2014 Running Thread

welcome bethq and Estel! Bethq, while I do not have implants, I'm a big fan of the Shock Absorber Ultimate Run Bra. It holds my 34DD solidly in place without irritating my ALND scar. 

I see that goldlining, Donnabelle and Tammy_M43 have races this month, can't wait to read the race reports

NatsFan, I read about your speed work and wish I was part of it. I do miss the group track sessions.

I'll admit that I've been reading the boards lately but haven't really sat down to write. We are on holidays right now and playing local tourists. I haven't really run in about two weeks and I blame the summer cold that I'm trying to kick

I have a question for those of you who had or are having Herceptin and/or tamoxifen. I have three Herceptin treatments left and I started tamoxifen at the end of March. I've noticed that my heart rate has been sky rocketing on my long runs, to the point of having to stop and walk because I feel like my body is about to shut down. It seemed to really have picked up in the last couple of months so I'm really not sure what is causing it. Is it the meds, or is it the summer heat? I was wondering if anyone ever experienced anything like this? I was looking back at my training log and I was running faster paces back in March and April and felt better during my runs. My last echo in April was fine and I have another one on Monday. My ejection fraction has been going down since treatment started but my doc is not worried about it because it is still within normal range. I'm also starting a six week tamoxifen holiday to see it it's causing this and other symptoms. Any thoughts on the issue would be greatly appreciated.

Whoo -- Today was my 15K run at 6pm. I haven't trained beyond 8km, because there's been nothing interesting to run to, from, or by that is farther than that, so I was really looking forward to this event to get a longer run in and see how I would do.

It looked like rain all day, and it started about 2:30 or so, as we sat in the parking lot for the starting line shuttle bus, it was raining and cold. This is the middle of August and it was 13C. The tech shirt is a long sleeve and it's always stupid to wear it in the race but this year, I wore it and a light windbreaker AND a plastic poncho AND an insulated jacket over top, until I got to the bag drop, where the jacket went into the bag and the fairy wings went on under the poncho. However, the rain abated as we got off the bus, and we had held off long enough that we were only at the start area for about 15 or 20 minutes before the race. Once we got running, I stuffed the poncho in the windbreaker pocket, and after 1 or 2 km, I took my arms out of the windbreaker and wrestled the fairy wings off and put them on over just the shirt (priorities!!) I hit the 5km point at 32:31, which is pretty good for me lately, and I was ecstatic to pass 10km at 69 minutes! I have never run a 10K under 76, and that time was pre-BC. I was pretty cheerful at that point, and decided to try to press for 1:45 overall. The 1:45 pace fairy passed me at the 12km point, and I tried to keep up for a bit but I had to take a walk break, so I just tried to keep her in view, and I was checking my Garmin suspecting maybe she was a bit faster than her advertised pace. Coming on to 14km, the math just did not work out, but as I rounded the home-stretch corner, I did my very best to finish strong, and clocked 1:46:05. Edited to add - last year, I did this in 1:59:30 and was proud to get under 2 hours, but I was so happy to improve that much this year that my airway started to close, and I had to use my inhaler before I could pick up my medal! I think I am finally "back" from all this medical cutting and pasting.

Edited again to report the official chip time was 1:45:43! 69/106 women in my age decade. Not too shabby!

I skipped the beer tent (not my jam) but availed myself of the banana and raisin-pita-bread-y thing they handed out, grabbed my blanket out of the checked bag because I was starting to get chilled, and we headed for the bus, and headed home to pick up some lean brisket and chicken from a local smoked meat restaurant--for protein, of course! Hit the spot. I'm buzzing with endorphins and expecting rigor mortis to set in any time now! Feeling great about the upcoming Disneyland races. Downloaded my race info booklet online today. I have been doing 12,000 or more steps a day with the nature of my work this time of year, so have not run in a week, and I think I will just stick to 2km, 5km, light loose outings from now to DL. 

So what's up with everyone else?

I had a student who ran a lot of half/full and he loves the Nike Free. He had them steam fitted to his feet and raved about them. When I looked in the past, Nike did not make women's 11, so they were dead to me. That was how I ended up in Adidas. One of these days, maybe I will check Nike again. I have to admit they are nice looking shoes!

