2015 Running Thread

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  • NatsFan
    NatsFan Member Posts: 3,745
    edited February 2015

    Just back from my Country Road 5 miler. It was a crisp cold day - 25 degrees at race time. The race lived up to its name, winding along a beautiful country road bordered by snowy woods, punctuated by lovely horse farms. I think the equines we passed couldn't figure out what all those crazy simians were doing!

    I finished with a 11:48 pace - I'm a slow runner so when I can finish with a sub-12 pace I'm pleased.

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  • FairyDogMother
    FairyDogMother Member Posts: 253
    edited February 2015

    HockeyCat

    I wish I lived closer for the Coaster Race. I would love a snoopy metal J Enjoy those miles.

    lovestorun How do you protect your feet when you are running in wet conditions?

    Bikerbabe17 Wow you are doing great! You run with your dog that is awesome! Don't worry about the miles, because you are lapping those on the couch. Also, I find some people think running 1 mile is nuts considering we had cancer. Keep up the good work.

    Oncearunneralwaysarunner

    You need to rest.

    Oh I have more runs to add

    Feb 8th: Colder 5K - Stars and Stripes Park

    March 7th - Adrenaline Run 5K & 10K

    July 25th Shawshank Hustle 7K, The Ohio State Reformatory

    LuvLuLu : Have you used Yak Trek before to run on the ice? Or what type of shoes do you use? I use the treadmill instead of running on ice roads.

    goldlining. Do you like the Disneyland races? After seeing Oceanrunners and yours post, I'm thinking of doing it. I used to be a biologist for DisneyWorld, but haven't been to Disneyland.

    panthrah- The Star Wars race looks amazing. Congratulations on your run.

    I just finished my first 10K on Saturday in my training program for my half marathon. My quads and calves are like rocks. I'm debating on going outside in the cold weather and black ice to do my 4.5miles or use the dreadmill. I need to improve my times, but I'm finding sprinting to be horrible right now.

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  • Tammy_M43
    Tammy_M43 Member Posts: 980
    edited February 2015

    FairyDogMother, I love the pic! Awesome progress!!

    All strength to all runners who bear the elements!

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  • LuvLuLu
    LuvLuLu Member Posts: 377
    edited February 2015

    FairyDogMother (love your pic), no I've been meaning to try the Yak Trek. At the start of every winter I tell myself . . . but then I block it out hoping winter storms will pass us by this year. Right . . .

    Got a chuckle from your comment about people thinking running one mile is nuts for "us". I remember when I scheduled my surgery and people commenting, "You're still running???" What was I supposed to do, sit on the couch and add sedentary weeks to what was already going to be at least an 8 week layoff?

    Use the dreadmill if you can mentally get thru it. You can't sprint on the black ice.

    Another foot here, lasting into the late night. Hope I get out on my flight to San Francisco tomorrow - 6 am, wish me luck.

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  • lovestorun
    lovestorun Member Posts: 167
    edited February 2015

    Fairydogmother - Congrats!  Re: protecting my feet when it's raining, I don't. Well, I do make sure I have on a good pair of socks to minimize blisters -- I'm a huge fan of Smartwool in the winter.   My theory though is once you are wet, you are wet.  I did  stuff  my shoes with newspaper after the race to help dry them out, and that def. helped them dry out quickly. My best tip for running in the rain is to wear a hat with a bill so it keeps the rain out of your eyes.  And NO COTTON.   

    Congrats NatsFan! Sounds beautiful.

    LuLu - hope you made your flight; what a night for Boston and the Pats - what a crazy finish!

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  • goldlining
    goldlining Member Posts: 1,178
    edited February 2015

