2013 Running Thread

SharonLC

FirstCall thank you for sharing your experience and to keep on running even after you found out that the finish line was closed and then having to run farther then 26.2 ... AMAZING ... and once again, but can't be said to often, so glad you and the others are ok.

Got back an hour ago from out local 5.2 at 5 for Boston fundraiser ... don't have exact figures but at least 1000 participants and at least $12,000 raised. Proud of both of my daughters to complete the distance, hubbie, too ... farthest they ever ran ... my 7 y.o. ran it with me in 59:27, she only let me have about 8 walk breaks ... she was like the energizer bunny ... she kept wanting to go and go ... very proud mom that they did this!

goldlining

The West Bank run was covered on the CTV news but they don't seem to have it on their website. However I do see other videos of it linked on Google so I will leave the Googling to you.

On the theme of "don't mess with runners", if you have not seen The Colbert Report for Tuesday April 16, it's definitely worth a watch to see his great opening remarks on Boston and runners. Hit just the right notes.

kcmanis

I was glad to see a post about running.  I am still going through Chemo - 2 more left and have been an avid runner for many years.  For the past 3 years been doing speed workouts 2x a week, running half and full marathons and really trying to get faster.  Since my diagnosis and surgery things have gone down hill.  Prior to my surgery, i was at 50 miles a week..  running 8-10 miles before work at 5:30am and feeling great.  now I can barely run 5 miles.. there are some days i cant even run a mile without stopping.  I had to take off 6 weeks of running after the mastectomy and now with chemo, I am having a hard time with every run.  Have any of you experienced that?  I am fearful that the love I had with running may be taken away for good. 

LuvLuLu

KC, please don't get discouraged!  You're still going thru chemo and your body has taken a beating but you WILL get back to where you were.

My training sounds similar to yours, not quite the same mileage and I haven't done a marathon in years, but I'm registered for a half next month. I do 2 days of speedwork on the treadmill and 3 days longer runs outside - usually 8 miles at 5 am w/a great training partner. We average about 30 miles/week.

I was lucky to not have chemo, but had to take 6 weeks off after surgery and I did a whole lotta walking!

Don't EVER think that running has been taken from you for good. I know all the other people on this post will tell you the same and be very encouraging. It's a great support group.  You will get your fitness back. Be patient with yourself, listen to your body and rest when you need to.  We all heal differently, we all bring different experiences here but you WILL heal.

Eat right, rest when you need to, take your time and be kind to yourself! You will get there. This is just a blip on the radar.

NatsFan

KC - some people are able to keep running or otherwise working out during chemo, while others like me are hit hard with fatigue and other side effects and can't exercise at all by the end.  Everyone is different.  Even if your last couple of tx wipe you out to the point where you can't run at all, don't stress about it.  As Luv says, be kind to yourself and rest as you need to.  Once chemo is over you can begin to build up again and eventually you'll get back to your pre-dx levels. 

sandpiper1

Dropping in to say a quick HI.

TY FC.

Happy trails to all and big hugz

xoxoxoxo piper

CLC

Oh, FirstCall...what a wonderful post.  I have been feeling sad for the runners.  And feeling somehow guilty for feeling sad for the runners, when "all" the runners lost was their finish line, while others lost their limbs and lives.  Somehow, beautifully, you managed to convey the mixture of feelings without judgement, guilt or any kind of apology...without minimizing the true horror of the day.  Thank you.  Thank you for all of that perspective. 

ReneeinOH

Thanks for sharing your experience FC.  

It's inspiring to hear others push through and regain running in their lives, and also helpful to know that some have been challenged w/SE.  I had just started before BC, and am finding it difficult to get back into the rhythm.  Fatigue is my albatross.  Yesterday it felt as if I had lead in my shoes.  But, I'm going to be kind to myself, go with the flow, and just do the best I can.  

firstcall

KC....I hope you keep running through chemo.  It helps that you had a strong base before chemo.  I ran through chemo, and it was like swimming in molasses.  My 9 minute mile went down to about a 15 minute mile.  I lost nearly all of my toenails.  But it was very very good for me, and I think it made a huge difference on getting through chemo.  Just yesterday I was reflecting on the past year since completing chemo.  It was one week after the marathon, and I ran 6 hilly miles which I did in 1 hour and 2 seconds and felt great.  I feel like my running is coming back.  I was never a fast runner, but I was generally able to stay in the middle of the pack.  It will take time, but you can do it.  Running is a matter of sticking with it. 