I've seen Newtons in the race expos and I've seen they had some buzz, but the proof is in the pudding. The mechanics of the shoe doesn't work for you. Maybe your ankle is doing something weird between the shoe and the knee, and the Nike has that all figured out, but the Newton can't adjust. 

I am a data geek. I pore over Garmin diagnostics, and read the Runner's World shoe reviews, but things are not always black and white. Sometimes, things that should work, don't, and things that should not work, do. I wear the Adidas Boston, which at my pace and BMI, I should not find suitable, but I love them. They are light and my feet are never tired. Adidas is about to release a major redesign of the Boston with that stupid Crocs-like Boost foam stuff in the sole, so I am anxious. If it's too squishy under the ball of my foot, my ligaments won't hold the bones enough and I will get stress fractures in the toes. I tried on some Asics that a friend loves, but I could just feel the ball of my foot sinking into the sole and the toes flexing baaaack. If it's just foam under the heel, maybe will be okay. If too squishy, I will be at the drawing board too.

Goldlining, LOVE your race report!!  You are an inspiration.  You help keep the rest of us mere mortals on track!

Have a great day everyone!

Way to go goldlining, sounds like it was a good day for a run. You've also given me hope that I can run my upcoming half marathon with the little training I have done to date

I have to admit that I am completely unmotivated right now with running. I think I may have freaked myself out with the heart rate thing. I should get my eccocardiogram results next week so maybe that will put my mind at ease. I plan on getting back on the running wagon this week. I should have run 16k today but decided to crochet and watch movies with the little one instead.

As for shoes, I agree, why mess with what works? I've been tempted to try a minimalist shoe but I know that my Ascis GT-2000's work for me so I'm not messing with that! It took me a while to find a shoe that works so I'll be sticking to it for runs, but I love my FiveFingers for working out.

Goldlining, kid, you don't know how happy I was to read your last post.

I'm getting a little nervous about my marathon training.  Last Sunday I did 14.5 miles and was DEAD at the end - I mean, I had to walk/jog/shuffle the last mile.  I completely ran out of steam.  Yet I can finish 13.1 and still have energy left.  Could be mental, could be I just ran out of fuel, could be I wasn't rested enough, but if I want to go 26.2 I can't be fading out at 14 miles!  Yesterday I did a "short" 8-miler.  I will take a fairly easy week this week and then try the 14.5 again on Saturday, see how it goes. I will eat a little something first and then experiment with gels. The marathon is October 19th.

I love how you never train the full distance!  And you did a half 6 weeks post DIEP - that's totally amazing.  Insane!!!!

that was just the inspiration I needed goldlining. I've already run at least 14k so I should be all good to finish. It might not be pretty but at least I'll get the shiny bling and continue my streak with this race. I have run/walked either the half or the 5k ever since it started in 2008. My goal for the Dopey is to stay ahead of that darn bus! I've already crunched the pace numbers from miles to km, I should be ok.

LuvLuLu, I'm sure your long run last week was an anomaly I too am very finicky with gels, I have a thing about the texture of my food and well the texture of most gels leaves to be desired. Here is what I found what works for me, we're all different but I thought I would share in case it helps with your upcoming experiments. I love the Gu Chocolate and Mint Chocolate flavours, they are more the consistency of pudding as opposed to the other gels. My other go to gels are the Honey Stingers, they have the consistency of honey since that is one of the main ingredients. If you love honey, they are a good one to try, if honey is not your thing I would stay away from them. I also use the Honey Stinger Chews, similar to the Clif Shot Blox, during my runs, I don't really taste the honey in these. I use the chews to keep my energy somewhat stable and take one or two every 20-30 minutes or so, then I use the gels when I start to fade. The only thing I do differently during a race is take more gels. 

All this talk about running is getting my motivation back up. I'll definitively find time for a run today.

Welcome panthrah!

No news on the echo so I'm going with the no news is good news theory. I'll know for sure when I go for my Herceptin treatment Thursday. I did go out for a run this afternoon and did get the weird heart rate thing, at one point my heart rate was at 182. Maybe I just need to slow down and listen to my body

I was baking a cake earlier this afternoon and needed some baking powder. I decided to run to the store. Well you know you are a runner when you end up buying the baking powder that comes in a tall cylindrical jar, not because you need that much but because the container will be easier to hold as you run back home! 

