2011 Running Thread

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  • goldlining
    goldlining Member Posts: 1,178
    edited July 2011

    Hi groovygirls

    The reason I am going for DIEP is that it does not take stomach muscle, just harvests the carefully tended crop of flab that is growing in that particular garden over top of my abs.

    If you read the reconstruction threads elsewhere on BCO, TRAM is considered to be passé, with only surgeons that can't do DIEP (either skillwise or O.R. time access wise) insisting that TRAM is just as good. The PS in my original clinic is known for TRAM but does uni DIEPs. Because I want a bilateral (delayed on my "done" side, plus immediate on the prophy side) she referred me elsewhere when I repeated multiple times in my consult that running was really important. ("I'm not good at it, but it is good to me.") I took that as affirmation that even to a TRAM pro, it made no sense to do it on a runner. People who don't run may not care, and there's nothing "wrong" with TRAM if you are happy with it, but I don't think as a runner, I would be happy with it. I would rather be flat (I would just call that "aerodynamic" and enjoy it, if it came to that).

    But I figured clothes would hang better off a little bit of curve, so I have asked for the DIEP and am awaiting the O.R. date, with some pre-op exams coming up in Aug. 

    In the DIEP procedure, they sometimes take a "tiny" bit of muscle if needed to carry the blood vessel, but my new PS said he's only had to do it a handful of times. I have allergies and sensitivities to random things and the idea of putting implants seemed to be tempting fate.

    If you want to explore DIEP and your PS doesn't do them (and a PS should do a lot of them before you let them do you), have a look for some other PS to consult. There's a DIEP 2011 thread elsewhere to see how the girls are reporting in before and after. I'm still "before". 

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  • groovygirls
    groovygirls Member Posts: 223
    edited July 2011

    That is really good advise- thanks!

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  • goldlining
    goldlining Member Posts: 1,178
    edited July 2011

    Dragged my butt out for a relatively slow 8km today but I was glad that I did it. Got a nice new aquapod stainless waterbottle from Lululemon that has a hand hold and gave it a try. Decided that's just not enough water for more than a half-hour outing. Live and learn. Back to the water belt for long runs.

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  • citykitty
    citykitty Member Posts: 244
    edited July 2011

    groovygirls -- Sorry you won't be at NYCM this year, but PS is right, there's always next year!  I had a unilateral mx.  My PS said I didn't have enough fat to use my own tissue for reconstruction -- a statement that amazes me to this day.  But one advantage of the implant (which is what I did) is that there are no other surgical incisions on my body -- and in my mind, therefore, one less thing that could possibly turn out wrong or differently than what I expected, and one less thing to potentially interfere with running.  Definitely, though, there are pros and cons with every option!

    lewing, that would be awesome to have you there in Brooklyn during the marathon!!

    LMichele, where in NH?  My DH grew up in Dover (aka "Doh-vah").

    goldlining, Congrats on getting out there!  I think outdoor walking and indoor running is a FINE idea in this crazy heat wave!

    I actually went out to do 12 miles in the insane heat today, with a "real feel" in the mid- to high 90s. I had intended to start before dawn, but just returned from a business trip where we worked crazy hours, till 3 a.m. some days, and I had a lot of sleep to catch up on -- so didn't get started till 10 a.m.  I completed the 12, but only with plenty of walk breaks and plenty of refills of my water bottle.  Despite liberal use of Body Glide, I still ended up with a blister on one toe and chafing in a place I've never had it before -- on the insides of my knees.  Hm.  Wonder if my new running shoes have caused my gait to change?  Anyway, later in the afternoon I treated myself to a mani-pedi.   First manicure in about 7 years, I think!  They just don't last on me -- but today it seemed like the thing to do!

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  • groovygirls
    groovygirls Member Posts: 223
    edited July 2011

    Carla- the pedis cover up the black and blue toenails!

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  • citykitty
    citykitty Member Posts: 244
    edited July 2011

    groovygirls -- I actually am missing two toenails -- one from running and the other from chemo!  It took me a while to work up the nerve to take in my nail-less toes to the salon!!  But it's so much easier than trying to paint my toenails (or the place where they should be) myself. 

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  • groovygirls
    groovygirls Member Posts: 223
    edited July 2011

    Woohoo- just booked my flight to do the Goofy Challenge in January!!

    (Okay I am in denial about this whole breats CA thing but I can still crawl to the finish line!)

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  • goldlining
    goldlining Member Posts: 1,178
    edited July 2011

    Yay groovygirls!!! Goofy! You go!

    I'm paid up and booked for Disneyland (Sept, preDIEP) and registered for Tinkerbell (Jan, hopefully post-DIEP) and, yes, crawling is an option!

