2014 Running Thread

I couldn't run for a while after my first chemo. But was able to run 3 miles today and felt so happy!

Despite sitting on a train for 3+ hours and in a meeting for 5, somehow I also walked 15 000 steps around Amsterdam today, and after the meetings, I picked up a Lightfit LED vest (made by Nathan Sports), supposedly visible to 2 400 m distance and 360 degree reflectivity. It's the safety yellow colour and has white LEDs on the chest and red on the back. Minimal construction, soft light mesh, really a V shape front and back about 2" wide, a 2" belt and the palm-sized panels with the lights in them. I've seen this in Europe before but never saw it at home, so I decided to pick it up. I don't want to have a hat or headband or things on my arms or hands, so this should suit me well. It won't light my path, but the only time I am out before dawn is when a bus is taking me to the starting line. This kit will do the job to ensure people see me.

I always think people will be judging me crying at the finish line, but it is so intense just to be able to do it, after everything, that I am overcome with that emotion too, and I try to cover for it but sometimes I just want to feel it and work through it. 

So good for her that you understood and could affirm what she was feeling! 

Natsfan, a great story. Thank you for sharing. At this point, I gave up my hope running Nike Women's Half this year. I can run 3 miles on my good/recover days, but I have at least three more infusions to go. 13.1 miles with hill would be too much on my body I think... My goal right now is to run/jog a local 5k in December, and run Tinker Bell in May after I finish chemo and radiation. I'll probably cry at the finish line, too. 

Nice 4km around Amsterdam this morning in light rain. A bit slower than usual pace because of uneven ground, wet surfaces, and frequent need to navigate around bike lanes, trams, cars, and canals. My back and knees were a bit rusty feeling from all the walking this week, also, but the need to run outweighed the aches. Planned my route on a map before going out and when I synced the Garmin afterwards, I had run nowhere near that path! One canal looks just like the next here, and I was all over the place, but not the route I thought I was on! No problem getting back or anything but so funny to see afterwards! I am not expecting time to do another run before flying home Friday, but I'd like to, and if I don't have any social engagements tomorrow evening, will try to do some more. I am completely unconscious of distance when there are interesting new streets to explore.

yes I should add also the Making Strides 5k (with roller derby folks) oct 19th and my Awesome 80s 5k ( we are roller skating it) Nov 1st and then the Komen 5k nov 2 with people who dont know about me yet

45 days until the Run Disney Avengers Half Marathon :):) 

Happy running everyone. Yay NatsFan!

Hi everyone. Great work on the outings last week!

Our Run for the Cure was yesterday. It was COLD. Well, colder than what I was wearing, anyway. And the team information email said 9 am and that was for the hoopla in the field which I can't hear and they don't have interpreters. So by the 10 am actual start, my toes were frozen and two fingers on each hand had Raynaud's symptoms. However, once it kicked off, it was great to be following the herd and relieved of decision making for half an hour. And my time was good for me: 31 mins. My daughter was having a bit of anxiety attack. Couldn't tell if it was because of the run theme or just having to run, but I encouraged her to do the event at whatever pace, and she went along with that. I twisted her dad's arm to walk with her instead of taking photos. The endorphins cheered her up as well. Yay endorphins.

I ran 2 miles this morning. Preparing for my 3rd chemo next Wednesday. Nike Women's Half Marathon is about 10 days away. I'm still so bummed that I won't be able to run the race. My friend casually said I should be able to just walk.... but the weekend after chemo is the worst days for me, when all the SEs hit me. I have 2 more to go then 6 weeks of radiation. I'm going to run or walk when I can. I needed some goals, so I signed up for 5k in mid-December, and Tinker Bell Half in May next year. 

HockeyCat - as Luv says, that half next year will be all the sweeter.  Luv - can't wait to hear about the marathon in two weeks.  Enjoy the taper!  Gold - your race sounds freezing - yet you recorded a great time!!  Wow.