    FairyDogMother, I love Disneyland runs. Being on Eastern time, for me the start time is so much easier to take. And you can easily get a hotel in walking distance to the corrals so no 3:00 wakeups just to get a 4:00 bus and stand in the corral for 90 minutes. And all the halfs there are on different courses, so it's not the same (vs. Donald and Princess being the same -- and I prefer the Wine & Dine through AK/DHS/Epcot over the WWoS/MK/Epcot course). Most of the first 5K of it is through the parks which is the hardest part for my cranky toddler-tantrum inner voice, and by the time I am out of the parks onto the streets of Anaheim, I'm in the endorphin zone. There are classic cars along the course for a couple of miles in the back half, which is nice distraction. They have a lot of local people like cheerleaders, bands, flamenco and hula groups too. Mouse Planet has a cheer station at the halfway point and you can pre-request a cheer sign from them, and I love that. They also hand out frozen wet sponges and stuff, and it's just such a shot in the arm. The DLHM on Labour Day weekend is usually great temperatures for running too. I partially like the timing because I can hide the start of school behind it and look forward to the run all summer, instead of dreading the return to classes. I also do a local 15K event 2 weeks before it and that is a great last long run tune-up before I taper. As for the parks themselves, you will be underwhelmed by the castle, but California Screamin' at Disney California Adventure is one of my favourite coasters anywhere, and Carsland is spectacular. And this year is the 10th DLHM so the medal should be good. (Although the 5th anniversary one was crappy. A big number 5. Looks like it's for a 5K, not 5th annual Half. But I think they have made leaps and bounds in medal design since then.)

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  • Rseman
    Rseman Member Posts: 281
    edited February 2015

    Oncearunner-I should have followed your lead!! On Sunday I was supposed to do a 9 mile training run but didn't make it past 8.5 because I ran out of leg. I have an overuse injury in my tendon in my knee. Ughh!! Last year when I trained for the Brooklyn Half I ended up with over use injuries in both my legs.

    Does anyone have any advice on what you do to avoid this? I was hoping to run this half in February pain free but it might not happen.

    And then after my run I participated in the Polar Bear jump for Make a Wish and it was COLD!!!!

    So needless to say, I am now sick and have had a fever for two days.

    I am hoping that these injuries aren't a warning to me that I shouldn't run the NYC marathon because I would really like to do it.

    Renee

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  • goldlining
    goldlining Member Posts: 1,178
    edited February 2015

    Rseman, I feel your pain! Sort of - I won't even jump into a cold pool, let alone the Polar Bear deal. I've had overuse injuries in both hips and knees at different times, and I have accumulated three self-help strategies, some from bad experience. I also do physio at least once a week, and we tune up whatever is hurting the most that day. Sometimes we even fix the shoulder that was messed up by the mastectomy, which is the reason I have the physio prescription. A lot of the time, though it's early indications of running injury. The three strategies are (1) foam roller. Hurts like heck. I am not consistent with this, but it is helpful when I do it. (2) When running, make sure both feet strike on the same level, or adjust the route so that the same foot is not always being the low side. Uneven level increases risk of IT band problems, apparently. Have not had that since learning this. (3) Cold bathtub for 20 minutes after the finish line. I do that just after a half, or a 10K when I am doing a half the next day. This reduces inflammation. It's cold, but I leave my clothes on in the tub, a tip I got from someone here. But it's got nothing on Polar Bear dips! I also imagine that gait mechanics would be a possible factor and maybe it is worth having a look at your shoes as well, whether they're the right type, and whether they've run out of shock absorption. I hope some of that helps new runners avoid learning from experience like I did, but is there anything in there that you're not already doing?

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  • Rseman
    Rseman Member Posts: 281
    edited February 2015

    That is good information goldlining!! I do a lot of trail running and hill training on bridges so that probably has something to do with it not that you mention the level. I'm also not very good at cross training or the cold soaking business. I do yoga twice a week but should probably add more cross.

    I have never run a marathon but I need to get my act together if I am going to do it healthy I guess.

    I think I also try to go to fast for too long and need to slow it down. I get too competitive with myself and just need to tone it down.

    The orthopedic doctor I saw today to make sure I wasn't doing permanent damage to my knee suggested that I should reconsider my running goals. He indicated that with the BC, running creates more inflammation and free radicals in the body that are not helpful and in the long run I could be hurting my situation. How do you feel about this? It would be hard to give up running entirely or even an element of competitive running because of what it does for my mental wellness but what he said seemed to make sense.

    Can you explain the foam roller a little bit more?

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  • marie11
    marie11 Member Posts: 75
    edited February 2015

    Rseman - I echo the previous advise of foam rolling and physio. Adding to that tennis ball rolling, stretching after runs, good shoes and I use a chiro who does something called active release therapy.

    As for your ortho he is wrong. For the typical 20 mile a week runner the increase in free radicals is minimal and they remain inside the muscles cells that produce them. There is a good runners world article from 2006 that addresses this issue in depth. There are plenty of free radicals that we take in through diet, breathing and what we put on our skin that are more concerning than what we produce from running. That is why a healthy diet is so important.

