2016 Running Thread

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  • __asher__
    __asher__ Member Posts: 147
    edited December 2016

    You all are amazing, inspirational women! I just got the all clear to run from my PS. I had chemo,a double mastectomy, ALND, and rads. I am so very excited to run again! I noticed many of you have had lymph node removal. Any advice for preventing lymphadema developing? Any slow schedules you would suggest to get you moving?


    Thanks

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  • bareclaws
    bareclaws Member Posts: 345
    edited December 2016

    I haven't posted on this thread, yet, but am needing a kick in the butt re my running. I've been running for about four years, ran three marathons this last year and numerous other races, love it beyond measure, rely on it for controlling my brain weasels and also staying healthy-HA! First chemo was Dec 5th and I tried, really tried to run a half marathon on the 11th. I quit at 5.8 miles because I was afraid I would puke on the side of the road. Not cool. Ended up in the hospital three days later with ITP (low platelets). It's been just over three weeks since that first chemo, I'm coming back very slowly and next chemo is scheduled for the 30th, assuming blood numbers allow it. I haven't run since the 11th! Not sure I CAN run. And I was a pretty good mileage runner before this (30-35m per week). My dr is all about the running-she is one herself. I need something-not sure what. (My eating is weird. Can't smell OR taste, but am so hungry and eating a lot more than usual.) I'm pretty desperate to run, but don't want to jeapardize the next chemo, which is already going to be late.

    I had to miss two marathons that I had already signed up for before BC. Disappointed. But here's the real kicker. My husband died unexpectedly at the end of August. Instead of a funeral, we (family and friends) entered a 12-person team for the Wild West Relay in Colorado next August as our memorial to him. 200 miles from Fort Collins to Steamboat Springs. "Get Your Ass Over the Pass." Now I will probably be in the middle of radiation at that time.
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  • LuvLuLu
    LuvLuLu Member Posts: 377
    edited December 2016

    Oh, my, Bareclaws . . . My surgery was way back in 2012. I haven't posted much lately but I'm always reading the posts. You are an inspiration. Having never had chemo, I can't advise on that part. I had TRAM flap surgery with reconstruction. I had the surgery in July of that year and think I was back to my normal training (about 30 miles/wk) in late September. I just took it slow, started by walking, was "jogging" (how we hate that word!) by August, and just added on from there.

    You are amazing! It's true, it's more than just physical, it's a mental thing too - and social. You might have no problem with radiation - we are all different. Just remember to be kind to yourself! You've been through so much. If you have to go slower, or cut back on your mileage, remember it's just a temporary setback.

    This is a great thread - you will get some awesome advice. Take care of yourself!

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  • LuvLuLu
    LuvLuLu Member Posts: 377
    edited December 2016

    And welcome, Asher!! My advice is always to just listen to your body. And whatever gets you out the door, just do it. Start by walking and build back up from there. Before you know it you will be right back on track! I haven't had any lymphadema problems (knock on wood!) so I'll leave that to others to advise you.

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  • goldlining
    goldlining Member Posts: 1,178
    edited December 2016

    Welcome _asher_ and bareclaws, and welcome back LuvLuLu!

    I had some trunk swelling in the flap area and they recommended compression. It's worth experimenting with what you can tolerate. I found a good immobilizing bra (I use Shock Absorber B5044) resolved what I experienced, without additional compression of the stretchy type. I did not have issues in the arms so don't have any experience with that, but I think they would likely have said compression sleeves. Hope someone has some other info - but if nobody has had issues, that would probably be a hopeful sign.

    bareclaws, so sorry to read about those struggles! I think I'd be walking and calling it "running". Like LuLu, for me, it's being there and having my head there more than the pace I'm making. A lot of the time, I am not properly trained for the run, but my head needs to be there. I also had only the surgery, no rads or chemo so most of my aches and pains were very easy to interpret, not like nausea. (I did have a very prolonged recovery of the cardio endurance that was rather mysterious.)

