2013 Running Thread

RunFree16

Also firstcall, I'm really inspired by your persistence with Boston.  It's amazing what the desire to run will get us to do.  I'm also jealous of your running club.  There are possibly 30 people on the listserv of my local group--it would be too much to call it a club--but usually no more than 4-6 show up for the weekly runs.

LuvLuLu

My sentiments exactly re goldlining running a half 6 weeks after DIEP!!! Superwoman!!!

Just finished my Irish American Labor Day 10K very happy and satisfied.  Hot and muggy but we had such fun.  My son and a good friend also ran it.  I did 55:15 and my goal was to finish under an hour so I'm dancing around now all happy!

The only problem was they totally messed up all the results.  I was listed as in the 40-49 age group - I'm 60 and was so looking forward to rocking the new age group!  Kathy was also in the wrong age group and my son Jesse was listed as a female. We weren't the only ones, but supposedly they are correcting everything and the results should be up on coolrunning.com later.

Baby we were born to run!!

Morningsun1

Congrats, LuvLuLu on your 10K with great speed!

goldlining

TammyT, I'm not young but may be good healer. I was 55 at the time of my DIEP. I am just stubborn! I could not even get my back upright until 3 days before the Sunday half, although I had walked 4mph on the treadmill from 2 weeks for about 60-90 minutes at a time. I had not even taken two running steps at that point. When I arrived at Disneyland for that half, I signed up for the 5K event that same night intending to walk it but the magic and pixie dust kicked in and I managed to run 3K of it and walked the rest. That gave my a ton of confidence I needed, because I was worried about the half.

Runfree16, the heat this time was unusual for me because we rarely get those temps in Toronto. I definitely like a warm starting line because I hate shivering in the corral or overdressing to keep warm and then having extra clothes to lug (or finding junk clothes I can discard). I was okay with slowing down in the heat in the back half but the UV at the medal engraving line was killer. I didn't want to put on sunscreen because it would interfere with the sweating and risk transferring it to my eyes from my sweating scarf, and I planned to run from 5:30 to 8:30 and get out of the sun, right? But in reality it was 6 to 9 and then a long wait for the medal engraving and my husband who took 40 minutes longer than me to finish. I had my cooling towel on my head and the sweating scarf over my shoulders, but still took some sun.

Another thing that the half-marathoning did for my BC journey was as an antidote for all the deciding you have to do. In the half, you turn up at the starting line and you just follow. There are thousands of other people wordlessly going the same way who know how you feel. There are no options to evaluate that require knowledge beyond your total lived experience and that even knowledgeable people can only gamble and guess about. Just little decisions like "do I drink the powerade at this station or just the water?" You can be one with your discomfort and know that it's only pain and it will be over soon. Everyone both in it and adjacent to it has encouraging things to say. (My favourite sign at this run was a photo of a husky and the words "so you ran a marathon - how heavy was the sled?" So cute. But also "I'm proud of you, random stranger.") And the shirts come in colours other than pink.

Anonymous

Goldlining, your last paragraph said it all. And I love the mention of "other than pink". 

A long time ago I had on my bucket list to run a half-marathon.  I know it'd be a run-walk event, but I think I'll add it to my bucket list again. Along with living a good long life, of course.

Claire

goldlining

Run-walk is 100% legit. Yesterday I kept passing the same damned Tshirts "DLF > DNF >> DNS" (dead last finish is greater than did not finish is much greater than did not start). That's a walking group that does these runDisney events. The trouble is, I wasn't just passing multiple people in the shirt. I was passing the SAME people in the shirt. Somehow, they kept stealthily passing ME! 

Morningsun1

You are an amazing inspiration, goldlining! I was just a few months shy of my 55th birthday when I had my DIEP, there is still hope ... Question, do you still feel the tightness of the ab-scar when you run? At this point, my feels like a wall separating my abdomen. I am more comfortable wearing stronger compression when running or playing tennis.

By the way, I played one hour of tennis instead of running today

LuvLuLu

Thx Tammy!

lovestorun

Congrats RunFree, LuLu and Goldlining!  Way to go!  
Goldlining, I love your sentiments about the half.  So true.  And the shirts - I had to laugh...the  t-shirts from this weekend's race were blue!  Hooray!

RunFree - keep meaning to ask, how are the itchies? 

Have a great week everyone.