Anonymous

First Call--Thanks for sharing your story!  I finally blogged my story yesterday.  It took me that long to be able to sit down and share my thoughts.  Here is the link to my post.

My Boston Marathon Experience

Last night I joined 300 other runners/walkers of all ages for a "Runners United to Remember" event.  The 10K race course was opened for one hour. I ran/walked 3.1 miles with my 7yo son.  My other four children and my husband ran various distances.  This event raised $2000 for the Boston One Fund.  At the end, they had made a crepe paper blue and yellow finish line for my "Koach" and me to cross.  He is the other local Boston Marathoner who did not get to finish....(and he is a cancer survivor too--melanoma).  We were presented with Boston Marathon medals (My husband gave me his, and another friend gave hers to Koach).  It was a tearful moment.  

sandpiper1

(((2013 running thread)))

Going to head over and read your blog Roan, ty for sharing the link.

After a 2 week slump and near giving up on this whole running thing, I have managed to complete W5D1.

This from the girl who got stuck at week 3 forever!!

There may be hope for me yet!

Happy trails and have a wonderful day all.

xoxoxo

piper

NewGrrl

It's heartening to read these posts!  Before my diagnosis, I'd been running for about 3 yrs, even right through our cold, Canadian winters.  I ran 8k the day before my first chemo treatment.  I had taken time off post-surgery but as soon as I got the go-ahead, I was back out there.  My first chemo treatment hit me like a mack truck ... loaded down with a ton of bricks and pulling a freight train.  After that, the combo of chemo and a long, cold, dark winter sapped me of all ambition and drive and I pretty much hibernated.  I tried to get out there once and run 2k but I ended up alternating between walking/running.  I had no energy or cardio endurance.  I was sapped.  Now, with chemo thankfully finished (Hallelujah) but just starting radiation, I'm still feeling so wiped out.  I had big expectations - maybe too big - of welcoming spring by strapping my runners back on and getting out there.  With the cloud of chemo gone, my initial euphoria has been replaced with something close to disappointment.  I've put so much weight on during my treatments and I feel so heavy and slow.  It's like post-chemo let-down or something.  I won't let myself go there though.  I'm determined to be positive.  I'm too grateful, after all I've gone through.  I'm alive and breathing and surrounded by love and support.  You people have inspired me and I know I just have to tap back into that well of patience and perseverance that has served me so well.  Any advice on getting back into it?  I know I need to take baby steps but I do so want to progress back to running.  I've been running the 10K Terry Fox Run (a Canadian hero who started running across Canada from Atlantic to Pacific - on prosthetic leg - back in 80's before cancer took his life) for a few years now and I really want to do it again this September!

goldlining

Thanks for your account, Roan. I could visualize and feel as though I was there in the fog with you. It was such a relief that our team was away from the finish line. Sorry you were all on this side of it, but then glad you each had your own finish lines later. 

301724

NewGrrl - thanks for your honesty. Check out the Galloway method (http://www.jeffgalloway.com/training/index.html) . It's a tried and true great way to start running, get back into running, and keep running. One foot in front of the other, increase a little at a time.

I keep a color-coded Excel spread sheet for my training. When I started back up running after my surgery and chemo (in December), I started first with long walks. Then added 30 second running segments followed by 90 seconds of walking. I gradually increased the running and decreased the walking, settling ultimately into a 3 minute/1 minute pattern (which is what I was using before BC).

How well does it work? I run every other day - a 3 miler on the week days and a long run on the weekend. My long run last weekend was 10 miles! Not too bad a progression for 4 months.....I am registered for two half marathons in the next 3 months. Oh - I'm 64 years old:-)

sandpiper1

301,

you rock!

Welcome NG!

xoxo

piper

SharonLC

Welcome kcmanis and NewGrrl ... you will be able to run again kcmanis, just take it one day at a time and do whatever your body lets you do. NewGrrl, I agree 100% with 301724's post, it's the best way to get back to running and a your 10K is totally realistic for September ... I believe you will do it!!

Roan ... thank you for sharing your experience with us, you worded the account very well and it really expressed the emotions/thought process that you went through. Having to stand around for a few hours in the cold, separated from husband/friends and not knowing what exactly was going on ... very tough, mentally and physically.

Way to go Piper!! Keep on going!!!

