2010 Running Thread

Linda,

Congrats!!!!  Such a wonderful story you are and your latest accomplishment is awesome!  You are such an inspiration and you make me laugh (and sometimes cry) as well so much that I really appreciate and look forward to your contributions on this post.

My 10k did not work out, despite our best efforts and I was sooooo disappointed.  The event was poorly planned and the parking was horrendous - we got there quite early and way before the race start on a Sunday morning and were stuck in major traffic - once we reached the parking we were directed to, we could already see that the race had started.   So we left.  This has never ever happened to us before.  I sent a very disappointed note to the race director afterwards and she acknowledged that there had been issues and gave us a pass for the next 10k in September.

In the meantime - we ran a 5K on Mother's Day weekend and I have signed up for another 10k on July 3rd.....looking forward to that one - different location - right by the lake, that should be pretty!

I really love this forum - I come here on and off as I need to but whenever I need to I find the wonderful support that keeps me going...thanks so much you wonderful women!

Julie

PS - Linda, I cannot even imagine what the teenager experience you describe must have been like.  How crappy.  I have two teenage boys, I cannot imagine them or their friends ever doing something like that....but then agan they have first hand experience about BC and what it does to people they love so they'd know better I am sure....

Keep sharing!!!!!

I haven't been on this thread for a long time, but I've been running.  My long run is now up to 12 miles and I'm going to stay at that distance for a while.  I would really love to run a marathon, but I feel like I need to work up slowly.  I'm signed up for a 10 mile race in October and then, if my ten mile time qualifies, I'm going to sign up for the National Marathon here in DC in March.

 I'm in the middle of a series of 5Ks because they are for causes I care about. A few weeks ago I ran the Race for Hope, fighting brain tumors (which killed my mom) and in two weeks I'll run the Race for the Cure (no explanation needed) and then on the 4th of July, an autism run (my son is on the spectrum.  Truth be told, I find these races uncomfortable.  Even though i train running intervals on a track, I;m just not a fast runner and I'm always pushing myself in these races faster than I'm really built for, and end up feeling awful.  I think I'll enjoy the longer distance races more.

MOTC,

WOW!!  You inspire me!!  I have been running for awhile, but I am very slow, and the longest I have run was the 5K I did, oh, about 5 years ago...  so now I feel like it's back to square 1....  

There is a 5 mile run in a nearby community on Sept. 11th, but I doubt I'll be in good enough shape by then to run it.   I run very slowly....  I bet I walk faster than I run!!   LOL

Harley

Hi ladies,

I signed up for the Dublin city marathon next October today!  I was meant to do it (my first full marathon) last year and was training hard for it, when WHAM, got my BC diagnosis Sept 28th and it all had to be cancelled.  I was a little apprehensive about signing up this year again, just in case I would have to cancel again, but today I logged on the website and signed up before I could change my mind!  It feels good to have something to train for, I printed off those 4 month training schedules today and have started it (with the aim for 4 hrs 15 plus!) with a nice 3 mile run this pm!  

Very impressive, lewing.  I will never qualify for Boston.  I have yet to run a race under 9 minute miles.  No matter how hard i train, I'm just not fast.

 I'm running my first ten miler in October and I'm really looking forward to it.  the course is a lot flatter than my usual run and I think I will enjoy the more steady pace.  I'm hoping I can go on from there to my first marathon in the spring. 

Brendaskids,

You are an inspiration and it is so impressive to me that you've continued to run throughout all that you've endured in such a short period of time.  I only had 4 surgeries and did not do chemo and still had a hard time getting back up to where I had been prior to all of this.  My only recommendation would be to take it slow as you have been and are planning to and to be mindful of what your body says it can do.

Best wishes for what I hope is your last surgery, for a speedy recovery and for all of your future runs no matter the distance!

