I put in 5 miles on the indoor RPAC track yesterday.
Using the run-walk-run method (3 minutes running to 1 minute walking), I ran the distance in about 53 minutes. I wasn't really speedy, but it was a good run and I'm glad I went the longer distance instead of stopping at 5K (3.1 miles).
My running has been very inconsistent lately, which is evidence of the kids' inconsistent attendance at swim practice. We've been busy with holiday concert practice and performance, extra hours at work, basketball, homework, swim meets, and Christmas shopping and planning. It's the same for everyone right now, I'm sure.
In addition to the time crunches, winter has hit us hard. It has been snowy and in the single digit temperatures every morning this week. Even before these insane temps, it was too cold outside for a fair weather runner like me. I look for upper-30s and sunny before I get excited about running outside. So I've been inside when I have been able to put in any miles.
The kids made it to swimming tonight, but Ken took them. I had to stay late to get a bunch of work done. I have deadlines to meet before I go on vacation to Salt Lake City for Christmas.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Sunday, December 12, 2010
New Albany swim meet
I haven't been getting much exercise in these days. I ran on Wednesday this week and put in a 30:40 5K. My miles were 9:33, 9:42, and 10:19. I walked a little during the second and third mile.
Today I played 90 minutes of hard volleyball. We played two teams and won against the first but lost against the second. I was running all over the place and felt a step behind all the time; out of shape, no doubt.
The big sports news for us today, though, was the swim meet. Both kids swam in a B meet, which means the participants' best times have to be ABOVE a BB time to swim. Therefore, all of their friends who have qualified for State or are close, couldn't swim in this meet. The results of the meet are on the New Albany Aquatics Club web site and a summary of the Orr performance is below.
Jason is age 9 in the 9/10 age group and beat all other 9 year olds in every event except IM:
Today I played 90 minutes of hard volleyball. We played two teams and won against the first but lost against the second. I was running all over the place and felt a step behind all the time; out of shape, no doubt.
The big sports news for us today, though, was the swim meet. Both kids swam in a B meet, which means the participants' best times have to be ABOVE a BB time to swim. Therefore, all of their friends who have qualified for State or are close, couldn't swim in this meet. The results of the meet are on the New Albany Aquatics Club web site and a summary of the Orr performance is below.
Jason is age 9 in the 9/10 age group and beat all other 9 year olds in every event except IM:
- 1st in 200 Free Relay (swam first leg)
- 2nd in 100 Free
- 4th in 50 Free
- 4th in 50 Back
- 4th in 100 IM (another 9 year old beat him by .1 second)
- 1st in 50 Free (by 3+ seconds)
- 1st in 50 Breast
- 1st in 100 Breast (by 2+ seconds)
- 1st in 200 IM (by 16 seconds - really, 16)
- 2nd in the Free Relay
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Annual appt & Lymphedema treatment
My first ever annual appointment with my surgical oncologist was very uneventful, as anyone would hope. He did a physical exam that lasted maybe 3 minutes and then was done. He didn't find anything and said he'd see me next year unless I found something of concern between now and then. I guess I should be doing self-exams, though it seems overkill with no breast tissue.
The more impressive part of the visit was with the Lymphedema specialist. First, I must give the James breast center huge KUDOS. I didn't have an appointment to see the Lymphedema specialist. I'd been meaning to make one for months. So I called them from the waiting room and told them I was in the office for an appointment with Povoski and they squeezed me in immediately after I saw the doctor. They were fabulous!
The specialist (who is a physical therapist) did all the measurements and said everything looked really good. I was slightly down from the last time I'd been in (which was . . . gasp . . . September). She said I had been managing the swelling very well and that I was due for a new glove in February. She did a really long treatment on my hand and arm which consists of a massage technique designed to activate the lymph system and get the fluid moving. It really helped and when she was done, you could hardly tell my hand was swollen at all. On my self-created swelling scale, it's probably a 1 out of 10 now. Going in to the appointment, it was about a 2 or 3. For some reason, I'm not very swollen this week. I have no idea why.
The PT and I talked about their group's pending move to the campus area which will be much more convenient for me. She also talked about the workout room they will have, the extra PTs, and some other services I may be able to get there, including some upper body workouts tailored just for me. I'm really looking forward to seeing them next time in mid-January at the new facility.
Ken noticed a sign in the doctor's office asking for volunteer survivors to give feedback to the James. The location for the feedback interview is in the same building where we work. I'll call the number tomorrow to see if they want to talk with me. I've got quite a bit of feedback to offer. I was much more impressed with Riverside's holistic assessment and consultation (that's where I got my second opinion) than the James' linear process (which I thwarted by making appointments I was advised not to make).
