2011 Running Thread

A couple years back, I ran in the local huge 5k, and it was a horrible experience as my first ever race. Even though I knew all the cardinal rules of racing, I managed to mess them all up. So at that point, I swore off racing forever.... until last January. I was ready to finally grow up and try it again, but at least this time I picked a more manageable venue. It was the New Year's Day race in my home town, a 5k that literally passed right in front of the house I grew up in. I had practiced the route a couple times so there were no surprises. Just 313 people vs the 1430 of the previous race. And no tutu necessary.

klynnz, I see you're in Portland, yes? My husband and I were there in September and ran the Pints to Pasta 10k, and while it was huge (2552 finishers), we had a great time. So maybe having a friend/partner run with you might be something you could consider. I wasn't running for time, just consistent effort, since I had just run a half marathon the week before, and was just about 8 weeks post TE exchange.

I walked an hour (4 miles) on the treadmill 2 weeks after a DIEP, and I wasn't even standing fully upright yet. I think a 5K a month after the exchange is do-able if you don't care a lot about your time. Commit and you'll have something positive to look forward to instead of the surgery looming on the horizon. I was petrified to have this half marathon just 6 weeks post-DIEP. (I signed up over 6 months in advance and I had expected the DIEP would be 2-3 months earlier than it was.) But if I didn't have the event, I would probably still be lounging in bed, not half as well recovered as I am. I did a shamrock 5K near home a few years back and it was very festive, with lots of people in loony leprechaun hats and such: fun.

I had a UMX and I was back to running about a week later. Very easy and careful running, though. Made sure my effort was very relaxed throughout, just like a super-slow recovery jog. My exchange surgery was about 6-7 weeks later, and at that point I was just starting to feel like I could start pushing the effort a little again. After the exchange, I did the same thing, easy effort, but alternated walking days and running days (I was training for the Avon Walk). My fitness came back even faster because of that tactic, I believe, and I ended up running a half marathon barely 8 weeks post-op, and PR'd it too!

Trust your body, it will tell you what's right for it and what's not. Good luck! 

Just a small whine... I cannot WAIT for rads and their SEs to be done so I can get back into something regular.  Right now it kind of depends on the day.  The fatigue has been dizzying and I'm trying to conserve my energy for work.  Counting down - about two weeks of treatment left.

Setting my sights on longer-term goals, like May and June races...

Is it that piriformis syndrome? The fact that you say hip rings a bell. I previously had IT band problems but that was in the knee vicinity. I have been having pain in my hip and the pain radiates down the leg. It went away when I had the DIEP because the anaesthesia/paralysis relaxed the muscle that was pinching the nerve. However, the DIEP has me stooped over and it limits the range of motion of the hips so when I walk, the quads are doing all the work. I am now seeing a physio for both that and the arm recovery post-mx. The exercises she is giving me for the hips are to strengthen the core, strengthen the glutes, an iliopsoas stretch, etc. The current Runners World has a short feature with exercises for piriformis problems ("pain in the butt") and I asked her if that was the same deal I had and she said it was. It comes from bad form that can be caused by worn out shoes or from uneven pavement and also low core strength that can lead to hyperlordosis (sticking your butt out). "Dr Google" has a lot of info if you consult him (I did this afternoon). You will know quickly if the description of the syndrome matches your symptoms. Seeing a sports medicine physio is valuable if possible as they can not only assess and teach but stretch things you can't do on your own.

Well, I got a last-minute registration and did a 5K last night at Disneyland (great course, entirely within parks and backstage areas, 4000 people or so). I discovered I was actually able to run most of the way. I alternated about 3 minute run and a 30-60 sec walk. My net pace was 13 mins/mile which although it is the pace I used to have when I first started running, it is 2 minutes/mile faster than I have been treadmilling during my DIEP recovery.

The run started at 10:30 pm Pacific and I had been up since 5 Eastern to catch my flight, so all in all I was awake for 24 hours straight before I went to sleep, and despite sleeping as long as I wanted, I am still tired. I have little muscle spasms in my legs, sort of like when they want to run, but of course, they're not gonna until the half Sunday morning. I feel more confident of that now. But I will have a relaxing day in the parks today.