Julie

Lewing and Blondie,

Thanks for the encouragement and suggestions.  I just ran a mile and then did the elliptical for 3.  It felt great.  I am going to wait until after I start recovering from the next surgery before I take it outside.  I do have some nice trails I can run on in the area.  A trainer I know also recommended the foam roller.  I'll have to look for one.  Don't you think it's kind of weird that we, as humans, do what we do.  There have to be some pretty powerful motivators that keep us all doing what we are doing.  Take care and Godspeed, 

Harley,

A couple of things - you ARE a runner, if you run at all....it does not matter the distance or the frequency or even the pace...my opinion and I doubt anyone here would disagree - so keep going, girl, as often and as far as you feel comfortable with...

Regarding the race - are you committed to running the whole distance or will walk breaks be acceptable?  That matters in terms of the training, etc.

My advice - just keep getting out there as often and for as long as you feel comfortable for...keep increasing the time and distance in stages and not in huge increments and you will be amazed at the progress over time.  

For races -  know that the adrenalin during race day makes a difference.  If you can comfortably run 2.5 - 3 miles during your training then a 5K - 5 mile race should be do-able.  So you are so almost there!!!

I am doing a 10k next weekend and my longest run normally during the week/weekend is 5M so I am not just preaching, I am practicing as well!!

Julie

Hi All,

I just found this running thread! This is great. Wow. Some of your times are spectacular. Congrats to everyone - you are all doing so well!

I starting running in 1996 and run up until my diagnosis and then stopped. After chemo, rads, etc., it was SO hard to run. Back to square one as someone put it. I was so frustrated, I  almost cried at the running trail. I was short of breath, my muscles hurt.  It was such a let down, as I thought I could pick up where I had left off before dx. What was I thinking? Of course I couldn't after what my body had gone through.

So I started slowly, walking/running. It took probably a year for me to get back to somewhat normal for me, which is a slow jog. A 12-minute mile maybe? Slooow. I have been working on my time and actually ran a 5K over Memorial Day weekend in 31:58 and was thrilled. This is fast for me.

Harley, as I mentioned, I am typically a very very slow runner, especially outside. I had someone pushing me in that 5K, which really helped. I too think you can do the 5 mile race. Julie makes two very good points, if you can run 2 - 3 miles during training, you can do 5. Also, you always have the "I can walk if I have to" to fall back on. I ran my first 1/2 marathon in May and was a nervous wreck. Couldn't sleep the night before. Freaking out. I told myself, hey I am doing this for myself and if I have to walk so be it. Those thoughts gave me the confidence to run the entire thing, albeit very slow! ha. Good luck.

Raye

Thanks, everyone for the great advice.   I have been going out and running usually 2 days on, and then one off...  depends on my work schedule.  Things have been kind of crazy lately.

Hope everyone is doing great!!

Harley

Julie,

WHOHOO!!  Congrats on the 5K!!   Yay, new tunes on the iPod!!   I have an iPod, and it makes running a lot more enjoyable for me.  I need to download a couple more cds so I'll have MORE tunes!!

Happy 4th of July, all!!

Harley

Charley,

Congratulations!  You ROCK!!

Harley

I wouldlove to start running again. I actually stopped last year because of some back pain (i did run a 5k in October for Susan G. Komen, my sister in law had BC and we were running for her, but that was my last race.).  Since then started taking yoga which really seemed to help with the back and hip stiffness.  Unfortunately, I was diagnosed with BC last March and am now 8 weeks post op bilateral mast.  I have tissue expanders in, and feel like my boobs are boulders. I feel like I have the energy and motivation to get back to running, just don't know how it's going to feel with the TE's (and is it bad to run with TE's)?  I would love to run in the Breast Cancer 5k this October again.

Debby,

I only had a unilateral mast. with TE and only did a couple of fills so mine was not very big but it was hard as a rock...my PS told me running was ok and I did run during this time and the chest was ok with a good running bra.

Wishing you the best,

Julie

Deb - I am running with TEs too ... no problem at all. Do wear a sports bra although they don't seem to move at all. Go ahead and get out there!