The problem for me, and why I am confused by all of this is that there are so many variables and I can't figure out which is the contributor, or if it's all of them.  I would welcome your own opinions.  Example of what I am feeling.  I start running and feel okay, but after two miles or so, I feel like late stages of a marathon, just a general feeling of "this is hard to do." Not a high heart rate, and no pain, just feels like work.

 

Here is the present situation.  I am 67, will be 68 in August. Of course you all know I have heart disease and I am getting slower each year, dramatically.

 

On February 23 I ran the Cowtown Ultra and I sense I am still fatigued from it.  I recall that last year when I did it, I was even tired heading into Boston, two months later, so maybe it's that. I have no idea why that would be however. I have no soreness or muscular aches and pains and I faithfully do my stretching and core work.  Yesterday I did a 2 minute wall sit, my longest ever, and I do 50 pushups and at least a minute plank daily too, among other exercises.

 

Of course the cancer is on my mind and I wonder if it's at all possible that's contributing.  Or maybe it's the worrying about the cancer as I have to admit it's on my mind a lot.

 

I'm also on the VB6 diet, so I eat no meat for breakfast or lunch, do eat meat for dinner, not red meat, usually fish or some chicken.  According to my calculations I'm getting enough protein and certainly enough calories.

 

I'm interested in hearing from those of you who have gone through this before and if you have any insights.  My cancer surgery is scheduled for April 29th by the way.  Thank you.  Spareribs

Not having any medical issues that I’m aware of affecting my alleged running  “performances” for the past 38 years, and not ever training to run faster than I can anyway, I attribute my much worse deteriorating results solely to the aging process. <<<(70/70)>>>>
.,
Doesn’t mean that I don’t share your same feelings of frustration about what I used to consider to be the pathetically slow older runners I now am.  Fortunately, TW’s advice and inspiration has kept me going for the last five years. 
.
However, everyone is different. 
Some run well into their 80's. 
I believe you will be one of them too after April. 
Good luck.
.

In the meantime, I'll give TS a kick for the old days if he'll give me one.

There's been much discussion today about the aging runner. In less than one month I'll be 80 and would like to add my two cents worth. I have been running for over 40 years and love to run and hope to do so as long as I am able to. When I began my running career in my early 40's I ran 6.5 mph in races. My best 10k's were sub 40's and my pr in marathons was 3:07. I've had my share of injuries over the years, especially over the past year with back  and knee problems (due to osteoarthritis- that's what happens with aging to many of us). My speed has markedly diminished (little old ladies in their walkers have passed me). I no longer can run distances without hurting and I can no longer run every day ( but I can walk on my off days and stretch). I haven't raced for almost a year but when I enter my new age group I will be running the BAA  5K  ( 2 days before Boston) with 10,000 of my nearest and dearest. I discovered that there will be only 3 of us in the 80+ group. So perhaps I won't finish last. But I can't overemphasize my passion for running and the joy of being able to do so and my acceptance (begrudgingly at times) of my limitations.

Oh!  I forgot!

Today, I had the chance to meet Lee Ann Yanni, one of the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing. She lost a big chunk of her leg, and we are treating her at our practice in our Boston Marathon Project Heal program, where we are treating bombing victims for free, using laser technologies for wound healing derived from the Wounded Warrior project. Anyway, she has been public about working with us, so there is no HIPAA violation here.

She had been training to run the Chicago Marathon last year, when she was injured in the bombing. She ended up running it last fall in a run/walk program. What an inspiration! And it turns out she is running Boston this year! She struggling with the grueling training...she's never really had the chance to do a full 16-18 week training program...so we had a nice talk. I told her that I'm a coach for the Melanoma Foundation team, and that she could get in touch with me any time with any questions. She's also struggling because the Boston Marathon publicity is really ramping up, and she is one of the high profile bombing victims. It's hard to juggle the demands of training and work and the media.

Anyway, she told me that she had looked into running Boston with the Melanoma Foundation last year. Then the bombs hit, and all of her plans went astray. Apparently, her father had died of melanoma. She told me that if her run this year goes well, she may return and run with us next year! What an inspiration. Here's a video that tells her story. http://vimeo.com/76848557 At about 1:30, you can see her laser treatment in our practice. And the video references her father, as well. So, the next time I feel lousy on a training run, I'll have to remember what Lee Ann has gone through.

--Robin

 

Gets up, shakes it off and continues his ride. I recall his post was no more than a short paragraph.  No call for sympathy, no whining, just fell off a bridge into the water and kept going. Ho hum.

I, for one, would have pedaled home trying to think of a new handle.

Sorry for the brevity. Ribs, how is your iron? Talk with a pro about depression associated with your cancer. You a very loved here.

Ribs, I could say a lot about cancer.  I've been thinking all day and I have one thing.  I used to run at lunch at work.  One day, just before I was diagnosed, one of my colleagues asked me if I was feeling ok.  I told him sure and asked why.  He replied that the cadence of my stride seemed slower, and that it had been that way for a while.  (This was before I had a garmin or cared about time; I just ran.)  In addition to being a very thoughtful lawyer with many talents, my colleague Craig was blind.  He often relied upon his hearing for cues in his environment.  It was quite some time before I remembered this, but I don't think I will forget it.  I really hadn't felt tired that I could remember and   I certainly was not expecting to hear I had cancer.  And yet, it seems that my body was giving out signs that an astute listener could read.

And on another note, love that about Henry.  And he is modest about his achievements, folks.

G'night.

I just love today's daily thread.

I LOVE that story! And I love Ribs and Henry and I don't care who knows it!

 

--RT

Well, if you love Ribs, Henry and Tetsujin, ...

go ahead and get in line!!!

One hour of winter wellness tonight and I am ready to roar!!!