    WIll you be in a tutu, wings, minnie dress, or what? Do you know yet? (The wardrobe is such an essential part of the denial!) 

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  • groovygirls
    groovygirls Member Posts: 223
    edited July 2011

    I am going to go all out this year with a BIG FU Breast Cancer!

    I am hopefully doing something fun- I am going with my  15 year old niece for her second disney half marathon. She has been struggling with obesity her whole life- lost 80 pounds and has managed to keep it off. My treat to keep her motivated (me too when all I want to do is sit on the couch and watch TV!

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  • Charley
    Charley Member Posts: 255
    edited July 2011

    Groovy - To answer your previous question about implants v. DIEP, I was told with my body structure and doing bilateral, DIEP was not an option.  It was fine with me because I felt that w/ implants, recovery time would be quicker and I didn't want to take fat and tissue from other parts of my body. Running w/ TEs was not a problem and the exchange surgery was not too bad.  But it is a long process ... many months of continuing treatment vs. a longer recovery time. Still think I would have opted for implants. 

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  • groovygirls
    groovygirls Member Posts: 223
    edited August 2011

    My head is spinning with all the choices! Maybe I'll do nothing :) reconstruction I mean

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  • LMichele
    LMichele Member Posts: 165
    edited August 2011

    Hi groovy, I was also told not enough tissue for a BMX so I went for implants... Unpleasantly surprised at the exercise down time... But options were not really good.



    I started back in the last few weeks. No pain whatsoever up front. Lots of weird nerve issues/pain wrapping around under arms onto back muscles. Wish I understood anatomy of what is going on... It is improving thankfully my hubby rubs it out now and then cause I cant reach.



    My time is super slow after 3 months away!!!! 3 miles takes 35 minutes! I used to do closer to 4 in that time! My long run 8's seem unimaginable, as well as a bunch of other stuff like pushups....



    City: I was at little squam.... My aunt lives in Dover. In don't live in NH but was born there, we were all from Portsmouth... Do you live far from there now?

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  • lewing
    lewing Member Posts: 1,288
    edited August 2011

    Hey, LMichele, congrats on getting back to running!  Hope the weird nerve issues resolve quickly.  And I know exactly what you mean about parts of your old fitness routine seeming unimaginable.  I thought I'd never be able to do a pushup again, either -- but amazingly, I did.

    (Then I developed shoulder issues that threw me for a loop, but that's another story, and only tangientially related to BC.)

    Got in some good trail runs (and some serious hills!) while sojourning in the blissfully cool Pacific northwest last week . . . not a lot of mileage (I was tied up with family stuff), but it sure was beautiful.

     L

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  • citykitty
    citykitty Member Posts: 244
    edited August 2011

    groovygirls & goldlining - Congrats on registering for your races!  Groovygirls -- I too considered doing no reconstruction, but my DH knew I wouldn't be happy with that, and in the end he was right.  Now that I have the bulk of the surgeries behind me, I can't imagine not having done some type of reconstruction, though of course there are women who are perfectly happy that way!

    Totally agree about not being able to do what I used to do before chemo and the surgeries.  I hope maybe over the course of a year or so it will come back, but who knows.  When I look at some of my race times from last year -- I'm not a fast runner, but I was doing pretty well for me -- I wonder how I ever ran that pace!

    Anyway, about a month from today I'll be on my way to Bordeaux to run the Marathon du Medoc!  And crawling will definitely be an option!  BTW, anyone have any good ideas for an animal costume suitable for running 26.2?

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  • groovygirls
    groovygirls Member Posts: 223
    edited August 2011

    What kind of animal costume? I was with someone who just wore bunny ears in the Marine Corps Marathon. It was very cute and everyone on the side lines would yell out- go bunny!

    I think running skirts has animal print fabrics

     How crafty are you? Joanna'a Fabrics usually has lightweight aminal prints

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  • goldlining
    goldlining Member Posts: 1,178
    edited August 2011

    Citykitty, I keep envisioning felines because of your login name. 

    Is Medoc an animal-theme event? I have the Midsummer Night's Run 15K in a couple of weeks pre-Disneyland, and will go with faerie wings and a tulle skirt over the running shorts because faeries seem the order of the day. The little bits of costume are such a fun part -- and other people's costumes keep me smiling through the crawling parts.

    I'm bummed right now because I'm behind in the training and home alone while the offspring is off to camp and the spouse is at a family wedding and I am having mild allergic reaction to the CT contrast dye and don't want to rev up my metabolism by running in the heat and not be able to get help. On the other hand, I know I will complete the runs no matter what, and my heart rate is preventing me from getting any faster pace no matter what I do, so does it really matter? I get the nice bling and a nice trip. I am not my time. (I keep telling myself...)