RunFree16

Oh, thanks lovestorun, still scratching!  It might be a smidge better, hard to say.  I'm going to call my PCP back tomorrow and ask what gives.

coraleliz

Firstcall-can you elaborate on the back of the pack medical group you run with at Boston. I ran Boston when I was 30, but that was 25yr ago. My hopes of qualifying aren't good at this point. I'm a RN, so just wondering........... Right now, 3 miles is a long run for me but that has more to do with injuries than BC.

alaskamama

I hadn't run in a few weeks, laid a bit low by Adriamycin-cytoxan, which I finished 12 days ago (YAY! on to taxol though...). Today I was feeling better, and was inspired after peeking all of YOUR posts here, and to my surprise ran, or rather trotted, for 55 minutes. As soon as my child starts kindergarten Friday I am determined to do a daily hour of moving, whether it is running or walking or run-walking, it's all good...

I was chastened and humbled last Wednesday when I inexplicably crashed my sister-in-law's car. No one was hurt, except the car which was severely injured, but it was a wake-up call that I am not immune to the mental and physical toll of chemo. If anyone wants to read of my misadventures, feel free... alaskamamaruns.blogspot.com

Happy trails.

goldlining

TammyT, my ab scar is not a problem. But I think the ligaments and muscles underneath it are tight (sometimes even cramp up) and some other muscles are not strong enough to fight back. My body is the master of compensating and concealing. My physio spends half her time teaching me what it's SUPPOSED to feel like when you do a certain movement so I can strengthen those weak parts.

I DO wear very strong compression though. Capris at least, right up to the waist, to keep the thighs and butt still. I want to gliiiide, and not waste any energy oscillating. If cooler, then full-length tights. Super compression. Look like children's pants. And ultra jiggle-proofing upstairs too.

Man I feel GREAT today - no stiffness at ALL. I powerwalked from the airplane to Customs and felt like I could go out for 5K. Except it was midnight. And an airport. I am totally crediting whoever posted about lighter shoes for faster speed. I think these have a slightly lower heel - not racing flats or barefoot shoes, but not super-built-up heel wedge - and I think my legs like that better. (I did buy the gaudy official limited edition runDisney New Balance #860 shoes at the expo, but will only wear them for walking. They're like tanks. Gaudy, gaudy tanks.)

firstcall

coraleliz- the group I am running with is the AMAA which is the American Medical Atheletic Association.  For the most part the group is physicians who run.  This is the group that provides a lot of the medical support for the marathon.  They have about 150 numbers which they make available to group members.  How they give out the numbers has evolved, and they have now evolved to be similar to the other charities.  This year, to run, you are required to fund raise.  I think the amount is in the $3000 range this year.  Their charity is their childrens fund, which promotes wellness and fitness in children.   I wont have to do the fund raising this year, because I was in the group that didnt get to finish last year.  I still had to pay the registration, which was $325. 

Anonymous

I am going to run 4 miles (one run) this weekend. I'm writing this early this morning (my time) because I need ya'll to be my witnesses.  I have a 4 mile run coming up the 14th on the Hopi Nation that is challenging--up and down a lot of sand hills and lots of elevation.  I've walked/run it before (pre-dx) and it killed my knee. But I'm feeling so much stronger now, and I aim to run the whole thing even if I have to take a break for a min or two at mile 2.

XXOO

Claire

aviva5675

Hello gals, and kudos to you out there rockin it...I am 10 days post bmw w/te installed. Only diagnosed last month and it has been a shock and whirlwind.  See the onco next week for info on possible treatments.

Im no marathoner, but lost weight last year and started doing couch25k in the fall, did a few 5ks in the spring, pretty good for a never run before. Ive been feeling pretty good, still have one drain in, have been walking daily, did a bit over a mile yesterday. My question- when can you start running after surgery, is it just an as you feel kind of thing? Do the TE make a difference, or when you get a fill, etc?

I know we are all different,but how did it go for you guys? Id like to at least get back to where I was, or be able to toddle along at my slow pace for a few miles.

wing48

I have a TE and I've been told I cannot run until 8 weeks post surgery. I'm at 6 weeks. I walk at a pretty fast clip and I'm sure my surgeon would give me the stink eye, but I fell okay. I'm not sure how I'll feel about running with the TE since it is fairly uncomfortable most of the time.

I'll be getting my second A/C at the 8 week mark and I doubt I'll be up for much of a run that week.

ksm

My surgeon cleared me to run 3 weeks after both surgeries - mx with TE and then the implant swap surgery.

