Boston Strong

potomoc river tow path with chemo bag attached

Well, 10 days after my last post, stating I had 152 days to prepare for the Ogden Marathon, I was diagnosed with Mantle Cell Lymphoma.  It has been a long journey, but I am 24 hours away from completing my 18 weeks of chemotherapy!  I figure 10 days of recovery from my last dose, then I have 90 days to prepare to BQ at Erie Marathon on Sept. 13.  I have never particularly enjoyed training in the summer, but I am going to have to suck it up, as I basically have not run in close to 6 months ... good thing I love a challenge!
 

It has been a long road which has taken a much greater toll on my body than I thought or hoped for.  Constant muscle fatigue in my legs, particularly calves, and I haven't even started running yet! 

Today I signed on with a Physical Therapist ... seems to be knowledgeable and a good guy ... we talked about my goals, more specifically running a BQ in October .  He told me to walk 2 miles a day and come back on Tuesday where he would set me up on a workout routine, which I can do at the local Y. 

I will probably see him twice per week for a month, as he is also doing elecrical stimulation for the neuropathy in my feet.   So I walked my 2 miles, Rockport mile: 13:53 / Recovery Mile:  18:30

Mile 1 9:42

walk 1/8 mile

Mile 2 - 9:27

I ran 1.6 miles at 8:51 pace ... my first mile under 9:00/pace post chemo.  Why 1.6 miles?  Well, I was not going to complete the 3 miles I set out to run, so you take your victories where you can.  Walk/jog back with a mile of jogging.  Erie marathon is in 6 weeks ... uh oh ... I think we have a problem Houston!

Longest run to date, hope I do not encounter many stairs in the next day

Mile 1:  9:32

Mile 2:  9:13

Mile 3:  8:46

Last 0.1:  7:04 pace

5k:  28:13  9:06 pace

I never thought running a 5k would be a milestone, but it was a big one!

9:32, 8:55, 1.5 mile cooldown

9:45, 9:44, 9:40, 9:21

38:31   9:37 ap

run mile, walk 0.1 miles, repeat.

Mile 1:   8:54

Mile 2:   8:41

Mile 3:   9:08

Cooldown 1/2 mile

1	8:58
2	8:45
3	9:10
4	9:38
5	9:18

45:56  9:10 ap

48:56   9:47 ap

new Altra Repetitions, I'll try anything for $29!  I like the wide toe box, as I still suffer from neuropathy in the toe/balls of my feet.

9:41, 9:22, 10:00, 9:50

38:54   9:43 ap

Ran for an hour:  9:57, 9:56, 10:03, 10:04, 9:55, 10:05

Despite being extremely sore, I wanted to run a 10k to give me 26.2 over the last 5 days.  I felt pretty good once I got started, but realized running Mile 3 I was going too fast to complete 6.2, so I slowed a little.  At 4.5 miles, I stopped briefly to hydrate & stretch my calves ... and convince myself pace did not matter, just suck it up and complete the workout.  I did kick the last 0.2 a little.  Followed up with sauna, stretching, and rolling ... as I think I need to work out the lactic acid to hopefully help eliminate the constant state of muscle soreness I exist in.

1     9:30

2     9:23

3     9:27

4     10:01

5     10:19

6     10:13

0.2     8:13 pace

Sunday I took an active recovery day and walked 18 hole.

Sunday night I bought a new Driver for $40 on Craigslist.

Monday I took an active rest day and rode 18 & hit a bucket of balls with the big stick.

The result of all this ... well I am still sore ... but today I shot a 44 - 40 = 84

Tonight I ran an easy 5, but did throw in two 1/2 mile intervals at an 8:00 pace, being paced by an old guy that jumped in front of me on the path.  After a 1/2 mile I was whooped and knew the end of the path was about a mile away, so I walked half a mile, and when I saw him coming I turned around and started running again.  As he passed me I fell in stride for another 1/2 mile interval, and then coasted back home.

Just shaking the legs out for a big mileage week ... it is going to be painful!

9:49, 9:51, 10:16, 10:14, 10:36

Ran at sunset, still 87 degrees of  Hot.

Yep, every muscle in my body aches, pressing onward.

Jog, walk, shuffle, hurt

9:38, 9:26, 9:39, 9:24, 9:43

47:48    9:34

Short stretch/hydrate break after 2, 3, & 4

Felt a little better today

By far my best run yet, best part is for the first time I felt like I could have kept going when I stopped.  Thought about running 13.1 ... but had wisdom not to more than double my long run in one leap!  :)

9:33, 9:06, 9:25, 9:33, 9:39, 9:36, 9:30, 9:41, 9:46, 9:10

1:34:59  9:30 ap

Feeling a little better about Erie Marathon in 3 weeks!

