2013 Running Thread

Really loving these reports!  Firstcall, I second what goldlining said: I can't imagine starting a marathon when you're that tired, much less finishing it . . . and having a good time to boot.

Goldlining, I can totally identify with being lost in a strange city (and with the tiny frisson of fear that you're NEVER going to find your way back) but also stumbling on things you'd never otherwise have seen.  Having a bad sense of direction can definitely make for some memorable runs.  Can't wait to hear about Singapore!

I ran a 5K on Sunday . . . it's in memory of a local kid who died in his 20s, based out of the school where he ran track; his family organizes it and hands out the awards.  It's a moving tribute, and a wonderful, family-oriented event (there were tons of kids running in both the regular race and the shorter "pee wee" races).  My official time was 22:26, but that's gun time (no timing mats at the start); since I started a ways back, I think I can legitimately claim at least a 22:20.  So, I'm getting closer to my goal of breaking 22:00 by this fall.  (The last time I ran 5K in under 22:00 was 5 years ago, in the middle of chemo, believe it or not.) 

Linda

Hi girls have just joined from aus I have been a runner off and on since I was 15 been doing 5-7 km of fast walking most nights as back can get sore running but I miss it terribly. I jogged through 6 rounds of chemo and felt better and more in control. I think it helps your mood as well. I get very tight hamstrings and I think that contributes to my back pulling any ideas?

Nancy, you're quite welcome!  I haven't started Tamoxifen yet--I'm finally seeing my new MO on Thursday and I expect to start immediately.  Fingers crossed!  Thanks so much for the good wishes.

Delvzy, you might try "dynamic stretches" for the hamstrings.  Stand on a stool or step on one foot and swing the other one, not super high but a little higher as you get loose.  Ten swings in a set, do two or three sets on each side.  I hope I'm not giving you bad advice.  I learned this from an orthotist who'd used this stretch to cure his own hamstring issues.  Maybe try googling it and/or youtube to double-check my suggestion.  I also have a tight, easily strained lower back.  Running seems to help, which I didn't believe at first.  My theory is that warming up the muscles relaxes the strain.  However, I mostly need to stretch out the hip flexors, which are probably too short from sitting most of the day.  I stand up, put one leg behind me, and stretch that same hip forward, then do the other side.  But it really depends on what is the particular issue with your back. Have you had PT for any of this?

Been lurking on this site for a few days, just found this post.  

I was recently diagnosed (DCIS), had a lumpectomy last week and have an appointment to get sutures removed and go over pathology report on Monday!  Hopefully will find out how many rad treamtment I will need and when they will begin.

I had only been running for about 6 months, have run ~8 - 5k's and 2 - 5 milers since then.  I was up to running about 6 miles on my own.  My question is; the running club I joined has a half marathon training program beginning July 14th.  I really dont want to let this (Cancer) be an excuse for me to stop running, but I'm pretty sure I'll be going through my rads during the beginning of training.  Does this seem doable as a beginner runner to anyone who has already been through rads regardless of running experience.  My rational is that it will be the lower miles inthe beginning and hopefully by the time they get to the higher miles I'll be done and will have some ... maybe more of my strength back! 

Any thoughts or comments are appreciated!

JrzyGrl - I am in the same boat.  Had my lumpectomy 5/15.  I was supposed to wait two weeks to run.  I made it about a week or so.  Just doubled up the running bras and tried not to bounce too much.  I start rads soon.  I'm training for a fall Marathon so if your training group starts back mid July, you should be fine.  Stick with it as best you can.  Run/walk if you need to.  What race are you doing?

Just signed up for Tinkerbell Half and Disney Princess Glass Slipper Challenge.  10k on Saturday followeed by a half on Sunday.  Yes, I'm addicted to Disney races.  So much fun!

Thank you runfree for the stretch advice I will start running again in the morning . I don't seem to have the energy to run any more than 5km it's probably because I am getting older and have been through a lot . Anyway it makes me feel powerful and free to run its like kicking cancer in the butt!

The latest research released here in Aus talks about running and fast walking metabolises estrogen better through the body. Another reason to run!

Hey Dallas262, doesn't the Glass Slipper Coast to Coast medal look adorable? I don't think I can do those two this year but I have done both of them in the past and loved them to pieces. Especially the TinkHalf.

Well, I went out for my Singapore run. Suggested by a business friend here, I set out aiming for the river, to run along it. I thought that would solve the Osaka problem, where I overshot the target and had to run extra to double back. After all, it's a river, right? It inherently creates a boundary. Just run perpendicular toward it, then make a left or right turn when you get it, and then reverse to go back. Well, it was dark, so I failed to notice that I had run up and over the river at about the 3k point. So another km and a bit, I started wondering where this alleged river was. I had a photo of a tourist map in my iPhone but I had gone off the edges so I turned back to return to streets that were on the map and found the river.