    If anyone is interested I am at 185/2016 for the yearly milage goal.

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  • goldlining
    goldlining Member Posts: 1,178
    edited February 2015

    The roller and tennis balls are used to apply pressure to specific points on your body. You use your body weight to force your muscle against the roller or ball, and then use your arms to locomotive your weight back and forth on the roller, wiggle to roll the tennis ball around on the spot. You can find lots of web pages and videos on how to foam roller your various bits and pieces from Dr. Google. You have to commit because the more it needs it, the more it hurts.

    My physio also does active release therapy -- I personally favour a sports medicine physio, not a cancer physio. They all study the same physio education, but the ones who treat athletes will understand your goals. In a cancer clinic, they may think you're happy to be able to reach the dishes on the top shelf.

    I also have used dry needling at the physio when the problems are muscle cramps. I have had it in the abdomen related to the DIEP, and in the shoulder related to who knows why it does that. It is unbelievable. They jam the acupuncture needle right into the muscle cramp and in seconds, it is gone. It isn't in there like 20 minutes like regular acupuncture. It is amazing. Hurts as much as you'd think it does, but the relief is incredible. When I looked it up, like "what the hell was that???" it is apparently used by serious athletes for what ails them. So it is a real thing. :)

    Of course you also have to watch the increase of weekly mileage in training for events. They say no more than 10% mileage increase from week to week, to avoid these kinds of injuries.

    I am presently taking a bit of a mileage rest so I am making the rest of you look good. :) But next week, Florida, hoping to do some miles in the warm and dry.

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  • lovestorun
    lovestorun Member Posts: 167
    edited February 2015

    Rsmn, I'm no oncologist but that sounds like a bunch of hooey to me.  Thanks marie for the article mention, I found it here: http://www.runnersworld.com/health/should-you-be-afraid-free-radicals  I will say this - my surgeon, my radiation onc., my medical onc., and my PCP all know how much I run (my sweet spot is 20 - 25 a week) and not a single one has expressed any reservation about that level of exercise.  Not a one.  

    I will echo the benefits of  the foam roller, the tennis ball (have a friend who uses a lacrosse ball - OUCH!) and post-run stretching.  I will confess that I don't do them as often as I should.  Can't speak to active release or dry needling.   Also, if you have access to a pool, pool running can be a great way to maintain fitness while that knee heals up. 

    I will also put in a plug for the power of the slow run.  I think it has merit. A lot of merit.   If you don't have a heart rate monitor (I don't), I've heard that good rules of thumb is that you are still able to carry on a conversation.  Try to make your first mile slower than any of the others. 

    Congrats marie on getting in those miles  and enjoy sunshiney, warm Fla Gold!

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  • LuvLuLu
    LuvLuLu Member Posts: 377
    edited February 2015

    Well, ladies, I never made it to San Francisco.  My flight got canceled (boohoo!!) so I just canceled the whole trip, long story.  But no worries, there will be other trips.

    Haven't run outside since last Sunday because of all this snow, and now we have more coming in starting tomorrow, lasting thru Tuesday.

    I've resorted to the dreadmill - but I can't keep myself on for more than 20 minutes. After that I'm ready to scream, and I know it's all in my head.  But I have been crosstraining with yoga, weights, elliptical, so I guess that can be a good thing.  Not to mention snow shoveling.

    Stay safe and sane, everyone!!!

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  • Tammy_M43
    Tammy_M43 Member Posts: 980
    edited February 2015

    LuvLuLu, sorry to hear that the trip was cancelled!

    Rseman, when I had my annual check up with my surgeon a couple of weeks ago his parting words were "keep up the running".....I think it is a matter of the great benefit outweighs any potential risk! Some people would have us give up on living but to me that would mean the cancer has won! Keep on running

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  • trailrose
    trailrose Member Posts: 219
    edited February 2015

    Hello Ladies! I am in the recovery phase of my journey, just got my first fill into my tissue expanders but check up on this forum as it gives me inspiration and I get to live my running life vicariously through all of you until I'm in the clear to do so myself.

    Rseman- My BS said it's a great idea to resume my trail running when I am in the clear to do so. He thinks it's healthy and so does my PS. Being outside is super therapeutic and healing too! Also, foam rollers rock along with post run stretches.

