, I cant find an attendant anywhere.  Its all electronic, and I don’t have any money to buy a ticket.  Knowing I have to get on the train, I jump right behind someone going through the electronic gate and manage to get on the train.  This is the orange line, and I need the red line.  No sooner do we start rolling, than the PA system announces that this train will not be stopping at the stop that connects with the red line, it is closed because of the lock down.  The other passengers tell me to get off at Chinatown, and walk to South Station.   On the street again, I have no idea where South Station is, and I again explain my plight to three men, who just finished watching the game at the local pub.  ‘Come with us….we’ll get you to south station’.  Another long walk and I enjoyed making some new friends.   As we approached the station, one asked me if I had my wallet.  ‘No, I don’t have anything’.  The next thing I know these three guys have their wallets out and want to give me money for train/bus or whatever.  I tried to decline, thinking I could talk my way onto the train, but they insisted on sending a few dollars with me.  As I approached the entrance to the Red Line a security guard waved me over (it helps to be in marathon attire when you wander the streets of Boston) and let me in the security gate.  Once on the train, I found myself with children who had been near the finish line at the time of the bombing.  We talked and talked.  They had so many questions.  Finally, back in my room I cleaned up and watched the news….so many questions…

ksm

Wow. That was an excellent writing of your adventure. Your run sounded like it was a great one. So glad you are ok.

goldlining

Thank you so much firstcall. The story works on both literal and metaphorical levels!

On race day, I was looking at your split times, and I thought man, I could maybe keep up with you, then you actually were going faster in the second half! But the part after 26.2 was the bonus challenge. So glad it worked out for you.

I was looking for London Marathon on TV (watched along the Thames at Mile 25 last year) but only snippets of it here. Also saw clips from the inaugural West Bank Marathon on TV, with one man running in a T shirt with a picture of the 8-year old boy and his "No Hurting" sign. 

As people are saying, if you are trying to break the human spirit, don't mess with runners.

lewing

Wow, firstcall, just wow.  Thanks so much for sharing your story -- it's a great race report but also something more than that, and you write it really well.  So glad you're OK.

Goldlining, I'm really intrigued by this West Bank marathon.  Do you have a link or anything?  (I guess I can always google it.)  I have lots of friends who are activists against the occupation and for peace in the region, and the idea of a peace run by both Israelis and Palestinians is really moving.

Second the notion that you don't mess with runners!

Linda

LuvLuLu

WOW, firstcall....crazy, crazy day.  It's uplifting to hear about the kindness of strangers.

Now  my 1/2 marathon next month (Boston's Run to Remember) is really taking on new meaning.

Lots of - I guess I don't want to say "celebrations" going on in Boston now, because I guess they aren't really celebrations. Just thankfulness to all who helped. But I can't help thinking, there are still 4 people dead.

The beautiful Krystal Campbell is being buried tomorrow. She was in some of my son's high school classes. Rumour has it that that horrible church group that likes to picket in the name of God is planning to show up. I don't understand how anybody can perform acts of terror in the name of God who is all loving!!!

Anyway, we will all move forward.

Luv to all! xoxo

NatsFan

First Call - thank you so much for your first person account.  While those of us at home knew what had happened, your account brought home what it was like for the runners still on the course who had no idea what was going on.  Your account also shows examples of the small deeds of heroism everyone performed that day in the way everyone reached out to you to make sure you were safe.  It sounds like you were putting together a great run - even Heartbreak Hill didn't faze you.  So glad GG picked up your medal for you - it's richly deserved.  

Luvlulu - the picketers sound like that horrible Westboro Baptist Church - they even picket at funerals at Arlington Cemetary for soldiers killed in action.  They're virulently anti-gay and welcome anything bad that happens in the US saying it's a justified punishment from God.  Their latest screed says God sent the bombs to punish Massachusetts because they were the first state to legalize gay marriage.  They use horrible nasty words to refer to gay people and are totally fixated on it.  It's not a big church despite the name - it's basically a guy and his family and a few other sad followers. 

Ran a 10K race this morning - lots of Boston pride and runner solidarity showing.  Anyone who had a Boston Marathon jersey or hat was of course wearing it, but there were plenty of Red Sox caps and shirts, and lots of home made ribbons in the Marathon colors, and people were wearing signs supporting Boston.  

My half marathon is next Sunday in DC - we've already received tweets and emails from Nike reassuring participants that security measures were being reviewed and beefed up.  DC hosts so many protests, marches, and foreign dignitaries that the DC police and the federal enforcement agencies are used to working together and the lines of communication are strong, so I feel pretty safe.    

301724

First Call - thanks for the amazing story!

RunFree16

FirstCall, thank you so much for taking the time to write that detailed account.  It really conveys the day so well. 

Goldlining, I hadn't heard this exactly yet--"if you are trying to break the human spirit, don't mess with runners"--but like so many other things connected with running, it makes me choke up.  I suppose the same line could be said of BC warriors.  I hope to be deserving of that line in both ways, and even just deserving of the title of "runner" which has been close to my heart since I was 8 years old, but a struggle to achieve in reality.  Who me, emotional?  What a world, what a week.