2012 Running Thread

Wow, Hello to all the new folks!

Well, today was my first run with my new orthotics.  Oh my gosh!!  NO PAIN in my left foot.  NONE.  ZERO.  ZILCH.  That's never happened before.  Let's hear it for the orthopedic surgeon and her prescribed orthotics.  WoooHoooo!!!  I didn't want to overdo my first run with them because I was worried that I'd be using new muscles or something, so I ran for about 4 miles.  It was wonderful.

I hope this finds you all well, and happily running...

Claire

So sorry Eula!!  What a bummer

I'm still kind of working towards my possible HM goal... yesterday went for my longest run yet, just short of 11 miles, with something around a 1-block walk break every 3 or so miles.  I figure I ran at least 10 miles.  Afterwards, I had to run some errands and every time I had to get out of the car I all but groaned! LOL quite sore afterwards but this morning I felt fine once I got going.

I've been readinng along and it's always so great to hear of people's progress... keep it coming!

kks_kd- 11 miles is awesome! Congrats! I can't wait until I can run again:(

I have a question for you'll. I am just starting back on my recovery.



I am going out shopping for one of those good sports bras mentioned up there. But is there anything to even me out. Left side is droopy D, and rt has TE,maybe B. I have a prosthetic,"chicken cutlet" but its hot and I don't like wearing it. I want to be able to wear something not hot.

eulabt, I literally feel for you. I'm prohibited from running for now. In fact, I was grateful I had a day-pass for the subway today to get to physio (just two stops, or a 10-15 minute walk downhill). Had some intense therapy, some ultrasound voodoo, and left wrapped in three layers of kinesiotape and a metatarsal pad. Even with that, and in Mephisto sandals, it's still painful, so at home, I've also wrapped it in an ACE bandage with a squeezy stress ball under my foot. I have no idea how I did this, and why it's only on one foot, but it is no fun at all.

I hope we're all on the road again soon. 

Hello, running ladies . . .

I'm new to posting so I don't know if the subject has come up before.  Has anyone out there had Tram Flap reconstruction?  I had mastectomy followed by immediate tram flap.  This was 2 weeks ago.  I am (was) a 30-mile/week runner.  The day before my surgery I ran 8 miles followed by 1 hr of weights at the gym.  Will I ever get back there?  I know, it's been so soon.  Patience, right?

Right now I'm walking at a very comfortable pace about 4 miles a day, but broken up into 2-3 walks/day. The only discomfort I feel is the tightness in my stomach where the stitches are.  I'm also doing some very gentle yoga stretches - and I still have 2 drains which really gross me out!  But those will be gone this week.

One note in the hospital - a young nurse really gave me a pick-me-up and I don't even think she realized it.  She came in to take my vitals (and I was MISERABLE in the hospital) and she was a little taken aback with my HR which was 55.  Then she says, "OH, that's RIGHT, you're a runner." I smiled to myself because she said, "You're a runner" not "You WERE a runner" because YES I AM A RUNNER!!

I think I just want some encouragement / confirmation from anyone out there who has been through the same.  Will I get back to my former fitness?  Thanks!!!

willy5js5  - I have a umx and immediate DIEP reconstruction in January. My PS cleared me to run at week 5 but wouldn't let me wear a bra until week 6 ... LOL ... so I didn't run until week 6 ;-) Saw my PT that week regarding cording and lymphedema prevention and started chemotherapy ... It was quite a week. But I kept on running through all my chemo and I'm about to start rads next Monday and was encouraged by my RO to run through rads too!

I'm not a fast runner but I can put in the miles.

You'll be out there before you know it!

I run on the treadmill. My knees won't forgive on pavement yet. I started running to prepare for diep and fell for it. Hooked for certain. My PS won't approve the treadmill yet. Suggested walks at the mall but I am not a fan of the mall. I only have a couple more weeks to wait and hope my endurance has not dropped too much. Anxious though.

HI...I am new here to this board.  I just started C25K within this last week.  Truth be told, I need to lose 60 pounds.  Before I was dx'd, I could walk a mile, but it was a struggle.  During treatment, I could barely walk even a quarter of a mile...chemo and me didn't get along well AT ALL.  After treatment, I started walking and was walking 2 miles.  Had to take a break after my exchange surgery and decided to start up with the C25K program.  I am amazed at how fast a mile goes...I'm still at a 20 minute mile, but I started at a 22 minute mile.  I have set a goal that I am going to run my own 5K on October 14th, my one year anniversary of being dx'd.  I have some friends who are runners and they are all going to run/walk with me.  

Anyway...hopefully I can stay motivated and get running tips from all of you!!!!!  : ) 

Anita, I did not ask for permission, so ... 