    At this point, just as I'm feeling past the crisis and dare I say out of the woods, my husband was diagnosed with cancer, and has had pretty extensive surgery (tumour and nodes) and is pending assessment for whatever other treatments. Not only am I worried for him, but it's like a flashback and provokes a bit of hypochondria about whether I really do have no further issues. (The family doctor blew off some mysterious symptoms he was having while trying to run several months back, and after one set of tests turned nothing up, she didn't look anywhere else - never found the tumour - it was when he noticed the swollen nodes that she figured where to send him.) We are spending a week in Florida and were out for a "run" this morning. He used to be so much faster than me, and now he is about a minute/km slower than I am, even reconditioned. We were both happy to have the chance to be out there, and no mind the pace.

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  • LuvLuLu
    LuvLuLu Member Posts: 377
    edited December 2016

    OH boy, will be thinking of you, goldlining, and sending hugs and lots of positive thoughts. It's never easy, is it? I'm glad to hear your husband is a runner too. It mentally and physically gets us through so much. Fresh air and one foot in front of the other!


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  • Elvin
    Elvin Member Posts: 13
    edited December 2016

    Hi, I was running almost daily before my diagnosis late Jul this year. Before I had several injuries too so I was already struggling with my trainings but pushed myself through... I was just at the beginning with racing and love running since ever.

    During AC it was very hard to run. Only the 3.rd week I could run but only 5km and that with pace 6....And it was so difficult like the last 2-3 km of a hard 30km cross country race....

    Since I'm on weekly Taxol it is much better. I'm on a routine 10km jog but nobody allows me to do intervals or speed up or do long runs. I should keep a low pace 6-7 and I really miss my long runs a lot.

    My body changed since started chemo and I really want to be fit again.... want my muscles back....

    I have a terrible tight IT band and the estrogen lack will not help on that. If that get worse........

    Anyway I hope to get over the treatment and can train like I want again....

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  • bareclaws
    bareclaws Member Posts: 345
    edited December 2016

    With encouragement and company of youngest son, I was able to do four miles on the trail today. Walk/run, and the first running I've done in two and half weeks. It was hard. The breath is the first thing to go, of course. But it felt good to be there, seeing fellow runners, listening to my running playlist, sweating, moving forward. I finally took my sandals off for the last mile. And felt alive again. I haven't run barefoot since before first chemo. Don't know why. It was good. Blood draw a few hours after that to check platelet numbers. I'm waiting to hear. Next chemo scheduled for Friday depends on those numbers

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  • goldlining
    goldlining Member Posts: 1,178
    edited December 2016

    Just a heads-up -- the annual running thread is traditionally wound up at the end of the year and a new thread started.

    As 2016 comes to a close, someone will need to start a 2017 Running Thread in a couple days, with a pointer at the end of this thread to that new thread so people can find it.

    Looking for someone to step up :)

    The only extra duty of the thread originator is maintaining the upcoming run list in the top post.



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  • goldlining
    goldlining Member Posts: 1,178
    edited January 2017

    Time for someone to start the 2017 Running Thread!!

    There are quite a few running related threads from 2016 in the Fitness and getting back in shape forum. Maybe some people there could start a 2017 thread?

    Please post a link to the new thread here when it's started!

    Good luck to anyone running at Walt Disney World this weekend! Looks kind of gloomy weather wise... Fingers crossed.

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  • Gully
    Gully Member Posts: 268
    edited January 2017

    Hello ladies,

    Glad to see so many fighting the good fight so to speak. I am currently side lined and am going crazy. My brain wants to run do badly but my body just will not. I think I am suffering from IT band syndrome. Anyone have it and get rid of it quickly?

    Gully

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  • Elvin
    Elvin Member Posts: 13
    edited January 2017

    Hi had and still have a bad IT band syndrome. Got it before the cancer diagnosis. Got physical therapy and it got a bit better. But they told me it's a real bad IT band. And also has to do with low estrogen not only over training. So I'm afraid the band will be much more bad since now the estrogen level will be something like zero... but I love to run and still running...