Oncearunner - my heart rate is always up to 182. I am way too old for that, on paper, but I am upright and smiling, not in VFIB. However, at that point, I can always tell I can't go faster. Definitely listen to your body. Did you do an exercise echo or resting echo? Because my HR was so high for such a slow pace, I did the exercise echo, and the cardiologist was in the room. (And he said "oh, THAT'S your complaint. Well, this isn't the test for that. But there's nothing wrong with the heart.")

Loved the story about the baking powder container!

Oh and I tried for the Castaway Cay but there was bad weather and the boat couldnt park and they wouldnt let us run ON the boat because there were too many people. by the time we parked there wasnt enough time. they gave us our bibs but no "medal" 

My friend and I dress is the color palate of the "person" . tink all our accessories were green, princess was purple and green for Maleficent , Avengers I think we are getting shirts made with "be your own hero" and our roller derby name and number on it... and comic book socks with bam pow boom. we havent discussed colors yet. I LOVE star wars.. yet I havent decided what to wear..good side? dark side? other critter? gahhh so many options. We just joined DVC so that helps with early reg but WDW is hard to get to. I was itching for the Premier being I had 3 fla/wdw trips last year ( race, wedding, cruise) but nooope dont have one even down graded my reg dl pass  but at least I still have a pass

California has that way of doing that to people however.. the random heat wave during the DDD last year was unacceptable .. 80 degrees at 3am! not ok! I havent checked the weather so much lately but I tend to be cold and I  havent needed a hoodie at night, so its still a bit "warm" at night

Love it! Extra hydration I can do! I usually carry an empty water bottle and start filling it about the midpoint. The first half, the official water stations are enough, but toward the end, I start wanting sips between stations.

Last year, I ran DLHM in a tech tank and was 100% comfortable waiting in the corral to start. I hate standing around freezing. Tink 2012 was cool at the start so I wore the long sleeve race shirt and a windbreaker, but had to tie windbreaker around waist and push up the shirt sleeves shortly after start. The worst was Princess 2010, it was about 35F at 3:30 am when I headed to the shuttle bus, and I'd brought an extra garbage track suit, T shirt, running sleeves, gloves, and a windbreaker. And I was still cold waiting for the start. I tossed the track suit at the start but stuffed things in pockets and again, tied jacket around waist. Pictures look ridiculous. 

For me, the worst of last year's DLHM was the UV waiting for my sluggish husband. I hate to run in sunscreen as it gets into my eyes, and it's mostly dark out, but after the finish, you eat, drink, wait for the medal engraving, and so on and there is NO shade. Maybe I will tuck a mini bottle of 30SPF into my SPIbelt.

Everyone here is envious of my upcoming escape from the wet and cold. I just wish I could come earlier and stay longer!

I did a short 1km last night, all rested, no stiffness from the weekend race.

My sunscreen migrates up and gets transferred by my hands as well, so my best play is running when the sun isn't out. But I'll definitely think about carrying some. This time I think we won't need any extra layers for the corral if it's 65-70F at the start. The big bonus for me at DL is being able to walk from hotel to start in minutes, rather than get on a bus 2 to 3 hours before the start at WDW, and you're not standing around as long, because you're not waiting for 10,000 people to arrive in 40-person bus-loads.

You mention tech shirt and I think that is so key. I grew up in the era where our mothers were enamoured of "crimplene - you can throw it in the washer, you can throw it in the dryer" - and polyester was just such a dirty word for my generation. But wicking tech fabrics have completely redeemed the fibre for me, at least for running! I love the shirts from the Midsummer Night's Run. No sponsor spew on them - just the Shakespeare saying on the front and the run name and a graphic on the back. Long sleeve, nice soft tech fibre. The Run for the Cure has plain white cotton Ts here for regular participants, but for Survivors, they give out nice pale pink tech shirts. I have a whole stack, one a year since my diagnosis. They fit nice and the graphics aren't bad, but I never, ever wear them, not even to physio. Once on the day of the run and then into the box they go. I don't really know why not. Probably some deep, shrinky thing. The Disney shirts are really nice. Good fitting and fun graphics. I wear them almost every day when I am not lecturing or in meetings. I'm looking forward to adding to my wardrobe next weekend.

That's a question for everyone: which race shirts do you wear again and again and why? Which do you not wear again and why? (other than the ones that didn't fit). Given that you rapidly accumulate tech shirts as you do running events, what style of tech shirts do you buy that you don't get free in a race kit?