2013 Running Thread

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  • NatsFan
    NatsFan Member Posts: 3,745
    edited March 2013

    I've been thinking about what some of you said about Galloway and run-walking.  I've done more reading and research on it, and it seems that it might be a good approach for me at this point.  I'm still new at this running game, and my HM training schedule calls for an 8 mile run this Sunday. I think I'm going to experiment with a walk-run this Sunday and see how it goes - maybe a 3:1 or 4:1 ratio? My HM isn't till late April, so I have some time - being a newbie, I'm still at the stage of working out optimal training methods for me to attempt something that long.

    For some reason I have it in my mind that walking during a race somehow equates with me being a failure at running.  Yet from everything I've read run-walking makes perfect sense to me, including that it often improves your overall time.  I'm so slow right now - 13+ minute miles - that it takes me forever to do any kind of long run.  Anything to improve my time would be good.  But I still have this "failure" feeling about doing any walking. I have to figure out a way to get over that, I guess.

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  • 301724
    301724 Member Posts: 478
    edited March 2013

    You'll get over the 'failure feeling' when you start passing people during the second half of the race. Happens to me every time. I start out dead last (11 minute miles) and end up passing lots of folks who went out too fast. I'm a die-hard Galloway fan!

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  • Katlou
    Katlou Member Posts: 27
    edited March 2013

    It's not on the list, but my HM is on 4/28 in north myrtle beach, sc. It's the Diva and there will be boa and tiara stations along the route, as well as hot firemen handing out champagne at the finish. A friend ran the cooper river bridge run in charleston, sc a couple of years ago - 10k. She was beat by a guy in cutoff shorts who was literally juggling 3 balls as he crossed the finish line. So as long as I don't get beat by that guy.....

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  • firstcall
    firstcall Member Posts: 499
    edited March 2013

    NatsFan - as far as planned walking as part of your run - Get over it, and stop worrying about it.  There are a lot of people who do that, you wont be out of place.  Its a good way to go when you're trying to get 'up to speed' in the half or marathon. 

    Katlou - you're on the list now...

    So....I had a good run this morning.  Before treatment, I was running about a 9 minute mile.  Those days are gone.  Chemo took my 9 minute miles to about 15 minute miles, and that was a struggle.  That has gradually been improving, and I've been working toward running Boston on apr 15th as a cellebration of my 1 year anniversary of completion of chemo.  I had a stress fracture in my foot the first of the year, and couldnt run for the month of January.  I ran pretty steady during the Month of February, and got my weekly mileage up to 40+ miles a week.  My foot is doing ok.  Last Saturday I did 14+ miles and averaged 10 min 50 sec a mile.  On track, I was trying to stay below 11 minutes.  Sunday was a rest day, and today I ran 6 hilly miles, and averaged 10 minutes 10 seconds a mile.  I felt great.  So....I'm feeling like I'm on track, but now I have my surgery scheduled for Wed.  Its always something, isn't it.  I won't run for a couple of days after surgery, but hope to run again Saturday.  Its kind of a wild card trying to figure out what to expect then.  Stay tuned.  I hope everyone is doing well, and I appreciate everyones support.  This is the happiest thread on BCO. 

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  • goldlining
    goldlining Member Posts: 1,178
    edited March 2013

    Walk breaks are good for my head as well as my body. As the Galloway material says, it doesn't tend to cost people time in the end.

    I hope to improve my time from event to event, but with all the curve balls with surgery, work catch-up, stress fracture, whatever, my top priority is that I am racing the straggler bus. All the rest doesn't matter. (Even Juggler Guy, really. I was Juggler Guy once - last summer I walked a 15K event in my AirCast boot and passed an embarrassing number of people. Felt bad for them!) I'm there to celebrate the fact that I'm there, to have a nice outing, to see some scenery and participate in some hoopla - and get some bling. :-D

    I do kind of feel so sorry for those young, fit people stretching out aches and pains against curbs and lampposts at mile 10 when I pass them with not an ache nor a pain myself. Run-walk works! 

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  • Member_of_the_Club
    Member_of_the_Club Member Posts: 3,646
    edited March 2013

    Welcome, Katlou.  You should be able to run during radiation and it might help prevent fatigue (did for me).  Are you going to take walk breaks during the HM?

    Natsfan, I think you will notice a lot of other folks taking walk breaks during your race.  I think you'll have more fun approaching it that way.

    Is anyone else tapering?  I've started my taper for my first HM.  I like this part, when the training is in the bag.

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  • goldlining
    goldlining Member Posts: 1,178
    edited March 2013

    Member_of_the_Club I always taper, even when the training is NOT in the bag :-)  I am also especially diligent about the carb loading! :-D

    But seriously, I like everything about the last days before the event. The ritual of getting all the gear ready, the expo, the light runs. When it is time to taper (I usually start the weekend before) it sort of "officially" becomes that exciting phase. 