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  • Oncearunneralwaysarunner
    Oncearunneralwaysarunner Member Posts: 252
    edited February 2015

    Well it's been another week where I have been living vicariously through all of you. It's been great to hear about your runs, especially from those of you where the weather is being relentless. I really have no such excuse although we are getting some snow right now and have had a bit this week. Next week should be quieter for me so I'm hoping to get back out there.

    trailrose - I hope you are healing well and I'm sure you will be reporting about your milage soon enough :)

    LuvLuLu - sorry to hear about your trip cancellation.

    marie11 - I love the milage update, great job at the amount of milage you have done so far this year.

    NatsFan - The scenery on your race sounds lovely and great job on the pace!

    Rseman - I too second, or third, or fourth at this point the foam roller! I love mine, enough that I bought a travel one to go down to Disney last month. I don't use it on a regular basis but as soon as something starts to feel funny, I make a date with my roller. I also found a gait analysis to be one of the best things I did for my running. I developed some IT Band issues years ago and started doing physio for it and it got better and as soon as I stopped physio it would start acting up again. After going through a few cycles of that, I had the analysis done and turns out I was in the wrong shoe. So no matter how much physio I was doing it would have kept coming back if I had not changed my shoes. As soon as I got new shoes the issue stayed away. Now it does act up here and there when I increase milage but that is where my foam roller comes in.

    As for the discussion on free radicals and running, well my MO has always encouraged me to keep active and supported me running Dopey. I think this is one of those situations where the benefits outweigh the risks but you may want to check with your MO. I know for me I would take my chances with running provided my MO was in agreement. If I don't run, or don't have the option to run, it becomes a quality of life issue for me. It's one of the reasons I stopped Tamoxifen, it affected my ability to run and that's pretty important to me.

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  • trailrose
    trailrose Member Posts: 219
    edited February 2015

    Oncearunner- Thank you!

    Rseman- Oncearunner is giving great advice on the gait analysis! Both my husband and I had to try different trail running shoes and once we found the right ones we have no problems.

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  • Ginger48
    Ginger48 Member Posts: 1,978
    edited February 2015

    Luvlulu- I agree with you about the dreadmill. It is a head thing. I can run for an hour outside but cannot get beyond 20 min on it without going crazy. I have started doing some interval running using my iTunes running playlist. All upbeat music. I run for about 3-4 songs and then fast walk one or two and then go back to running. I throw a towel over the treadmill screen that shows time, etc.This method is helping me get a little more running in and I have noticed that my walking pace has increased on the in between intervals. My heart rate seems to stay higher even on the walking parts.

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  • LuvLuLu
    LuvLuLu Member Posts: 377
    edited February 2015

    Ginger, I probably should run with music if I do the dreadmill. I'm so behind the times. When I run outside I don't listen to music because I have a running partner, and also I like to hear "outside" sounds and completely unplug from everything. But it certainly would help if I could plug in to some upbeat tunes on the dreadmill. Anything to get ya through, I guess!!

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  • HockeyCat
    HockeyCat Member Posts: 222
    edited February 2015

    FairyDogMother - I wish you can run with me! I'll post the snoopy medal after the race. :) I saw on FB that Disneyland Half registration opened today and already 80% full. I love Disney races! I ran my first half marathon there 7 years ago, and ran two more. Goldlining's post brought back my memories! I'm looking forward to the Tinker Bell Half in May. I ran 3 miles this morning as the start of my training. I won't be able to train like I used to, but I have 3 months to prepare.

    Oncearunner - I just started Tamoxifen this week. Did you get joint or muscle pains? Exercise is very important to me as well. I play hockey and love to run. I'm supposed to take Tamo for 3-5 years then switch to AI for another 5 years. I'm worried about side effects….

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  • Oncearunneralwaysarunner
    Oncearunneralwaysarunner Member Posts: 252
    edited February 2015

    HockeyCat - i didn't have joint and muscle pain with tamoxifen, but rather a mixed bag of anxiety, mood swings, weight loss, loss of appetite and this weird elevated heart rate thing when I ran. Basically a couple months in on tamoxifen my long runs started feeling harder and harder. I was running much slower but felt like I was giving it a level of effort comparable to a hard speed work session. My runs started getting better once I stopped tamoxifen, as well as all of the other side effects.