Saturday April 20th marked one year since I started running with the C25K program ... in the last year ... made new running friends both near and far, ran four 5K's ... last one towards the end of rads with a PR of 25:12 (got injured during it) and a Half Marathon (only ran/walk one in the middle of rads) PR of 2:08:56 ... lost 35 pounds and lots of inches ... looking forward to this next year of running ...

Thank you to the wonderful people on this thread for all the encouragement to keep me moving/running through my BC dx/tx last winter!!

Checkin from last time ...
Tues: 3.75 mile run/walk
Wed: 3.25 mile walk
Thurs: 5 mile run/walk & 2 mile bike
Sun: 5.2 mile run/walk
Tues: 2 mile run

Sharon

301724

Sharon - you rock!!! What an inspiration!

lewing

kcmanis and NewGrrl . . . welcome!

kc, your mileage and training approach prior to dx sounds very similar to mine.  I know how distressing it is to feel distances and paces that once felt easy become harder and harder and then outright impossible - it truly is, as you say, as though something you love is slipping away.  Unlike other side effects of chemo, which just seemed like bad things I had to get through (I'm probably one of the weird, rare people who shrugged off losing her hair), being unable to run the way I used to felt like something that diminished me at my core. 

I say that because it DOES get better.  If you are still able to run, or jog, or jog/walk through chemo, then my advice is to just enjoy it.  If you're an obsessive tracker of mileage, as I was -- forget about it for a while.  Consider setting your goals in terms of time (30 minutes, 45 minutes, an hour, whatever) and just enjoy moving about and being outside.

Post-treatment, your running will start to come back.  It may not come back as quickly as you'd want, and it may come back unevenly, with setbacks along the way -- but that's part of running.  (It's also part of getting older, as I've discovered to my chagrin, but that's another story.)

This thread is an amazing source of support and I hope you'll keep coming back.  And even though it's (rightly) labeled the happiest thread on BCO, don't hesitate to vent here as much as you need to!

(My own running week has been blechhhh.  I did a good long run on Saturday -- 12 miles, mostly easy, with the last ten minutes or so at my HM goal pace -- but it's been downhill since then.  A headcold has turned into chest congestion that leaves me feeling as though I'm running at altitude after giving blood.  Took Monday off, but jogged down to the track last night to run laps while watching my club's workout and got talked into giving it a try, which was a mistake . . . one 1:45 400M had me doubled over, head light and legs rubbery, gasping and coughing.  Today I'm on a pre-colonoscopy fast, tomorrow is my colonoscopy, so let's just call this the running week that wasn't.)

Linda

MMTOMH

No running check-in, I've pretty much been laying low and doing some walking for the last two weeks as I heal from surgery.  I'm feeling great!  Will go back to work Monday and most likely start on the stationary bike for 1-2 weeks before I'm released to start running again.  Definitely going to have to get some supportive bras first! 

Roan and FC - your stories deeply touched me.  I have been in tears so many times over the tragedy in Boston and at first not knowing if you all were okay.  I don't have words to express my thoughts to you, just know you are in my prayers daily.  Maybe we need a new commercial..."so God made a runner!"  The strength, heroism, solidarity and support shown by so many is truly humbling.

lovestorun

I would just like to say that everyone here is awesome.  That pretty much sums it up.  Yep, awesome.

sandpiper1

Lot's O Luvin on the runnin board

My knee hurts...Probably just a bit of the middle age aches n pains. I set out to do W5D2.

Now mind you....W5D1 is 3/5min running segments with walking in between. I didn't look at the D2 segment prior to starting and couldn't figure out why my 5 minutes were taking so long. HAHAHAHA DUH!! D2 has the 8 minute running segments. I did it. Wasn't pretty......but I didn't stop.

I think you all are rubbing off on me.

So TY...

XOXOXOXO

Piper

MMTOMH

Congrats, Piper!  It's definitely a mind over matter thing.  I remember how hard it was for me to run the 20 minute stretch when I did C25K.  Keep going and no shame in repeating a week if you need to!

runnermom1956

Hey Fellow runners! I am happy to have found you. I have been a runner since HIgh School and am now 56. Haven't been able to run since Jan 2013(had to miss the 26.2 Donna Marathon this year..first one I haven't run but my DH ran it in my honor...he's an honorary Streaker now) I started chemo yesterday..I sit here feeling weak, nauseated  asnd depressed bc I usually ahndle these feeling by going for a run. I walked the dogs this mroning and was OUT OF BREATH! omg..a marathoner who can't run. Well..it's better than BS right? I will lurk about here if you son't mind and hopefuly gret my enouragement from you fellow runners. So happy I found you!

runnermom1956

sandpiper1

HAHA MM....I shouldn't have looked....my next run is the 20 stretch. OI! DOUBLE OI!