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  • lewing
    lewing Member Posts: 1,288
    edited August 2011

    "I am not my time": good advice!  I've been thinking about you, goldlining, and the others who are training for a specific race.  It's really weird for me not to have run a single race this year - and to have none on the horizon.  It bothers me a little (will I ever feel that competitive urge again?  have I lost the ability to stick with a training program?  will I keep cutting back until I return to total couch potato-dom?), but with this heat and humidity, it's also a blessing.  I can bail on long runs whenever I want to without fretting about the impact on race preparation.  This morning, I toughed it out for a little over an hour (~7 miles) and called it a day.

    My post-run treat was an ice pop -- wish I'd thought about making and keeping a stash of these on hand before now.  I blended a banana with milk and peanut butter and a little bit of sugar (optional), then froze in the tupperware ice pop kit that is a relic of a long-ago preschool fundraiser, and voila!  Carbs, protein and ICY COLDNESS in one delicious package.  (I had clipped a NYT magazine piece that gave a bunch of ideas, and this was one of them.)

    Run cool, everyone.

    L

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  • marie11
    marie11 Member Posts: 75
    edited August 2011

    It is good to see that people do get back to running after all this.  What I used to be able to do seems so far out of reach for me right now.  I had signed up for a half in mid Sept. but no way am I gonna be ready for that.  Am happy now to be able to run a whole mile with out stopping.  Dont want to push anything until it stops hurting.  When will that be?  Do I have to wait until after the exchange to fell better and really start exercising again? 

    enjoy the rest of the weekend.

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  • groovygirls
    groovygirls Member Posts: 223
    edited August 2011

    I have alaways been a 'back of the packer'. Says finisher on my medal too!

    Plus I have a blast

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  • TreadSoftly
    TreadSoftly Member Posts: 192
    edited August 2011

    Hi Ladies,

    Im trying to step up the mileage as I signed up for my second marathon at the end of October (Dublin again! - I just had SO much fun doing it last year!) 

    I did a half marathon race last weekend in 2 hrs 10 mins, quite a hilly course so pleased enough with my time Smile  Im very busy at work so I find it hard some evenings to motivate myself to get off the couch and get out for a run but Im always really glad once Im out there....  Ive signed up for a few more halfs and a 'three-quarters' marathon over the next 10 weeks so hopefully that will be enough!

    Keep up the mileage ladies, x

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  • groovygirls
    groovygirls Member Posts: 223
    edited August 2011

    I have always wanted to do Dublin

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  • goldlining
    goldlining Member Posts: 1,178
    edited August 2011

    Yup "all the medals look the same" is my mantra! As long as they don't run out of bananas at the food tent, I'm cool.

    They bumped the January WDW half medal on the Disney blog today. A cuter Donald Duck than some in the past. http://ow.ly/5YjrR  I won't be doing that weekend this year.

    I just got the news my DIEP is not until near the end of November! So no problem doing Labour Day (though my time will suck because I can't seem to deal with any kind of race pace -- my HR just maxes out. I wonder if it's related to my BP having been low-ish since the surgeries. I definitely expect my late-January Tinkerbell half will be a walk but it's so medalicious I am not missing it!

    Another destination run I would like to do someday is Bermuda. They have a "Bermuda triangle" which is something like a 1k, 5k and half combination. If you normally do a 5k light tuneup before a half, it sounds like a really unique medal set.

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  • groovygirls
    groovygirls Member Posts: 223
    edited August 2011

    That sounds like fun!

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  • kks_rd
    kks_rd Member Posts: 363
    edited August 2011

    Just popping in to share - I had my first run today since starting chemo in early June.  I had the day off from work and three days in a row of decent sleep.. finally started feeling a bit more like myself again... got the itch to get out there and decided to just go for it!

    I was only able to do about 3.5 miles (including a few walk intervals)... back in May I completed a 10K training program so this is a bit of a backslide for me.  But it felt great to be out there again and that's all that matters!

    Smile

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  • goldlining
    goldlining Member Posts: 1,178
    edited August 2011

    I am really struggling with pace. I end up running 2km, walking 25% for the next 3km, and running 25% for 2-3km, then basically fast-walking the rest. I think it's the aftereffects of anaesthesia, twice over the past year. I don't know. I did 8.6km Sunday in a time I used to be able to do 11.5km. I have done 2 half marathons since the mx, and stamina isn't my issue but pace is still sucking, and I was never that fast to begin with. I have a 15k on the weekend then tapering for a Labour Day half marathon. I'm doing long days of standing, crawling, and climbing this week in a hard hat and safety shoes, so I doubt I'll feel like a short run mid-week either. Ah well, it is what it is. Feels good to do it. Only my ego is hurt. :-)