The more impressive part of the visit was with the Lymphedema specialist. First, I must give the James breast center huge KUDOS. I didn't have an appointment to see the Lymphedema specialist. I'd been meaning to make one for months. So I called them from the waiting room and told them I was in the office for an appointment with Povoski and they squeezed me in immediately after I saw the doctor. They were fabulous!
The specialist (who is a physical therapist) did all the measurements and said everything looked really good. I was slightly down from the last time I'd been in (which was . . . gasp . . . September). She said I had been managing the swelling very well and that I was due for a new glove in February. She did a really long treatment on my hand and arm which consists of a massage technique designed to activate the lymph system and get the fluid moving. It really helped and when she was done, you could hardly tell my hand was swollen at all. On my self-created swelling scale, it's probably a 1 out of 10 now. Going in to the appointment, it was about a 2 or 3. For some reason, I'm not very swollen this week. I have no idea why.
The PT and I talked about their group's pending move to the campus area which will be much more convenient for me. She also talked about the workout room they will have, the extra PTs, and some other services I may be able to get there, including some upper body workouts tailored just for me. I'm really looking forward to seeing them next time in mid-January at the new facility.
Ken noticed a sign in the doctor's office asking for volunteer survivors to give feedback to the James. The location for the feedback interview is in the same building where we work. I'll call the number tomorrow to see if they want to talk with me. I've got quite a bit of feedback to offer. I was much more impressed with Riverside's holistic assessment and consultation (that's where I got my second opinion) than the James' linear process (which I thwarted by making appointments I was advised not to make).
Monday, December 6, 2010
Tomorrow's appointment
Tomorrow I have my first annual follow-up appointment with my surgical oncologist. I've been so busy that I forgot about it until today. I have no idea what to expect. I know I'll have a physical exam because I can't have mammograms anymore. We'll probably talk about the lymphedema but I don't expect to learn anything from him about that. It may be just a quick check for lumps that might be hiding in any breast tissue he left behind. There should not be any breast tissue left behind, though - that's the whole intention of the bilateral mastectomy, after all.
This will be my first post-mastectomy appointment with a doctor who is not my plastic surgeon. It will be strange to have someone else seeing my breasts now. The scars are large and still very prominent, which means they will probably always be that way. It's been more than 6 months since my last reconstructive surgery.
This will be my first post-mastectomy appointment with a doctor who is not my plastic surgeon. It will be strange to have someone else seeing my breasts now. The scars are large and still very prominent, which means they will probably always be that way. It's been more than 6 months since my last reconstructive surgery.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Thursday and Sunday
On Thursday, I ran while Val was at swim team practice. I wimped out and ran inside on the track because it's cold outside now. I know it's not too cold to run outside this time of year (20's and lower 30's), but I'm really a fair weather runner.
I decided to run a 5K and then stretch a bit, so I ran the whole thing instead of alternating running and walking. I did the 5K in 29:41! That's fast for me. My miles were 9:40, 9:42, and 9:16. I was winding down very quickly the last half mile, at least, but I hung in there. Then I stretched for 30 minutes which was really helpful because my back has been acting up from tight hamstrings, IT bands, and hips.
Today Val had a birthday party all afternoon, so I only had the hour that Jason was at swim practice to get in a run. I ran inside on the RPAC track again (cold, snow, and lack of time were all factors in that decision). I put in 4 miles in 40:23 using the run 3 minutes and walk 1 minute method throughout. My miles were 10:13, 10:04, 10:05, and 10:01.
My back is still bugging me a bit and needs stretching. I'm headed to volleyball tonight which might make it better or worse, I have no idea.
The great news is that my hand has significantly reduced in swelling. The Lymphedema was running a self-reported 5 or 6 on a made up 10 point scale. I'd say it's down to 2 or 3 today.
I decided to run a 5K and then stretch a bit, so I ran the whole thing instead of alternating running and walking. I did the 5K in 29:41! That's fast for me. My miles were 9:40, 9:42, and 9:16. I was winding down very quickly the last half mile, at least, but I hung in there. Then I stretched for 30 minutes which was really helpful because my back has been acting up from tight hamstrings, IT bands, and hips.
Today Val had a birthday party all afternoon, so I only had the hour that Jason was at swim practice to get in a run. I ran inside on the RPAC track again (cold, snow, and lack of time were all factors in that decision). I put in 4 miles in 40:23 using the run 3 minutes and walk 1 minute method throughout. My miles were 10:13, 10:04, 10:05, and 10:01.
My back is still bugging me a bit and needs stretching. I'm headed to volleyball tonight which might make it better or worse, I have no idea.
