2013 Running Thread

Alaskamama, thanks for following up.  Score another one for running!  It must be hard to realize you won't have any answers about the bone spot for quite a while.  Even though it wouldn't make a difference in the course of treatment now, knowing would make a difference in your outlook about all this.  I found the uncertainty about the scope of my situation the hardest thing to deal with, and for me some aspects of it lasted several months which was tough.  Shoot, if running makes you happy, keeps you stronger, and hurts no one else, why would anyone question it??!! 

It's possible Runner's World has a discussion board about running through chemo (not that I want you to stop posting here!).  I know there was something in the magazine recently about a guy who has been running for several years with really tough Stage IV cancer.  I'll try to find it and let you know the month, or post a link.  He had a great attitude and it was a wonderfully upbeat story actually, and lots about the power of running.

Alaska - welcome to this board (it really is a great one!) and so glad running these past few days have helped.  To echo others, listen to your body and do what you need to do to help keep your sanity and to cope so well.

Cass - if you aren't ready to make an investment on a new one, have you tried doubling up on sportsbras?  I was not able to run through all of radiation, but when I was able to, I wore a seamless stretchy one underneath a supportive one.  The combination worked to stop the jiggle. And I think the seamless underneath helped with irritation a bit too.  I'm now back to just the one supportive one. 

Congrats RunFree! That's fantastic!  Uber-sweaty humid run here - boy did I feel it afterwards, but grateful to feel so lousy after such a sweatfest!

I disappeared for a spell. I had to have my right implant removed due to infection. You think no boobs is bad until you have no hair. You think lymphedema is a fashion challenge until you have one boob...and so much more. Ugh. I'm wearing a sleeve today. I was careful at the hospital that they knew about my lymphedema. Beyond that I haven't been doing much of anything and gratefully it stayed pretty stable. Back on the sleeve today. These surgeries are so majorly messing up my workouts! I won't be running for a long time as I'm headed for a latissimus dorsi flap. I can walk a little in the meantime starting Friday.

I was running/walking today after work. had my sleeves and gauntlets on. felt my fingers swell some. they felt tight. it was very hot and muggy. I kept going. wanted to quit but my running partner wouldn't let me. what if anything can I do different? I don't want to get LE. I raised my arms up and opened and closed my fingers a lot.

any ideas? and after i run, should a wait a few hours before taking off sleeve? I only wear during exercize.

Thanks RunFree. I will keep the faith. A good friend of mine was very sick with Hep-C for about 2 years. I saw her today and she looks awesome! She is doing the best running of her life, feels great, got new boobs - lost so much weight during treatment her poor boobs caved in, and she was smiling. She reminded me how she came out the other side and that I can too - even after a long marathon recovery. I will try to keep the faith and enjoy each day. In the meantime, I'm investing some energy in improving the quality of my food intake to stay strong!

Mariasnow, it is really inspiring to hear about your friend running and doing so well after Hep C!  Thank you for that.  It's great that you're focusing on quality food and staying positive.  I hope you'll feel free to gripe whenever you need to.

Mariasnow, good luck... I'm just starting this adventure (diagnosed in June with stage 3 breast cancer), had my second AC infusion this week. For 4-5 weeks after diagnosis there was a lot of travel (I live in AK), tests, decisions, packing and relocating myself and my kids, and general disruption along with a few naysaying nurses who shook my confidence ... and my running began to flag. Then my energy and morale began to flag. Finally last week I realized I had to hit the running hard and it helped so much. I'm grateful for this board with everyone's positive energy and just wanted to throw some back and let you know I am cheering for you.

Well done alaskamama. Every workout I was able to do during treatment was a major boost for me. I did go to hard at a few points and I do believe it backfired on me. I just could not recover for like a week. My bloodcounts being low or something just wouldn't let me recover. But that was my path. I always tend to think I'm different or special with everything and I do things my own way. :-)

I did a bit of walking around at an outdoor shopping plaza today - most activity since surgery. Tomorrow and Sunday I will strap on my running shoes and get out and walk at a good clip in my running gear to keep the spirit alive.

checking in-Long run yesterday 5.25 miles in 70 min. Went smoother than I imagined it would. A little light rain toward the end was welcome! This next week will be a light one and a 5K on Sat. which I am now confident I can run the entire 3 miles I am enjoying working on my endurance and with time will see how my pace can improve a smidge.