I had a pleasant run for a km or two along the river-walk type of patio dining environment and thought I should turn back toward the hotel. Unfortunately, I was not on the side of the river I thought I was, so when I ran away perpendicular to the river, I was running away from my destination. I ran and I ran ... It started to rain a little (after all, it was about 32C and positively velvety humidity - I was making my own gravy!) After running along a fairly isolated area that seemed mostly an onramp to a highway, I returned to populated streets and passed through a bustling Chinatown (and am still trying to un-smell the durian) and having finished the half litre I had taken with me, I stopped at a 7-Eleven for a bottle of water, which was fortunately SGD $1.20 and ran a little more, but nothing was working out, destination-wise.

I had SGD $2.60 and a Visa card in my pocket when I set out, so after I bought the water, I had SGD $1.40 left, which was enough for the subway back! By the time I reached Singapore General Hospital, I was seeing street names I had passed on a subway ride where I had made a similar wrong turn, taking the long route to the right destination, and I knew they weren't near my hotel. Found a subway station to consult the local area map and it was clear I was FAR. So I bailed. Total distance 8.80km. Subway trip was five stops and a transfer to get back!

My GPS map recorded the souvenir route (and it looks like a random walk of someone on drugs), but the heart rate and stride counter dongle flaked so I have no idea how I did there. Felt good though. I got back to the Hilton, drank another half litre of water, showered and went out for spaghetti and sangria. And passed a McDonalds next door to the hotel all this time (hidden below sidewalk level)! I was still thirsty so stopped there for a "Coke Light", as they call it, and apple pie - they still fry them! Remember that? Well, I decided I had deserved a fried apple pie too.

Am at the airport now, boarding in an hour. I'm coming down with an itchy throat, so I hope I can keep up the streak and get a Nike+ map from Bergamo as well.

Great Delvzy, glad that helped!  I find walking harder on my back than running, and standing is harder than walking.  (So why don't I run more???!)  I hope you do try a race.  They are really fun and supportive.

Lovestorun, you're getting to a 5K pretty darn fast post-rads--good for you!  Glad you didn't slip on the mud.  Running in mud always scares me a little.  Congratulations on your inspiring 5K!!!

Pah! (that is ASL for "success!") A run in all of my travel stops.

I did a 5K run in Lallio, the suburb of Bergamo where I'm stored away waiting for my meeting tomorrow. I did not get lost or run over. Getting lost was nowhere near as likely as in the last few locations, because this turned out to be essentially an industrial park near the airport with a village next to it. Nothing in walking distance, which is why I mention the possibility of getting run over. No shoulders on most of the roads and ample use of traffic circles instead of intersections.

Had to walk 2km just to find a vending machine with water in it, until I noticed that a 24-hour commercial bakery across the street sells pizza slices on the side. Since I had that at lunchtime, I had M&Ms for dinner last night, grateful I had not eaten them in Japan, because there was no dinner service in the hotel, no vending (what a shock after Asia with vending everywhere!) nor anywhere to walk to. I so wish I had booked a hotel in Milano for the weekend and just come to this location tonight, but hindsight is 20/20.

I am feeling much better running more often. My peak heart rate is lower and although I do the walk breaks, my running pace holds up even in the outings where I've gotten lost and run more than I planned.

The running gear goes back into the suitcase now. Next run, after I get home.

Hi...I'm half crazy!!  I just registered for the Disney Princess 1/2 Marathon on Feb 23, 2014.  I am a beginner runner, just started today using the Jeff Galloway training.  My daughter and friend (who has been running for 4 years) are running with me.  My goal is to finish 

Sandlake, go for it!  You're a "beginner" but it sounds like you've already got the passion!!!

Just signed up for the Run for the Roses 5K, Wheaton, MD for this Saturday, June 15.  It's 10 minutes from my house - I just couldn't pass that one up.  No early rising to drive for an hour to get there like I usually do - for this one I'll practically roll out of bed right to the starting line.   The course goes all through a local wooded park, so it should be a lovely run.

Sand, good for you! A recent Time magazine article about the boom in people running races talked about two different kinds of people who enter races - "competers" and "completers".  I'm definitely a "completer"  - if I finish, then I've won. 

Pat - there's a Diva Dash near me on 9/21.  It looks like fun - what was it like last year?  I was tempted to sign up for it but didn't know anyone who had done one.