Easy recovery jog, walked 1 mile too

I am thinking a 6:36 pace at Erie, walking one kilometer after evry 5  :)

1/2 way there, tried minor variation on race plan, run 5k, wallk 1k (only walked 1/2 mile)

5k:  30:42

walk: 7:37

5k:   31:54

walk:  8:01

5k:   31:43

walk:  7:57

Run 2.3 miles:  23:35

13.1 in 2:21: 30   10:48 ap

10:00 recovery pace.  Hit the lap button & fell in about 30 yards behind a guy who passed ... after 0.4 miles his pace kept increasing & he started pulling away, so I backed off since I was on a recovery run & I wasn't going to be able to keep up with him anyway ... averaged 6:58 pace for 0.4 miles - wow, that was hard - I can't believe I once ran that fast the last 2 miles of a marathon!

I took 6 days off to try to recover and build strength. It was 90 degrees when I started, maintained a consistent pace without any walking, 9:51 avg pace. Was thinking I might go farther. But thankfully I ran out of daylight, because I do not think that would have been wise.

Much harder than the 10 last night. This was an 11+ min recovery pace with lots of short walk breaks. Ran 4, walked 1.5

PM - 6 miles on bike to generate some blood flow to legs

hot & muggy & painfully slow
 

10:30 pace

10:26 pace ~ time to rest, recover, ... and pray

Psyche!  Of course I did not run a mile, it is taper week!

Shoe debate:

Hoka Ones - heavy, slow, really well cushioned for the knees

Adidas - my go to shoe - light, fast, not so nice to knees

Actually, since it is a double loop course (and they are predicting non-stop rain), I am thinkng I will change shoes/socks after first loop ... but not sure which to wear first!

Seriously, currently my average pace on a comfortable run in the Adidas is about 9:30, in the Hokas more like 10:30 ... that is a major difference.  So, do I trash my knees early, or wear the Adidas the second half, when I may not have the energy to run anyway!

I see myself waffling back & forth on this issue the rest of the week, I guess it will be a gametime decision.

No walk breaks, mile 26 at 9:59 pace. I am pretty pumped!

Updated with splits.  I decided 3 things in the first mile:

1) run entire race on grass/packed sand on side of road, out of kindness to my joints/muscles.
2) Screw the walk breaks!
3) My current pace of 10:15 seemed easy, so it was reasonable to maintain, and would bring me in around a 4:30 finish if I could maintain it ... ok, just keep running!
Of course, I would have been ok with walking at any point if required, but I was not considering that as I was deep into my visualization! :) Lo and behold, next thing I knew I was cruising past the Mile 25 mark and picked up the pace a little to run the last mile in 9:59 & finish in 4:30:19! BoooYahhh ... never in my wildest pre-race planning did I think I could complete 26 miles without walking & planned on walking at every mile water stop ... I knew all race plans would get thrown out the window as soon as the race started ... and it is wild where my imagination went & my body fell right in stride! Oh, & the best part ...my club level room overlooking the bay with a spectacular sunset behind I am a blessed!

The slower miles 5, 10, 15, 19, 22 really were not run any slower, those are the miles where I walked long enough to suck down a gel & fish 2 endurolytes out of my handheld water bottle to toss back with a glass of water ... and then right back into my comfortable pace.  Oh & third fastest mile ... #23!  I remember making myself slow down after that, as I still had a 5k+ to go & I was deep into uncharted territory!  :)

Back to square One - run, walk, struggle - at least a dozen walk breaks in a measly 3.5 miles.  I tried a couple 'pick-ups', which did not go so well & resulted in almost immediate walk breaks.  Well, it was 85 degrees ... cooler Fall weather arrives tomorrow ... and maybe I will get out there in the morning instead of the heat of the day!

Legs were sore, but I guess I could proclaim progress, these were my two fastest miles post-chemo ... I was pretty much toast at the 2 mile mark though ... so I went into recovery mode, where I probably should have started the run!

8:36, 8:14, 11:08

I met with my family Physician today (Monday), since I am no longer under active care of my Oncology team ... I told him I had a run a marathon last Sunday & he replied, "Now that you have that done, perhaps you can build your mileage in a more reasonable Manner"  I said Yes Sir ... of course, I did not tell him I had a screaming fast downhill marathon with 2800' of descent in 32 days.  :)

64 degrees at 5:00 pm woot woot

Out :  8:59, 9:01, 8:43

Back:  10:19, 10:48, 10:48

9:46, 9:40, 9:28, 8:40, 7:54

45:30  9:05 ap

9:19, 9:49, 8:55, 10:19, 10:08

I am withdrawing from my marathon in 24 days as I am no where near condition to 'race' it & running another marathon right now, is an invitation to injury.  I don't need that, or to drop $500+ for an out of town marathon, that I don't have right now.