Hugz to snow and AKmom.

Prior to surgery, I would frequently get swollen fingers/hands with walking. I haven't had much of that this summer with my walking or running. I do move my fingers a lot while jogging and I think keeping my arms up while doing either activity has helped. Only had one node removed and have had no issues with any other swelling.

Time to get ready for work. Have a wonderful week everyone.

xoxoxoxoxo

Piper

sign me up for 5K Step up for Stefanie Spielman Sept 15 in Columbus, Ohio...I ran it last year with my son and met Chris Spielman...what a nice, nice man....

Haven't been on here for awhile...keep up the running ladies and enjoying all the tips...I need them...had to laugh about eating after a race...I'm always simply starving....before a race I usually have a banana, granola bar...and a couple sips of coffee..yes coffee....especially those early am races...I need it

Love this thread...

Sadly, I think my running is over until rads are done 8/17. Even doubling up on sports bras doesn't bind me tightly enough. The bra recommendation above looks great but is rather pricy for an item I'll need for only three weeks. I tried easing back into my upper body weights - that's not happening either. Ah well, at least I can still do long walks.

is walking just as good as running. i have tried this running thing. it makes my knees and feet hurt. makes bakers cyst hurt. am going to continue training for half K mainly walking. I can walk whole thing if I need too.



am currently on vacation. my diet is horrible. havnt had veggie in days. my schedule is way off. i need kale:-)

Fran, I have been an avid walker all of my life and have been able to walk 11 and 12 minute miles. If you are moving your body-you are doing way more than so many others.

I have challenged myself to run. I do not know how long I may keep up with it, but so far, I just keep on keeping on.

This venture has taken me months and months of conditioning and as anyone here will tell you-take it slow.

That said I am checking in with today's 5K results............35:29!

My first mile was around 11:30, the 2nd mile I was stoked because I saw I was coming in a little under 24 min. My problem was the 3rd mile, I got a stitch in my right upper side which was making it hard for me to take a deep breath...but still happy with my time as my goal was 36minutes

I was not last and I managed to shave 3 minutes off of my last timed race. This little turtle just kept moving.

I loved the atmosphere and spirit of the runners and walkers. All ages and sizes. A young guy set a new race record at 14:30. Holy crap those guys were flying!

I ran into some of the people I spoke with at the start. Some did much better than they thought they would. The coolest part was toward the end There were a couple of guys struggling to keep running and in fact I passed them at my measily pace A runner who had finished was trotting back through and encouraging the remainder of the troups. A few minutes later I hear a man's voice coaching another runner. The 2 guys pass me and it is one of the men who was struggling at the back and the other man who was encouraging us. He got that guy to keep pace with him, pass the lot of us and cross the finish. I was so inspired by the 2 of them running together.

The sense of community was unbelievable. What was even cooler was this event raises money for the patients at the retirement/nursing home community. Many of whom were sitting on their balconies and outside cheering us on. The local football team volunteered and pushed patients in a part of the course.

They had a Jazz band, food and beer afterwards and lot's of medals passed out for every age group you can imagine.

Gold-they did have a cool shower which I breezed through.

I am so happy I went today-and I went by myself too. HAHA!

XOXOXOXOXOXOXO

TY for all of the encouragement

Piper

Piper, congrats! The mind's determination is just as important as the body in the quest to keep moving..... You are an inspiration....



Firstcall, please add me to your list for The Sydney Running Festival on 22 September, it has everything from a marathon to a 3.5K fun run....I'm only going to do the 3.5K fun run this time as I'm still not 100% yet....but I am trying and I am even seeing an exercise physiologist now to see if I can get my body in tune, I'll go for speed this race :-)



Fran, I've always been a walker, in fact my husband and I are on holidays in Europe at the moment and we are walking 10-15K per day...it is a great exercise and a good 1st step to running if you feel like you want to try again later...