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  • NatsFan
    NatsFan Member Posts: 3,745
    edited March 2013

    Thanks everyone - appreciate the support about the run-walking.  Yep, firstcall - you're exactly right - I need to just get over it and do it.  301724 and goldlining- it would be fun to actually pass people now and then - I don't do that a lot now.  I like to think of reeling them in, like fishing.  I see them ahead of me, snag them with my imaginary pole, then reel them in, then move on to the next person.  MOTC - I think you hit on something when you said I'll have more fun approaching it that way.  You're right - my last long run was 7 miles which I'd never done before, and I was so anxious and worried about it that I even had anxiety dreams about it.  Now I'm actually looking forward to my 8 miles scheduled for this Sunday. 

    I feel so much better about the whole thing - thanks everyone - this group rocks!!

    Kat - LOL about beating the juggler.  We ran a Jingle Bell 8K in December, and one runner actually lugged a tuba the whole way, playing Christmas carols.  I may be slow, but I at least finished ahead of Tuba Guy!  Amazingly, he beat a number of people.  Firstcall - impressive on the progess you've made in the year after chemo.  Good luck with surgery and hope it doesn't keep you down too long.

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  • groovygirls
    groovygirls Member Posts: 223
    edited March 2013

    NatsFan- lots of people do a run/walk. I myself am a big fan of it. I usually run 1 minute/walk one minute. You will find a ratio that works for you.

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  • groovygirls
    groovygirls Member Posts: 223
    edited March 2013

    Firstcall- good luck with surgery tomorrow.

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  • Annette47
    Annette47 Member Posts: 957
    edited March 2013

    Good luck Firstcall!

    Finished rads yesterday, but am still too sore (mostly from swelling, which I had pretty bad, but they said no compression/sportsbras for a week so as not to aggravate the skin) to try running - even the minor jiggling from walking is a bit painful.   I am itching to get back out there though ... in the meantime I continue to live vicariously through the rest of you!

    On the plus side, in a week or two when I can start back up there's a chance the weather might be a tad warmer at least!

    Katlou - your HM sounds fun!  The only race I've ever done was last years Race for the Cure (having no idea I would be diagnosed a month later, LOL) and we had girl scouts handing out drinks, not hot firemen!

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  • Katlou
    Katlou Member Posts: 27
    edited March 2013

    Firstcall - I hope that all goes well tomorrow!! 

    Based on info from you guys, I researched the Galloway method last night and I think that will work much better for me. I'm so glad I found this group!

    Oh good lord.  If I get beat by a tuba player or someone in an air cast, it will take a lot of wine to ease the pain!  I'll use that as my motivation when I want to quit during training! 

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  • SharonLC
    SharonLC Member Posts: 53
    edited March 2013

    Annette - I'm right behind you ... can't wait to be finished this Friday. I hope your swelling goes away soon. When are you starting Tamoxifen?

    Katlou - I completed a HM right in the middle of my RADs treatment ... no heavy fatigue ... got overly tired around 2 weeks left point but that was mainly because I wasn't sleeping well do to the itchiness, now that I have peeled where I was so itchy, I'm not waking up every hour on the hour. When I would run, I felt nothing but those good endorphines ... helped keep a clear head, too. Unfortunately, I pulled my groin muscle last weekend, so I am unable to run now for a few weeks. I hope you do well with the rest of your treatment and have a blast at your Diva HM ... sounds like a very fun run!

    NatsFan - Galloway's method worked well for me ... if you print off one of his plans for a HM, it's only 3 days of run/walk training (1 long one) and 1 day of walking per week. I was hoping to break 2:30 and ended up just under 2:09 ... the race chip gave the 5 mile time in the results ... my last 8.1 pace was actually faster than my first 5 ...  I was passing runners the whole race since I started out in the 3rd corral. Plenty of characters finished ahead of me ... I couldn't catch a pink fuzzy bunny nor a person carrying an American flag on an 8 ft pole either (don't know how they managed that with 20 mph winds gusting). You will enjoy the HM ... spectators are fantastic, characters on the course and off, you'll have plenty of distractions to enjoy along the way! During the walk breaks, you'll be using different muscles, so your legs will feel fresher than just straight running, too ... I thing you'll enjoy the whole HM experience much better, especially since it's your first one, just finishing it will be a huge accomplishment!

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  • Annette47
    Annette47 Member Posts: 957
    edited March 2013

    Sharon - you're in the home stretch with the rads - WOO HOO!!!!

    They told me to wait 3-4 weeks before starting Tamoxifen so that we can be sure what SE's are from what.   I looked at the calendar and 4 weeks to the day is April Fool's Day, which seemed somehow appropriate, so that's what I decided on.   How about you?

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  • Katlou
    Katlou Member Posts: 27
    edited March 2013

    Congrats Annette and Sharon!!!  Just think, you get to start a new week on Monday with NO radiation!!  I hope you take some time this weekend to reflect on all that you've been through and that you give yourselves lots of pats on the back.  Celebrate mightily! You deserve it!

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  • MMTOMH
    MMTOMH Member Posts: 127
    edited March 2013

    Special prayers for you tonight, firstcall.  Hope everything goes smoothly tomorrow and you have a most speedy recovery so you'll be out running again this weekend!