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  • goldlining
    goldlining Member Posts: 1,178
    edited August 2011

    I did my 15k event tonight: Midsummer Night's Run, with tutus and fairy wings on people of all genders. Quite festive. When the 2:00 pace fairy passed me at 11km, I thought my goose was cooked but my time was 1:59. Got very choked up at that. I've lost speed from pre-surgery era when I was merely "slow" but I took great comfort in a couple of women half my age that seemed to be keeping pretty steadily the same run-walk pace as me. Naturally, when the feet can't hold the body weight another moment, they pile on a medal that weighs a ton! But that's what I'm in it for: pretty bling :-)

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  • BlazerFanC
    BlazerFanC Member Posts: 71
    edited August 2011

    goldlining

    If your pace slows you down at Disneyland, remember I'll be walking behind you if you need support!  That medal is just as beautiful for the last finisher as the first.  I'm not a huge Donald fan, but the medal for next year is very cute.  My Disney races for 2012 will be Tinkerbell and Wine and Dine for the Coast to Coast (and maybe a Disneyland again just for fun) 

    Are you earning a Coast to Coast? I can't remember.

    I'm not as creative as you on costuming.  I do have a running (walking) skirt and probably Minnie hair clips if I don't wear a hat.

    Have a great race.  I'm excited.

    Cindy

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  • cupcakies
    cupcakies Member Posts: 71
    edited August 2011

    Hi - has anyone heard that during chemo, there's a period of time we should avoid too much aerobic exercise b/c it may reduce the effectiveness of the chemo drugs? 

    See bottom of this page:  

    http://foodforbreastcancer.com/articles/what-should-breast-cancer-patients-eat-during-adriamycin-(doxorubicin)-chemotherapy?

    i was a runner before chemo, but now am not sure how much I should push myself while undergoing treatment.  Any thoughts?  Thanks! 

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  • goldlining
    goldlining Member Posts: 1,178
    edited August 2011

    Yay Cindy. Do you have your waiver printed out and all your documents in order? I did all that today. Getting excited. They even have the program online http://as1.wdpromedia.com/media/ewwos/pdf/rundisney/DLHalf11Program.pdf   

    I am earning a Coast to Coast because I did the 2011 Princess (10 weeks post mastectomy) in 2:58. I can't see being faster than 2:45 at DLHM but I can dream :-)

    Not sure my attire. I was thinking black sequined skirt, but may instead use a black chiffon tutu. No matter how few people are slower than me, I don't need anyone looking at my ass for 3 hours. :-)  I don't like wearing hats, but I will pick a new Sweaty Band at the expo. It's my little souvenir tradition. 

    We have the same 2012 plans! I am signed up for Tinker Bell but my DIEP is later than I expected: Nov 24. I won't miss Tink unless I have complications, but I imagine I will be going pretty slow. I am going to have to start spending an hour on the treadmill as often as I can, as soon as I can, and just try to squeeze out the required 16 min/mile pace because I want that spinning Tinker Bell medal. I am also planning to pair that with Wine & Dine and that combination is confirmed eligible for Coast to Coast. Yay, us! I love the Food & Wine Festival, and am usually there for a trade show at the end of the festival but will enjoy an extra trip earlier in the month for the run.

    Maybe the Chip and Dale relay in 2013... I'd like to do the DHS-AK-Epcot leg and let the spouse do the Epcot-MK leg that I've done several times already. 

    Cupcakies, I am not a chemo customer, but I definitely can say the anaesthesia of two surgeries has done a real number on my cardiorespiratory system so there's no doubt chemicals are affecting my oxygen uptake. An interaction of exercise and chemo makes sense but I don't know which direction of effect I'd speculate. (I'm not a physiologist, nor do I play one on TV!) I think that your question is probably one to pose to your med onc. Web URLs like that always make my spidey senses suspect bias. Even better if you find a doc that is a runner. They will understand best WHY running is important from the neck up. I knew the instant I saw my DIEP surgeon that he was a runner. Turns out a lapsed marathoner--too busy operating--but he understands and I trust the advice he will give me will give the right weight to how important running is to feeling some control. 

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  • lewing
    lewing Member Posts: 1,288
    edited August 2011

    Goldlining, congrats on your 15K.  I love reading your race plans; I feel as though I'm racing vicariously through you!

    Cupcakies, I never heard that aerobic exercise was counter-indicated during chemo.  My onc and all the nurses knew I was a runner, and didn't say a word about it.  In fact, they encouraged me to stay active, and I really believe it helped me combat fatigue and achiness.  I slowed down considerably as treatment progressed; frankly, I think it would be pretty hard to push oneself to the point where one did damage. 

    Loving this cooler weather!  I did 10 miles on Sunday -- my first double-digit run since June.

    L

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