2013 Running Thread

alaskamama - you have got to give yourself more time. You are only two weeks out. I had bilateral lumpectomies and couldn't raise my arms over my head comfortably until I was a month out. I only had 3 nodes out; how many did they take (you wrote Axillary Node Dissection, but I wasn't sure if they took all or a lot of them) from you? This is the time to really, REALLY take it easy. You will reap mucho rewards later if you take really good...and slow...care of yourself now. That means tons of rest, nothing that joggles, and stretching. We don't know what is really done on the operating room table, but I can tell you that nerves are cut, stuff is moved all around (I had rib pain for weeks after my BLX...rib pain? Like, why would I have rib pain? Well, I was cut open and cut into. That's got to affect the whole area) and it takes time to heal. Please give yourself that time. I know you have a little one...just spend time with your little guy if you can...the running will be there...you deserve this time to get well so that you can be 100% in a few weeks!!! Gentle Hugs!

alaskamama, rest as much as you need. At the same time, if you are itching to walk and feel like it, if you just want to get your head into that space, just walk. You will know when you can pick up the pace. I my PT appointments. That is a good move. My PT is more of a shrink than my shrink is. She empathizes with me but she doesn't let me cheat myself. I am STILL working on range of motion and the trickle-down effects of my surgeries (today: tiny muscles in my neck, as a result of the lean-forward caused by the DIEP ab incision...)

FairyDogMother, I wish oncologists and surgeons understood what the running does, and then you wouldn't always have to wonder "are they saying not to run because it's really bad for me, or are they just saying don't do it, don't do anything because they don't know?" I was so lucky my surgeon was a runner and I trusted that he did not restrict if he didn't have to. I never had a port so can't talk about that, but the dreadmill was my sole option having DIEP in the middle of a Canadian winter. I couldn't run but walked 1+ hours at a time 4mph. I would have preferred to be outside in the warm but to be honest, I think I needed the structure at that point, holding on to the sides for support because I was all bent over. Those hours were my ME time, my escape. The up-side was it was NCAA and NFL football season. The TV in the treadmill at the gym has no captions, so I don't get anything out of drama, comedy, movies, news -- but I can understand football without captions. Enjoy that 15 minute mile pace. You're moving! You will be faster later. I was prouder of that awful 3:08 half marathon time 6 weeks post DIEP than any of the others, I think. I think having that run on my calendar kept up my motivation. Are you signed up for something to put on the calendar up top? (And I always liked to hide treatments behind runs so I could be looking forward to a run event, not dreading an upcoming diagnostic appointment or surgery.)

Hi, gorgeous running ladies. I had a very tough time on my first day of rads yesterday - I'm doing the gated breathing method and I'm the first patient at my hospital to try it...so it's been a lot of trial and error...and yesterday was mostly error. I was nervous and freezing and shaking and I just couldn't get my lungs inhaled to the point they needed it...so I was on the table for an hour and a half. I have not run in over a week. Today that changes. I am running this morning to, hopefully, loosen things up a bit and relax so I will do better today. I felt like such a failure yesterday. And, as a result of being on the table so long, and finally nearly passing out and hyperventilating from all of the deep-breathing (probably 75 huge intakes over the course of the session), I couldn't complete the treatment (I am having both breasts radiated concurrently) and now I have to add an extra day on. Which doesn't seem like a lot, except it is. Out I go into the crisp morning air.

Summergal, I'm sorry you had such a hard day. It was the techs that were failing, not you. I also did breath-hold radiation and I was also the first person at my cancer center to do it. There was one set-up day when I was on the table for an hour, and the hardest part was holding my arm over my head all that time. The tech apparently got in some trouble from the RO over that, which I felt bad about. Once they figured out where they wanted my measurements to be, which was the very next time, it went really fast all the rest of the days. To make the time pass while I was holding my breath, I had two strategies. For the first few weeks, I sang, of course totally in my head, "Hello my honey, hello my baby, hello my ragtime gal!" (and the rest of the chorus)--you know, picturing the goofy Warner Bros. (?) cartoon frog singing it. After I got sort of sick of that, I would just count, 1-1000-2-1000 and so on. That's how I know how long I had to hold my breath--generally about 25 seconds, although we did one 55-second test beam on that set-up day, which was pretty hard. They told me when it had gotten to 15 seconds, and they gave me a handheld doorbell to ring if I was going to have to let my breath out early. They also told me that some people, for whatever reason, just can't hold their breath very long. One of the techs said she can't get over 10 seconds! It will get better for you, I feel sure, or you/they will conclude you're not a good match for this therapy and you'll do it without the special breathing, and that will be OK.

Hi FairyDogMother,

I was diagnosed 4/30/13. I had a lumpectomy and SNB followed by chemo. I just finished radiation. I found that I just had to keep up with what I could and lowered my expectations. I continued to work out but cut way down on my running as that was what was difficult to keep up. Continuing to workout made a huge difference as my overall strength was maintained. I just signed up to do a 10k in December and expect to walk much of it. Please don't be hard on yourself. This all just sucks but does end. You should be proud that you DID a 5k with a port and shortly after surgery. Personally I'm fine with treadmill running. Not ideal and good music helps. Best of luck to you!

Hi all. Obligatory race report here. This was my 7th half marathon and I didn't think anything could top the joy of crossing the finish line at the end of my very first one. Until yesterday. Running yesterday's half was a big motivator for me after lumpectomy / re-excision and during and after radiation. Boy, was that a feeling to cross the finish line and check this one off the list! Woop! Woop! indeed.