    I really don't want to discourage you from taking tamoxifen or scare you with my side effects since it's possible that you will have very little side effects. I think in my case some of these side effects are due to hormone zapping properties of the drug, I'm having some very similar effects with ovary suppression (mostly anxiety and mood swings with some good hot flashes thrown in for good measure!). That being said, my MO is in agreement with me not taking hormonal therapy as long as I'm ok with not taking anything. In my case there just not enough stats for a case like mine (young, triple positive with pCR) to support my decision one way or another so the decision is all mine.

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  • bratscher
    bratscher Member Posts: 17
    edited February 2015

    HockeyCat, I started Tamoxifen a week ago, and I'm having trouble with joint pain, specifically my left hip, which affects my gait and makes running (and even walking) uncomfortable. I'm not sure if it's *just* the Tamoxifen or some combination of meds/age/stress/etc, so I'm going to give it some more time before I ask the oncologist about it. But I'm concerned.

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  • HockeyCat
    HockeyCat Member Posts: 222
    edited February 2015

    Oncearunner - thanks for sharing your experience and how you reached to your decision. It must have been a hard one. My MO is suggesting 10 years of hormone therapy for reasons. I definitely want to reduce my recurrence risk. I hope side effects will be manageable, so that I can continue my run & hockey

    Bratscher - sorry to hear about your joint pain. Hope it'll go away. I'm on day 3, no SE yet.

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  • marie11
    marie11 Member Posts: 75
    edited February 2015

    Trying to plan around the cold and snow and ice. At least I am not in Mass. So far getting a fair number of runs in but it is a challenge. Not really running enough to be ready for marathon in May. Had a vit D level done it was extremely low. Many breast cancer patients have low vit D.

    229/2016 this year. Now if it would only warm up.

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  • goldlining
    goldlining Member Posts: 1,178
    edited February 2015

    Sharing some warm with you all: did 6km in Ft Lauderdale this morning. May not go out tomorrow morning, because I don't want a sudden increase in mileage after taking a weather break since the WDW Half. It was pretty easy - heart rate was pretty high (up to 181) but I did not feel like I was suffering. Concentrated on my lazy glutes and I think I gained some speed from that. Hang in there, fellow northerners.

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  • panthrah
    panthrah Member Posts: 433
    edited February 2015

    Sorry to hear about all of the weather troubles :( It was ooooh about 86 here today :) which is great lay out weather.. not running weather tho.

    Yes HockeyCat the DL half sold out fast.. the Dumbo Double Dare sold out within 32 min.. but it think took just a smidge longer for the half to sell out. It is an anniversary year so the medal will be different. I am not doing that race :( But I plan on trying to get in on Avengers .. which may or may not have a 10k /Challenge attached to it.

    my new medal hanger showed up.. 30in "every mile is magic" metal frame that holds 20-30 medals.. which I have 24 so far. I shouldbe able to get that hung up this weekend. and as of now i have NO races booked .. which is an odd feeling, my husband says " you dont have any yet" :p

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  • HockeyCat
    HockeyCat Member Posts: 222
    edited February 2015

    panthrah, your medal hanger sounds nice! I want it but I don't have that many medals as you. I have a display box where I keep all of my half marathon medals. Avengers sound fun but all the RunDisney run starts at 5:30am... I'm going to wait until I finish Tinker Bell before considering any other half marathon. 12 weeks till Tinker Bell. I used to follow some training plans but haven't figure out my plan for this race yet...


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  • LuvLuLu
    LuvLuLu Member Posts: 377
    edited February 2015

    Gold, I'm so jealous. Single digits and roads too snowy and icy so I just did 6 miles on the dreadmill. Not fun but I got thru it w/my running partner next to me. Another blizzard this weekend.

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  • Rseman
    Rseman Member Posts: 281
    edited February 2015

    Thank you all for the great advice. I'm bummed that with this weather and knee pain I haven't been able to get out there. I really hope I can pull off the half on the 28th in less than two hours but I feel myself losing fitness with each day that passes!

    And now the application for Freds Team for the NYC marathon just came out and I planned on doing it but am sooooo nervous! I've never run a full before and I really want to do this.

    But anyway, I'm updating my playlist for the half so tell me what are some of your favorite songs that get you through the rough miles??

    happy weekend!!

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  • Tammy_M43
    Tammy_M43 Member Posts: 980
    edited February 2015

    HockeyCat, I had joint pain on Tamoxifen and the only thing to relieve it was exercise! Keep on running I say! I'm now on Femara and still have aches but exercise helps and keeps me sane

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