I was part of a relay team on Sunday at the Hyvee Triathlon in Des Moines.   One gal swam, another gal biked and I ran the 10k.   It was a pretty good run for me.   I did walk a little at a couple of the water stations.   It was warm and the sun was intense, but it was not the upper 90's with high humidity like we had been having (thank goodness!).   We were extremely thankful for that.   Beat my time from last year.   I can be a little competitive so after reading about your awesome 10k run this weekend, LuLu, I just set a new goal for next year.  

aviva5675

ksm you ran a 10 k after your exchange in July? holy smokes

ksm

Aviva - That exchange surgery was much easier recovery than the mastectomy.   Although, my surgeon did approved me to run 3 weeks after both surgeries.   Strength training classes were another story.   Just this morning I started back to my classes.    

sandpiper1

I am enjoying all of the updates and words of encouragement flowing throughout these posts. I have been busy working a very goofy schedule and have spent the last 3 weeks tending to a lingering virus and a little knee pain. The posts have helped as I felt defeated with being a tad deconditioned from being unwell. 

I am a little worried about doing the 10k at the end of this month. I was up to 5 miles until this nasty virus.

I did do a little 1.5 mile run/walk tonight. I decided I would listen to Pandora and walk a song, run a song.

I am going to call it the Piper-method of training

Things are going to be a little busy this week as I prepare to move my son back in with me. On the upside he has been running again so I may have a new running partner.

Happy, happy trails to all and keep up the great progress i nrunning/walking/moving and getting through treatments.

xoxoxoxoxo

Piper

alaskamama

wing--Earlier I wondered on this thread if anyone successfully ran through chemo and got a only a few responses (but they were encouraging!). So I wanted to let you know I had my fourth and last AC infusion 13 days ago and *sort of* ran through it all. In reality, I ran on and off, but retained sufficient fitness despite the lows to run (ok, jog) 55 minutes yesterday.

Today I hoped to fit in another hour run (or walk, I go with what I'm feeling and try not to judge it...) but instead I taught my son's friend to ride a bike. As he got better at it I was running faster and faster to keep up with him so he'd think I was still holding on, and then just to be near enough to catch him if he fell. By the end of it I felt what I call Neulasta pains, which is my signal that I ran hard enough to kick in white blood cell production--bonus!

I call it the supermom method of conditioning

Wish me luck, tomorrow comes a new smackdown called TAXOL.

Becca

RunFree16

Alaskamama, I read your blog.  My goodness.  Obviously you're strong because you have to be, but I still want to acknowledge how impressive you are.  Also you look wonderful without hair--some girls get all the looks!  I'm very inspired by your ability to run through chemo.  I didn't need chemo, but I will be thinking about your persistence and how much it paid you back when I face various obstacles in my running life.  Good luck with the Taxol--I feel sure you can handle it, though I wish you didn't have to.

pat01

Well, it looks as if I will not be running the Diva Dash this Saturday.  I have come down with a rotten cold which still hasn't decided if it wants to be in my chest or not - in the meantime leaving me with a hacking cough.  Disappointed to be missing it, it was so much fun last year.  If any of you boston area ladies are interested in trying it out, I can transfer my registration to you (I believe there is a $10 fee).  PM me if you are interested.

Pat

Morningsun1

Piper, good to hear you are getting rid of the bug. I usually ran/walk at North Park in the evenings. Will try to get one hour in after work today, care to join me?

sandpiper1

I am working tonight

You are doing such a great job with your running T.

I might work extra tomorrow. Good luck on your run this Sat. I will catch up with you next week.

I did do a little over 3, almost 4 miles in the woods today.

It felt good to finally get a solid run in.

Happy hump day....off to nap

xoxoxoxo

piper

Morningsun1

Completed 5 miles in 56.16 minutes this evening. Hope for no pain tomorrow. Happy running, everyone!

moni731

TammyT- that is awesome! You are doing a terrific job! And are inspiring!  I'm still stuck at 3 miles, but feeling better at the finish line! Slowed down per Goldlinings suggestion and am concentrating  on not heel striking per Firstcalls advice. Hmmm.. we'll see.

Moni

Tammy_M43

Moni, I just looked up the meaning of the words in your signature......how beautiful.....

fredntan

I am seeing ortho doc tomorrow. The hip pain continues. It gets worse if I push it and walk, but if I take it easy like I have been, I can get by with alleve. Had breakdown monday. so damn sick of this crap. grrrrrrrrrrrrrr. he better give me a shot somewhere . I am thinking its my SI joint. hurts like hell in left butt cheek. can barely walk if I push it. also seeing new MO tomorrow. fun fun day