(I got hung up on week 3 for a couple of weeks. If I have to maybe I will do W5D2 again for a few runs)

Morning runnermom and welcome. I have never run in my life, but have been an avid walker.

Thought I would challenge myself and try this running gig.

My son is up for the weekend to volunteer for an event I cannot attend (work bleh)

He was a little surprised to find Me doing my run last night. Maybe he'll go with me tomorrow to distract me.

Off to bake cookies for the fundraiser and have a seminar 2 hours away to attend this evening.

Have a wonderful day and happy trails

xoxoxoxo

piper

goldlining

welcome runnermom1956! Look forward to your running reports. Enjoy the vicarious runs of others - I do that a lot when I get in a funk, get hurt, sick etc.

hey piper, are your shoes running out of miles? I get bored of mine and replace them before they get too old (superficial!!), but I read that sore knees sometimes were an early warning indicator of shoes reaching the end of the line. 

sandpiper1

Gold!!! I spit on my computer reading your ?obsession? with replacing shoes
Chuckle*choke*cough*

I have 2 pair I am alternating with and they are both with less than 50 miles a piece on them (I only know because I track every walk and run I do). Now I have 2 other pair that I tried but I cannot run in, so they are my fashion sneakers. HAHAHA

Now, though, I am wondering if I need a different type of running shoe. Mind you, I, like many, do not have the funds to have 10 pairs, but I am apparently working up to that.

In all honesty, I will keep an eye out for severe tread wear (I have to remember not to drag my heels) and continued/unresolved pain. Doesn't help that I drove 5+ hours yesterday and today. UGH!

Another 2+ in the car tom orrow and thankfully sissy has offered to do a drive for me (taking my son back to WV).

Not sure if I am going to tackle W5D3 or stay at D2 tomorrow.

I'll see how I feel. I kind of struggled with the D2.

I am feeling like I will be signing up for my first 5K soon.

YEAH! HA!

Healing hugz MM

Sweet slumbers all.

xoxoxo piper

SharonLC

MMTOMH Glad you are feeling GREAT and are almost fully recovered ... you'll be back to running soon

Runnermom Welcome! I did the Run with Donna Half this year (in the middle of Rads TXs ... definitely not as harsh as Chemo TXs)... it truly is an AWESOME event ... registered for it about 2 weeks before my BC DX ... running for a year now and I am hoping to do my first Full there next year. That's great that your DH did the marathon in honor of you and is now an honorary streaker ... sorry you had to miss it due to BC/Chemo but you will come back and be able to run again after TX's, keep your spirits up but I know how you feel, running definitely helps in that area ... so live vicariously through our runs for now and we will be reading your running posts one day, too.

Piper Yes, a 5K is definitely in your near future!!!

Sharon

runnermom1956

Thanks for the warm welcomes fellow runners!

I am so happy to be here with you and I will run in my mind with you daily! BIG Hugs and many miles to come!

and always remember, oatmeal, is better than NO meal...I'll take a Gallowway 5kfor now rather than staying on my duppa feeling sorry for myself anyday, if I can't train like I have been used to.

Love to you all

runnermom56

NatsFan

Of course I had to have a nasty truncal LE flare just before my HM Sunday - I had to fly cross country round trip the first week of April, and that did me in.  Fortunately my LE therapist squeezed me in for a 90 minute session this morning and moved a lot of fluid out - I was not looking forward to running carrying 3-4 extra pounds of fluid! 

I'm getting excited for Sunday - wish me luck!  You all have been so helpful and supportive in this endeavor - I really appreciate it, especially the advice about the Galloway method when I realized I couldn't sustain a run past 8 miles or so.  Special thanks to Lovestorun who sent me her Galloway books.  They were a lifesaver!  I love how we all look out for each other on this thread.   

sandpiper1

Mary, gentle hugz and many good thoughts for your HM on Sun!

W5D........................

3!!!!

YEP!!!!!

If it were not for this thread not sure I would have come this far. Week 6 here I come!

LUV U ALL!!!!

xoxoxoxoxo

piper