It poured down rain just before the half, just as most of us were making our way to the corrals at the start. Thankfully it stopped, and while we had some drizzle from time to time, no steady rain or downpours. The warm weather that was supposed to meet us towards the end of the race never transpired - it was cool from start to finish. I took each mile one at a time, and tried to stay focused on that mile and just that mile. In the beginning that meant making sure I was taking it slow, as the miles passed and I picked up the pace, it meant focusing on something to keep me relaxed but also focused. In some cases I used sayings like "Running is something I do, something I do to feel alive." Or "my legs may be tired but my mind is not. I can do this" or "I've done this before I can do this again." I carried this you all on this thread with me during mile 10. You all worked some magic, as I pr'd by just over 2 and a half minutes. Icing on the cake.

The folks in Richmond do it right. It was well organized, the volunteers were fabulous, and there was great crowd support and music along the course (this despite the cold and damp and occasional drizzle). They gave out fleece blankets at the finish line along with race medals. Lots of funny signs. Two that made me laugh were "Channing Tatum is at the finish with puppies" and "Run like someone called you a jogger."

So into the Thanksgiving holiday season I go with a sore tuchus and IT bands you could play the banjo on, but happy and grateful. Best to you all.

"Channing Tatum is at the finish with puppies" and "Run like someone called you a jogger."

these just registered with me, too funny.. saved in the memory bank for future use..

alaskamama - I'm new to this thread and am not what I would call a 'real' runner. I do run, and I run way more than many people my age are able to, but until I'm able to do a 5K again without walking I can't think of myself as a runner. I'm 'starting to do some running' and would love to be able to do our local 5K in February, the summer festival 5K in July and our 8K Turkey Trot in November next year.....what we call the local 'Triple Crown'.

That being said, I too have a fondness for the treadmill, especially when I'm trying to get back on the running wagon. It helps me maintain pace and I'm able to track distance for interval training. I typically walk a brisk half mile warmup to avoid shin splint pain, then run a half mile at 6mph pace. After that it's quarter mile walk, quarter mile run intervals, bumping up my run speed each time by .3 to .5 MPH each time. I also have a fondness for my ipod because without music all I can think of is how miserable and breathless I am! My 23 year old daughter introduced me to my favorite walking song (Casual Sex) and running song (Porn Star Dancing featuring Ludacris). I know, I know.......but the beats are absolutely perfect for me, what can I say !

FairyDog--My motto is just keep moving forward, regardless of speed. Moving forward in treatment, in life and in running -- the lines start to blur. Hang in there.

Hi, all, happy to report that, after a harrowing radiation session on Friday (not harrowing because of the radiation, but disastrous because I couldn't attain the level of breath hold I had initially established when, in a Herculean effort to overcompensate I breathed in like I was about to swim underwater across an Olympic sized pool), which resulted in me nearly blacking out several times in a row, followed by nausea and vomiting (again, not indicative of what happens in radiation, but rather in my particular gated breathing session) - I went back in, hesitatingly, nervously, for another CT sim at a much lower breath hold yesterday...and succeeded. So, we move forward with the gated breathing modality, but at a more reasonable and sustainable breath hold level. I'm delayed in my treatment now only because we were able to complete just one and a half treaments last week...and with the new CT sim, I am being rescheduled...but all in all, feeling better today. Hoping to get out and run with our dog tonight, but gee whiz, it's cold and windy here in the northeast!

Hi TammyT - my massage therapist doesn't work Thursday which was when my last physio was so haven't had the return visit yet. (I was still at Disney on the Monday, the day both work.) So Monday next week, I will be doing more deep ab massage. Looking forward to it. I walked ALL day today at a 500,000 sq ft trade show, and my low back is dying because of my lazy abs. I kept trying to activate them, but it was spotty because I was distracted by all the shiny toys. I'm not sure my lower ab muscle is sleeping but it certainly took a long break while all the other muscles took up the slack. They also suspected there might be scar tissue adhesions preventing free muscle movement. The strength exercises from the physio have been helping, even if I cheat on the amount I practice them at home. Just the carry over from the clinic help.

Great to read all the victories large and small from everyone. Keep it up! I bought some new shoes on my trip and did 3km around the hotel parking lot to enjoy them (it was too dark to go outside the gate.) Also bought some very pretty compression tights. I did not need another full length pair but they had colour stitching and they followed me home.

Tammi, I just love the fitbit. I've only had mine for about a month, but I too find myself walking circles in and around my house to get my steps to 10K. I try to get to the gym to do treadmill intervals 3 times a week. Hope the ab muscle exercises help you.

FC I will be running the Pittsburgh YMCA Turkey Trot.

My son will be running as well, but I am too slow for him. He has been recording his runs with a phone App and comes to show me so he can gloat over his fast times. According to the app he has been running 7+to 8+ minute miles. I am pretty proud of him for his increased interest in running since he has come home. I know once he does his first race he may get bitten by the bug, which is awesome. Keeps a young guy out of trouble.

Nice to see all of the updates. I can barely keep up these days.

Still getting my son settled and myself too after not having him live here for 3 years.

My ankle is healing and I have been able to run 2-3 miles. I am alternating with walking.

Tammi, interesting find. Who are you seeing for the ab physio?

Pardon me for not addressing everyone individually.

xoxoxoxoxo to all.

Piper

feel like i earned some strips today. 22km in -9, -15 with windchill.. it was cold, my water was starting to freeze and my honey stinger jellies. Felt good and strong. Had a big nap this afternoon so feel really nicely relaxed, Im going to stretch before bed and hopefull sleep well.

yes celsius. Im training for a 30km race the end of March and if all goes well im going to keep going mileage wise and run a spring marathon, just researching which one. Doing a 10 miler boxing day and planning a half marathon the end of february.