2014 Running Thread

I'm glad to find this topic. Yesterday I was able to run for the first time after my surgery! Only 2 miles but it felt so good. I was going to run Nike Women's Half Marathon in San Francisco in October. Ironically I got the acceptance email (this race is lottery only) from Nike on the same day I was diagnosed with BC. I was still hoping to run/walk this race. But a few weeks ago I found that I need chemo. Though my onc encourages me to continue exercising, but said no to half marathon during chemo. I'm so bummed...  

Thanks panthrah! That's encouraging.

HockeyCat, welcome! But the advice you received is sad. To the best of my recollection, our 2013 running thread moderator, firstcall, ran through his chemo. As a physician, he had an inside track on straight talk, perhaps. I did not have chemo, but I can imagine how disappointed I would be to be directed not to even walk it, especially if I felt I could, and needed to do it! Suggest you go peruse last year's thread for some comfort--or tales from experience, at least.

I'm all prepared for the trip to Disneyland, packing-wise, except the stupid running glasses have not come in from the lab yet. They were supposed to be in the end of LAST week, and I was counting on that to have time to re-make them if I couldn't tolerate the progressive multifocal in the curved frames. I had that happen with sunglasses before, and had to remake them as single vision. My regular glasses are so large that they're heavy and I was *really* looking forward to having these light running glasses. There's one last chance they will come in tomorrow, but I take off at dawn Friday.

I've been carb loading like crazy anticipating the two runs back to back, even though I did the same runs at WDW in January and it was not a problem. I guess I am just hoping to stack the deck for time improvement. Loving the race shirts especially the Dumbo shirt.

panthrah, you can think of me when you pass the interpreter at the starting line. It seems DL always has terps (at the expo too) and WDW never does. I was in a meeting with the people who know these things, and they said he was there because someone asked. So now I must ask for one in Florida!

Lots of catching up on this tread for me. 

Panthrah - you asked earlier this week if it was too early to pack. I know I'm a little late to the conversation but my first thought was that "You are leaving in less than a week and haven't started packing yet!". I'm a bit of a planner and I usually start packing for important trips about two weeks ahead.  Let's not forget about the lists that I make. Good luck at Disney this weekend.

Goldlining and Donnabelle - good luck to you too this weekend. Goldlining, I saw the shirts on Facebook, I agree they are pretty nice.

NatsFan - reading about your group workouts makes me want to find a training group again, they really sound fun.

HockeyCat - welcome! Did your oncologist give you a reason for not doing a half marathon? Is it just because he doesn't expect you have the energy for it or some other reason? I ran through part of my chemo and I ran by feel and listened to my body. I ended up stopping about half way through since I kept getting colds (back to back to back for about 6-8 weeks) and just could not breathe, not because I was too tired. Had I not gotten those colds I would have kept running. I think I could have run/walked a half during chemo depending on when it would have been in my chemo cycle. Running through radiation is very doable. If you look at the start of this thread you will see some posts about me running through radiation. 

My 16k last weekend was interesting. I walked about half of it because it was so hot. So I've acknowledged that my race next month will be what it will be, I will get it done but not sure how pretty it's going to be!  At least the weather has cooled down a bit, should be a good run today!

Hockey - I did the DC Nike Half last year and I love my Tiffany necklace - I wear it on days when I'm feeling blah and need a boost.  If you're an experienced runner you may be able to complete the half, at least with a run/walk.  But remember, everyone is different.  I was extremely active before dx, but I'm one of those that chemo really knocked for a loop.  There were days when I'd get home from work and collapse on the couch, and it would be all I could do for the rest of the evening to walk from my couch to the bedroom to go to bed. I did 6*TAC and I worked full time through chemo, so with all that I just had no energy left for exercise.  Not everyone can run or do hard exercise through chemo - there's no shame if you can't do it - chemo just hits some people harder than others. 

Talk with your onc again - he may not understand that you're an experienced runner, and that you're willing to walk/run it.  My onc placed no exercise restrictions on me whatsoever as long as I promised to listen to my body and stop when I needed to.  If I were you, I'd keep the plans to attempt the Nike Half for now and see how you react to chemo.  You may feel up to attempting it, or you may have no choice but to drop out.  If that happens, I'd definitely contact the Nike race people and explain why you need to drop out - perhaps they could work out something where you'd have a guaranteed slot in next year's race and not worry about winning the entry lottery again. 

My running glasses came in in the nick of time. Mr goldlining has been calling them daily, no joy, but finally they called 20 minutes before the shop closed and I live 25 to 30 minutes away, but managed to get there in time! They're really nice - the progressive multifocal actually works, despite the curvature of the frame. I think Oakley actually does it all with complex computer calculations in their lab. The weight difference compared with my regular glasses is a lot. Looking forward to wearing them this weekend! Counting down to bedtime and predawn trip to the airport. Next stop, runDisney Expo!

Welcome DaniellaD. Good information to bring to the thread!

Goldlining, have a blast!  Sounds like so much fun. Can't wait to hear all about it!