The great news is that my hand has significantly reduced in swelling. The Lymphedema was running a self-reported 5 or 6 on a made up 10 point scale. I'd say it's down to 2 or 3 today.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Light workout
My back has been a bit sore from my crazy run on Sunday. I broke the 10% rule and jumped from 6 miles to 8 miles for my long run this week. I wasn't training for anything, it was just a beautiful day and I had the time and interest to keep going and going.
Today I took it easy and warmed up with 15 minutes on a rowing machine. Then I stretched a little, ran a mile, stretched a little more, ran another mile, and ended with a 30 minute stretching session. So I only put in 2 miles today but I was working out for about an hour.
We are behind on Christmas planning and shopping, as usual. It's the busy season at home and work these days. Tomorrow, we expect our first snow showers. They won't stick, but it will be fun to see some big, fluffy flakes. 'Tis the season.
Today I took it easy and warmed up with 15 minutes on a rowing machine. Then I stretched a little, ran a mile, stretched a little more, ran another mile, and ended with a 30 minute stretching session. So I only put in 2 miles today but I was working out for about an hour.
We are behind on Christmas planning and shopping, as usual. It's the busy season at home and work these days. Tomorrow, we expect our first snow showers. They won't stick, but it will be fun to see some big, fluffy flakes. 'Tis the season.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
8 miles!
Ken took the kids to swimming today and I got to run in my neighborhood again. I've been running primarily at OSU campus while the kids are at RPAC, so it was a treat to mix it up a little and get back into suburb (vs city) running.
Today was beautiful. When I went out, the temp was 38 or something like that, so I had on tights with shorts on over them, a stocking cap, long sleeved shirt, and my 13.1 (half marathon) gloves. I thought the gloves would encourage a long run and they must have done their job despite being put in my pocket within the first mile. I put in 8 miles today. Actually, I did 8.43 but the decimal was all walking and stretching for a cool down. When I got home, I took off my shoes and spent probably 30 minutes stretching before hitting the shower.
My miles today were 10:24, 11:02, 11:00, 10:03, 10:46, 10:23, 11:30, and 10:45. I didn't catch my 5K time, but my 10K time was 1:05:30. I did the run-walk-run routine again with about 3 minutes running and 1 minute walking, though I varied it a bit to walk up hills and sometimes just because I forgot to keep an eye on the time. I don't have the Garmin set to alert me other than at each mile so I'm doing the interval thing manually right now. I've thought about getting a gym boss to buzz me at intervals but then I'd have to carry yet another gadget. Still, it is small and might be worth it. I could probably do the same thing with an app on my Blackberry, but then it would interrupt my Steverunner Intervals podcast and I'd have to mess with the alarm all the time.
It felt really good to get out there today. I'm tired and hungry now, but I looked at my face in the mirror when I got out of the shower and I saw that glow and realized I looked much happier and healthier than before I went out. Sometimes it's tough to take that first step out the door, especially when it's cold out, but about 2 miles into it, I'm most often very glad I'm out there.
So now I can enjoy the rest of the day. I can feel good about getting some exercise in and doing something for myself. I'll probably be a lot more fun to be around, too.
Today was beautiful. When I went out, the temp was 38 or something like that, so I had on tights with shorts on over them, a stocking cap, long sleeved shirt, and my 13.1 (half marathon) gloves. I thought the gloves would encourage a long run and they must have done their job despite being put in my pocket within the first mile. I put in 8 miles today. Actually, I did 8.43 but the decimal was all walking and stretching for a cool down. When I got home, I took off my shoes and spent probably 30 minutes stretching before hitting the shower.
My miles today were 10:24, 11:02, 11:00, 10:03, 10:46, 10:23, 11:30, and 10:45. I didn't catch my 5K time, but my 10K time was 1:05:30. I did the run-walk-run routine again with about 3 minutes running and 1 minute walking, though I varied it a bit to walk up hills and sometimes just because I forgot to keep an eye on the time. I don't have the Garmin set to alert me other than at each mile so I'm doing the interval thing manually right now. I've thought about getting a gym boss to buzz me at intervals but then I'd have to carry yet another gadget. Still, it is small and might be worth it. I could probably do the same thing with an app on my Blackberry, but then it would interrupt my Steverunner Intervals podcast and I'd have to mess with the alarm all the time.
It felt really good to get out there today. I'm tired and hungry now, but I looked at my face in the mirror when I got out of the shower and I saw that glow and realized I looked much happier and healthier than before I went out. Sometimes it's tough to take that first step out the door, especially when it's cold out, but about 2 miles into it, I'm most often very glad I'm out there.
So now I can enjoy the rest of the day. I can feel good about getting some exercise in and doing something for myself. I'll probably be a lot more fun to be around, too.
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