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  • Elvin
    Elvin Member Posts: 13
    edited January 2017

    I have a question. I'm on weekly Taxol now. Have always slightly low WBC but only sometimes low neutrophils.

    I'm running now daily 10-11 km. The last days I got a cold but it's not so bad. It's getting better then a bit worser but had no high fever.

    My question is if you would keep with the running or not until the cold is gone....

    I love to run and feel bad if I didn't run. Have anorexia since 3 years and it's very difficult to keep eating if I don't run...

    Could you please help or share your experiences?

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  • Gully
    Gully Member Posts: 268
    edited January 2017

    Hi Elvin,

    Sorry to hear you are feeling ill. I do continue to run with a cold in normal circumstances, I do however slow way down and cut the mileage a bit. Just moving helps me to recover faster. I too have a difficult time with food if I do not run....just not hungry. Lately I have been doing green smoothies in the mornings that way at least I know I have gotten a good dose of vitamins for the day and it feels light in the stomach. I worry less then about not eating so much for the rest of the day. I am sad to hear that lack of estrogen affects the IT band syndrome. I was running over 40 miles a week in training for a marathon when the pain started. After the marathon a took a small break but went right back to training about 20 miles per week. I am currently in PT two days a week. They are helping me to get more flexibility through my hips and glutes, which they say is a common problem with runners. I am praying that they will be able to get me back on the road so to speak. My MO has always encouraged me to continue to run but not to over do. Good luck with the rest of your treatments. Hugs....

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  • bareclaws
    bareclaws Member Posts: 345
    edited February 2017

    I'm looking for the runners here and this seems to be the group. I've been a runner for four years, starting at age 61. I ran three marathons last year, and several half marathons, 10Ks, 5Ks. Running is life, I'm determined to not let bilateral breast cancer take that away from me. My first chemo was at the beginning of December and I had a very bad reaction to it, spent time in the hospital, started over with different drugs and am now about to have my third AC in a couple of days. I didn't run at all for weeks but this week am trying to claw my way back, with some success. Breath is shot but muscles and bones remember and I hope to have the breath back in a few weeks. I'm also packing around at least six extra pounds from inactivity, from disordered eating and from steroids that I'm taking to keep ITP from rearing its ugly head again. No choice about that last one but I'm tapering off of them.

    After AC I'm supposed to do Taxol and Herceptin. I'm really, really worried about neuropathy SEs from Taxol. Not only am I a runner, but I'm a barefoot runner. Skin to ground. Much of my running and walking for the last two months has been in minimalist shoes, which is just not the same. Not what I want at all. I wonder what other runners' experiences have been with neuropathy? My MO is very encouraging about keeping me running and I plan to talk to her about this tomorrow, hoping she'll work with me if any signs of nerve damage arise.

    Talk to me about your running through chemo

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  • cdv4251992
    cdv4251992 Member Posts: 158
    edited February 2017

    I'm so happy to find this thread! I have been in a funk and not running since my recurrence was diagnosed. I've started running again this week until everything gets going. Last time everything happened so quickly, but this time around there is so much waiting to get started. I finally have a surgery date (3/2) and will have the mxand recon at the same time. I will have immediate DIEP reconstruction and then start chemo soon after. I won't be running for some time, but reading this thread make sure me feel hopeful instead of down in dumps, so I'll be lurking here, reading, until I can post about my own running.

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  • panthrah
    panthrah Member Posts: 433
    edited February 2017

    morning ladies.. Ive been MIA for a bit.. has a 2017 thread been started yet?

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  • panthrah
    panthrah Member Posts: 433
    edited February 2017

    OK ladies.. I started the 2017 running thread

    2017 Running Thread

    come on over.. the water is fine :)

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