I will start with trying to run 30 miles per week, which I have only done once this year ... not counting my marathon week!!  I also think golf has surpassed my passion of running in terms of enjoyment. I am not sure if I will ever run another fast marathon, but I will break 80 ... eventually!  :)

9:31, 9:18, 9:40, 8:50

9:19  ap

Six weeks after completing the Erie Marathon, with only a handful of training runs totaling 26.9 miles, I logged my first October miles.  While I had decided I was not going to run this race, the weather was too nice to not drive 475 miles to pick up my t-shirt & medal.

I hit 13.1 miles in exactly 2 hours, the downhill section of the course, and then transitioned to a leisurely walk/trot along the river to the finish.  Blessed to complete another 26.2 in the NC National Forest.

I was also running to celebrate an invitation I received on Thirsday, to run Boston '16 with Team in Training, to raise money to help find a cure for Blood Cancer ... a cause that runs through my veins!

8:40, 8:52, 8:28

10:46

In Pittsburgh ...

9:16, 9:07, 8:43, 9:39, 10:14

Solid 10 miler in Chicago along shores of Lake Michigan - around 9:20 a.p.

First run in over a year under a 9:00 avg pace ... there is hope ...

8:25, 8:46, 8:48, 9:02, 8:35

8:44 ap

I was sure the last mile was in the 7's ... oh well, it felt fast!

Mini progression run

8:51, 8:24, 7:15, 0.5 mile cool down

Yea, my first sub 8 mile in over a year!

8:45, 8:02, cool down

thinking about implementing a 3 mile/day minimum

I hope I was not breaking any running rules ending my run at Midtown Tavern

consistency has always been my weak link

At mile 2, I decided it was a good day to log a 5k time trial:  25:22

Around a 25 min 5k is where I figured I would be ~ maybe target sub-24 in a Turkey Trot.  I think I will wait and see what the weather looks like though, as I am guessing I might prefer a midday leisure run over a morning race!

8:41, 8:22, 7:37, 0:42

First sub 8 mile: check

2.5 mile cooldown 9-10 min pace

4 mile fartlek at Wildwood followed by 3 miles along river when I got home

8:33, 8:27, 9:40

7:47, 7:39,  9:05

First back to back 7's

8 miles - 1:08:22 - 8:32 ap

Out                           Back

1 - 8:46                    5 -  9:16

2 - 8:30                    6 - 8:39

3 - 8:30                   7 - 8:38

4 - 8:00                   8 - 7:55

Feeling Blessed on Conewago Rail Trail

5 @ 8:25 ap, 1/2 mile cool down

8:34, 8:24, 8:27, 8:26, 8:17

Recovery on grass at soccer fields

8 mile Negley Park hill loop 9:04 pace - 72 minutes running

Easy 5 along river

9:11, 8:59, 8:57, 9:00, 8:38

8:27, 8:42, 8:46, 8:35, 7:45

5 @ 8:27 ap with 1/2 mile cool down

Sure felt like I was running a lot faster than that ~ but I did close with my first GMP mile in over a year!

Recovery 5 at 9:50 pace

8:54 ap along river

9:59 ap Negley Hills Loop

Great run on Newton Hills. Ran from Cleveland Circle (mm 22) to Newton Firehouse Station (mm17) & back. 5 miles outbound: 8:05 pace 5 miles inbound: 8:11 pace Last mile downhill into CC: 7:38 pace Solid effort ~ comfortably hard

8:24, 7:55, 8:04, 8:13, 7:55

8:23, 7:49, 8:22, 8:39, 7:38

TNT Kickoff training run, 2 miles to Weelesley College & back ~ 8:21ap

8:17, 8:28, 8:08, 8:32

9 mies @ 9:30 pace, 1/2 mile cooldown ~ Negley Park Hill Loop

9:23, 9:25, 9:22, 9:33, 9:38, 10:01, 9:20, 9:46, 8:51

Hit 40 miles for week

Negley Park Hill loop  9:30 avg pace
 

Negley Park Hill Loop 10.5 miles <757 el ascent/descent>

This is the same hill loop I ran Monday ~ improved my pace by 35 seconds per mile.  I pushed enough to keep my pace under 9:00 miles, which required running the downhills pretty hard to make up for the steep inclines, which some I ran hard as well.  Avg pace was 8:45

I like this loop & constant hills - it wil be a good measuring stick for progress and prepare me well for the Newton Hils.

Finished the year off with my fastest mile in 2015 ~ 7:07

8:24, 8:12, 7:07. 8:47

Back in the 6's in 2016!