One of the reasons I knew my surgeon was right for me is he was obviously a runner (albeit lapsed) and he got it. He thought I was crazy doing the Half because my time would suck, that's all.

I had no drains when I started back at the gym. They were outputting nothing and they removed all but one before I left the hospital, and they only made me keep the last one for principle. They leave one ab drain for 48 hours or whatever the fluid quantity is. I had nothing draining and I made the homecare nurse take it after 2 days. She wanted to squeeze an extra day's billing out of it but after my previous mx, the homecare infected my incision and for me the less homecare the better.   

I did fall on the treadmill. Total faceplant. Bleeding knees. However, I fell crossing the street on the way to the gym too. On two separate occasions. Right in the middle of four lanes of traffic, jaywalking in the snow. Messed up my knees and dislocated my shoulder but I was already in physio for everything else so that was quickly looked after. Also fell down the stairs at the mall. If you're going to fall, you're going to fall, I figure.

The treadmill made walking easier than elsewhere because it has the arms to hold on to, and I really did support myself on those arms quite a lot, to try to straighten up, gently, as I walked. The mirror along the side wall helped to watch my straightening progress from week to week. I started with an hour and worked up to 90+ minutes at a time (thanks to SuperBowl playoffs on the treadmill TV) in the weeks leading up to the Half, but literally just tried running at the same belt speed for the last 30 seconds. It just didn't feel right. But when I got to Disneyland, and the 5K started, I felt like running. It was the pixie dust, I guess. That really reassured me that I would be able to go the distance on the Sunday. 

Hi all-new to this thread and running. Until my dx in Jan 2011, I had never ran- but walked all the time. I decided a couple of months ago to give running a try and now I am addicted!!! I registered for my first 5k. It is 8/11. I am looking forward to it. This thread is very encouraging to a newbie like myself!!

Hi ladies - newbie running question here.  I have been doing couch to 5k very slowly, taking about 3 weeks to progress through 1 week of the program.  This week I upped my running time again, but as the days progress through this section it seems to be getting harder and not easier.  I run on a treadmill, so I can get my HR after a running section, and yesterday it was up to 163.  I am 58 and that seems too high to me.  I am jogging slowly, and I am not overly winded, but was wondering if a high heart rate like this is normal or even unhealthy?

Another question I have is breathing - I've seen you all talk about getting your breathing rhythm, but how does one do that?  Maybe I am overthinking it, but I do not seem to have any rhythm to my breathing during the jog sections.

Thanks,

Pat 

Welcome 301- Follow what your surgeon wants you to do. I know we all want to get out there and get back into life, but doing too much too soon can lead to setbacks, and possibly even permanent conditions like arm or truncal lymphedema. 

Being in good shape and having strong legs will absolutely be to your benefit as your upper body will be compromised for several weeks.  You'll be relying on your legs and core more than usual for everyday activities like getting up from a chair.  You may want to do some extra core work in these couple of weeks leading up to surgery. 

While your ps may not want you to do any running, you will not have to be completely inactive as walking is usually encouraged.   I was walking in the hospital halls a few days after my surgery, and walked daily for the 6 weeks I was off work.  At first I could barely manage to shuffle down to the next house and back and that took about 10 minutes to go maybe 100 feet, but by the end I was doing several miles daily.  So even if the doctor recommends no running for several weeks, you can still walk and that will maintain at least some of your conditioning.

Pat - FWIW, I'm your age and have a high heart rate as well when exercising.  It comes back down when I'm done, so I've never thought to mention it to any doctor.  I did have some measurable heart damage from adriamycian, but my heart function is still within normal range so I was not placed on any restrictions nor am I monitored. I'm mostly just a 5K kind of gal - maybe it would not get as high if I were more of a half or full marathoner.  

It seems that different PS have different restrictions - my PS was very clear that I was on both ab and "no jiggling" restrictions for 6 weeks after my DIEP and Stage II revisions - that meant no running, treadmill, ellipticalling, etc. that could cause my new "girls" to jiggle.  I was limited strictly to walking, but she encourged me to do as much of that as I wanted.  Since I'm thrilled with my outcome I'm glad I followed her advice and didn't do anything that might possibly impair the eventual cosmetic and medical outcome.  Gold - it sounds like your PS was a bit more easy-going with restrictions if you were allowed to treadmill and run so soon after your DIEP.  I guess each ps finds what works best for his or her patients, and makes recommendations accordingly.    

It has been a while for me. Busy with work, kids, vacations and trying to train for a triathlon. Whoever said the only training plan you need is swim, bike, run, eat, sleep and repeat had it right.



I think swimming has helped some with the chest tightness and with the shoulder pain. In fact today I had no pain at all until I lifted a case of water.



Welcome to all the new runners/ walkers.