    Well, it's really hard to stick to this HM plan that I've found because there are two days each week that I need to run/walk 5 miles and that takes me about 1:16.  I can't do that at lunch and with the kids, dinner, their homework, the cold/wet weather etc, it's hard to find time and/or motivation at night.  That being said, I've been getting in some walking/hiking/running/cross training 5 days each week.  I'm definately getting stronger and can run faster, if not longer, so that's something! 

     

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  • firstcall
    firstcall Member Posts: 499
    edited March 2013

    Good Morning everyone.  I appreciate everyones kind words, prayers, and support.  I'll be leaving for my surgery shortly.  My brother asked me if this was a major surgery, or what, and I explained to him that major surgery is surgery on me, minor surgery is surgery on someone else.  I'm mostly at peace about it, and I hope I can have a favorable path report. 

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  • lovestorun
    lovestorun Member Posts: 167
    edited March 2013

    Firstcall - thinking of you firstcall and that all goes very very well. 

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  • SharonLC
    SharonLC Member Posts: 53
    edited March 2013

    Annette ... WOO HOO to you, too ... I start Tamoxifen on Monday ... I like your Oncologist start date better though!!

    Thanks Katlou ... celebration dinner planning going on right now for this Saturday!!

    MMTOMH ... you are doing GREAT!! You have made a lot of progress since you first started posting, you should be PROUD!!

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  • LuvLuLu
    LuvLuLu Member Posts: 377
    edited March 2013

    Firstcall, hugs and positive thoughts headed your way. Hope to see you back on the road in no time at all!

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  • firstcall
    firstcall Member Posts: 499
    edited March 2013

    A special thank you to each of you for your kind notes, prayers, and well wishes.   I'm home from surgery, and I think it went well.  My surgeon told me that the tumor didn't look as bad as it did last week, and was optomistic that it is not cancerous.  I am too.  Of course, I know that its not for sure until the path is back.  Hopefully Friday.  I did an hour on the elliptical this morning and then went in to the Surgery Center.  Turns out my anesthesiologist is a marathon runner, so we were talking running while I drifted off. 

    I'm home now, and resting.  My friend John came by and filled my freezer with fresh caught salmon, halibut, and cod, and gave me a case of freshly canned tuna. 

    Did I tell you my youngest daughter is going to school for commercial diving?  She is being trained to a depth of 150 ft.  Underwater welding.  She's the only woman in the class, top of the class and she's the class president. 

    I'm glad the surgery is done, not supposed to run for a couple of days, but I am allowed to swim if I feel up to it . 

    Hope everyone is well.

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  • MMTOMH
    MMTOMH Member Posts: 127
    edited March 2013

    Congrats, firstcall I'm sure it feels good to get that behind you.  Will continue to pray for a clear path report.

    Today was my very last infusion of Herceptin!  YEAH!  I have finally fiinished the one year of herceptin and it feels great!  Next week I head down Seattle-way for f/u and my final MUGA scan...all this running and stuff should make sure it is a good one!  

    Thanks for the encouragement, Sharon...you guys are all so great Wink

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  • goldlining
    goldlining Member Posts: 1,178
    edited March 2013

    I was offline and missed the "good luck" window and am glad to jump straight to the "congratulations!" firstcall. Fingers crossed for favourable path report.

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  • NatsFan
    NatsFan Member Posts: 3,745
    edited March 2013

    Firstcall - glad to hear that things went well.  Take care of yourself!  Hoping for good news on path results.  And your daughter sounds incredible - good for her!

    Just signed up for a St. Pat's Run for Your Luck 5K - Hagerstown, MD 3/16/13.  I'm of Irish descent, so I just couldn't resist. Tongue Out

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  • Member_of_the_Club
    Member_of_the_Club Member Posts: 3,646
    edited March 2013

    I'm glad it went well, firstcall.

    And good luck next weekend on the 5K, Natsfan.  Will they be serving green beer at the finish line?

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  • NatsFan
    NatsFan Member Posts: 3,745
    edited March 2013

    One can only hope!!  Tongue Out

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  • Katlou
    Katlou Member Posts: 27
    edited March 2013

    Firstcall - Thinking about you and I hope that you got your path report today with all good news!!

    MMTOMH - Congrats on finishing Herceptin!

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  • firstcall
    firstcall Member Posts: 499
    edited March 2013

    Biopsy report came back - BENIGN!!   Thank you, each of you, for your support.  I want to cellebrate by running, which I will do as soon as I am allowed to.  What a relief.  You know, when you've bad news before, its tense waiting for the path report. 

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  • MMTOMH
    MMTOMH Member Posts: 127
    edited March 2013

    Hooray! Congrats! Fantastic news!

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  • SharonLC
    SharonLC Member Posts: 53
    edited March 2013

    Firstcall - GREAT NEWS!! Next ... Boston!! Your daughter must take after you, STRONG! ... that's a tough training program and to be head of her class, WOW!

    MMTOMH - Congrats on finishing your treatment! I will be praying that all your results will be FANTASTIC in Seattle this week and that you'll have safe travel, too!

    My daughters and husband are running a race this morning ... Shamrock Scurry Mile/5K ... I'll be on the sidelines cheering them on ... attempted to jog down my driveway yesterday ... no can do ... RICE is about all I can do at this point Cry

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