The running clinic had us doing more killer interval work last night on the track - and it was pouring rain the whole time.  (I really didn't mind the rain, except my shoes got really squishy by the end!)  Besides doing sets of 800m intervals with 400m recovery laps, we also did a few laps of running almost full out on the straightaways of the track, then doing recovery pace as slowly as we needed on the curved ends of the track.  Four laps of those will take a lot out of you!  

I have had one issue that I want to pass along to anyone who starts or increases their track work.  I had tendon repair surgery several years ago on the tendon that runs along the top of the foot from the big toe to the ankle (I was chopping garlic and dropped the knife on the top of my foot and being a nice sharp knife, it severed the tendon cleanly.  )  It's never given me much trouble except that ankle will feel a bit stiff and achy after an extended run.  The involved foot is the right foot, so that's on the outside edge as we run counter-clockwise around the track.  I'd begun to feel aches on the outside of that foot as well as the side of the Achilles tendon the day after our track workouts. My coach suggested that I run my final mile cool down laps going the opposite way, clockwise, on the track.  That seems to have done the trick - I've experience none of those aches after the last two track sessions, despite the fact that each of those sessions was harder than the ones that preceded it.    Just FYI. 

Now that the days are getting shorter, my morning runs are pre-dawn. I
invested in one of those little high intensity lights you can wear on
your belt or headband and used it for the first time this morning.  It really made a difference - not only could I
see the sidewalk in front of me clearly, but cars and other pedestrians
could see me as well. I've been wearing reflector cuffs for
visibility, but the light worked much better.

Hello, runners!  I am only 2 weeks and 2 days out from my BMX (no recon), but I'm dreaming about running again.  I confess I have not read every post on this ginormous thread...just looking for some been-there-done-that re: when you started easing into running again, + any tips or advice.

I'm 42, a 3x/week and 2 races/year sort of runner.  I was in the habit of running 3-4 miles during the week and then 6-8 (or more if I was training for a race) on the weekend, so not tremendous mileage, but I love it.  Currently I am just taking daily walks and doing the stretches recommended by the drs.  

So...how did you know when you were ready to run again?  How many weeks (months?) did it take after surgery or treatment?  I had a lumpectomy in 2013, a year before the BMX, and was able to run again after 3 weeks, albeit gingerly and slowly.  I ran through radiation--again, slowly and short distances, but I kept shuffling along. 

I look forward to feeling fit again.  You are all inspiring me!  Good health to all. 

Welcome CeciliaVera. I second the "listen to your body" message. I walked at least weekly, on the treadmill because it was always winter, after all my surgeries, starting within a week, starting with 4 mph (I have long legs), bent over if I had to (post DIEP). The mastectomy was easiest because that had the least jiggle pulling on the incision. I did not necessarily get out there for long runs, but I gave myself permission to do whatever pace happened. I was very proud to do a Half 10 weeks post mx, but even more impressed with myself to do one 6 weeks post DIEP. I had not even stood upright, let alone ran a step, until I arrived on the scene for the event, but I'll tell you, having that event to look forward to was so helpful getting me out there walking afterwards. I did a very slow 5K walk while still in the hospital 3 days post-op. It has been so helpful from the neck up. My surgeon did not give me any specific instructions about running. I had specific do's and don'ts related to lifting stuff and bathing, but he knew I was doing this Half marathon and didn't say a thing about it other than my time would suck because I would not have done a full training schedule. Listen to your body and listen very carefully. I have also noticed musculoskeletal side effects that have taken a lot of physiotherapy and massage. I am currently black and blue around my relocated navel because of all the scar tissue in there has prevented smooth ab muscle movement and I have diminished core support, and this results in a forward lean and strain on my shoulders and neck. You wouldn't think of that as a thing, but every week as they fix one thing, I find another layer. I will be in such good shape at the end of all this! 

Funny story LuvLuLu! 

Just signed up to run the 5K National End to women's cancers in DC on 11/02. This will be my first 5k run without obstacles. 

Will also be signing up to run the local Turkey Trot 5K on Thanksgiving morning (think it is 11/27) .