Just finished the cold bath after the 10K. Got back to hotel sort of disappointed with the time, until I realized I had done the math wrong and was actually a minute faster than my previous best 10K time two weeks ago (the 10K split in the 15K). So I'm pretty pleased so far. Now for the delicate balance of protein for recovery and carbs for tomorrow!

I should edit to describe the course - first couple of miles out through the adjacent area, around the convention centre, but the rest was in the parks and backstage. Lots of Cast Members to applaud and very smoothly run. Only grievance was with fellow runners walking two or three across and passing other groups that were two or three across, and walking. How did they get start corrals in front of me, is what I would like to know. (I passed a hobbling, arthritic lady at mile 5.5. Like what the hell? But the race booklet has etiquette guidance that some people clearly need to read. On looking at my stats, though, I ran an efficient path, not much over 10K, so the congestion really just made me cranky; didn't cost me anything.

Gorgeous temperatures here. Sorry people back east are having rain etc.

this is an unusual post. I had my preop thurs.. got mcds happy meal for breakfast/lunch..went up to disney for packet pick up.. got jamba juice ..went into disneyland.. shopped.. went bk to room to nap.. woke up and headed back to california adventure for pasta.. then.... i noticed my tongue felt funny.. went to restroom its totally swollen and im slurring. off to first aid. got benadryl .. chatted about racing.. swelling went down..ate went to bed. Lined up in the morning for my 5k.. found a newbie ..adopted her.. we did the 5k took a pick and went on our way. went to mcds for breakfast..napped..went to park ate my fav salad for lunch.. ping ponged both parks.. sat and ate blueberry crisp things that came in after race bag (they have then at trader joes, they are yummy) on the last bite.. my lip started swelling.. now at disney first aid, handed me more benadryl .. noticed it wasnt getting worse..saved the meds back to room to nap.. woke up....lip triple in size, i almost have no voice, and i have knots all over my forehead.  Disney people had given me a list of local ers, urgent cares.. called hubby.. took off to urgent care.. shot on benadryl, shot of steroids, and prednisone. even by the time i was checking out i sounded better and my lip didnt feel as tight. NO  idea what caused this.. the joke is im allergic to mickey mouse :P i had no tinging, itching, hives. BUT heres the kicker.. I have my lx scheduled for tues ... with a random allergic reaction im worried the will push this off.  The race was great the medal is way adorable they played hawaiian music thru the area (being a Lilo and Stitch race) the outfits were awesome, the little kids were adorable. but maybe next disney trip (prolly soon) ill just bring the whole box of benadryl with me 

My next race is next sun .. an Aloha 5k Race hehe so ill wear the same thing :P   

Good Luck on the half tomorrow Goldlining :):)

You menetion stress, however I also notice another common theme seems to be McDs. You mention it twice preceding the anaphylactic type response. 

?

Being allergic to Disney is impossible!

Glad you had a nice 5k though, despite the mysterious allergic response.

Have fun weekend runners!!!!

my friend is doing her first half right now at disneyland I am up waiting patiently to hear her report and goldlinings report of the race :) 

I always eat mcds- its my go to quick food. i thought maybe blueberrys , but then the other common thread was apples. BUT i ate apples last  night and no issues *shrug*  

Im sorry for the start of the race but it sounds like you finished strong!! thats awesome :) soak up that blue sky and mouse magic and awwwwww Mouse planet making you a "sign" is the sweetest thing Ive heard. If i would have saw that I would have lost it right there on the course  Ill only have one pill left of the pred the day of surgery . I will most def let everyone know. swelling is gone and things are back to normal-ish . i kept thinking i was getting bit by something this week.. few red bumps then nothing.. well.. they are hives *face palm* Im not doing to well with this stress thing right now. so im deep cleaning the house hehe  I am very happy you had a successful race. I love disney races.. I really do.. I high five every one.. the signs make me cry, the red hat ladies make me cry, i yell good morning to all staff and cops. im full smile and giggles the whole race and limp and glow for the rest of the day , then carry the medal with me for weeks hehe

OMG thats amazing!!!!!!!  oooooooooh and youre new profile pic.. I LOVE it!!

Great race report goldlining and panthrah. Sorry you both seemed to have a reaction to something during your trip. Hopefully the reactions are clearing nicely. 

Panthrah - I hope your unknown reaction does not cause any surgery delays, wishing you the best for this week.

goldlining - I too have the same pet peeve with corals and people who don't line up based on their pace. I've started favouring smaller races to avoid that issue but I do make exceptions. I realize I may have made similar faux pas when I started running and races, but as you said a lot of these things are explained in the race guides. 

I managed to get in 18k yesterday and it was brutal. It was just so humid and not, good thing it was overcast with some wind. I'm still having that weird heart rate thing and it took me forever to catch my breath after my run yesterday. I'm things are going to get better as I up my training and end my Herceptin treatments. At least I got it done and I'm on pace to not be picked up by the Disney bus with a bit of time to spare!