Here's to breaking 20 for 5k (à la EddyLee)

I'd look into cross training as well. I have no clue how you're feeling or what you're going through, but in the past I've been able to get my fitness rolling quicker w/ cross training, either eliptical or stationary bike stuff. Try starting @ 10-15 minutes every other day and work your way up from there.

This is some really cool stuff. I'll make sure to root for you through the process. Good luck man!

Day 2: 2 miles (34:09 - 153). Cool, clear night after putting the kiddos to bed. Nice night for a run. I am scared of hitting one of those metal rings that falls of hubcabs. Those have tangled me up at night and made me fall hard. I am afraid if I see one of those I'll break an arm or shoulder if I fall.

Felt okay. My feet are killing me. Between ingrown, infected toenails from a pair of cowboy boots I got in October and swollen feet from kidney flare ups...the dogs are killing me. The run, however, was better today than yesterday. I even "kicked" the last 100m at about 11 minute pace. Now for some epsom salt, hydrogen peroxide and lemons.

Another voice in support of your comeback. Best wishes to you.

Good luck man holy shiznit !!!

Day 3: 2 miles (32:27 - 157) - 70 with strong winds out of the south east.

Felt okay today. My mid/lower back is sore. Legs are tight, but, calves seem fine. Toes are still trashed, but, the peroxide is helping. Ironically, I found that trick from an old book, "Back to Eden: The Classic Guide to Herbal Medicine, Natural Foods, and Home Remdies". I may be trying some of them out. He has documented cases of cancer patients making full recoveries. Tomorrow, I might shoot for 2.5-3 miles, if the legs are feeling okay.

Another rooting for you!

I will also follow you, best of luck, you are showing all of us a great deal of courage... JUST AMAZING... you ROCK!

Wow! Thank you for sharing your story. It's truely impressive how determined you are. And quite an inspiration. I hope you continue to update this thread.

You mentioned you were going to join a gym, but it just wasn't a good time. Not sure if you have heard of this, but LiveStrong recently joined up with many YMCA's around the country to grant funding for cancer patients and surviors to recieve free memberships at certain facilities. Not sure if there might be one by you. Worth a look, though!

Exercise is so important for the mind and I thoughly believe the mind and body are connected. Even if you can't get out and run everyday (and considering we ALL need days off, you really shouldn't!) it's still so important to keep fit. My local Y is like my second home. :)

Here's a link:

http://www.livestrong.org/What-We-Do/Our-Actions/Programs-Partnerships/LIVESTRONG-at-the-YMCA

Thanks. I didn't know about that program. I recall hearing you could get a free 1-year membership at local Y's, but, I didn't know it was a Livestrong program. The one gym I had in mind is one we used previously. It has an indoor pool (with slides) and everything you could want and then some. My hope was to get the whole family back in not just myself. Hopefully, after I get my taxes filed I'll have a little spare cash. For now my 30 minutes a day of painfully-slow-not-even-hobby-jogging will get me started. I had given up hope of running and intended on swimming but I figured I'd give running a shot. My right ankle (the one I broke) is a little sore today. May walk today instead. If I do try and run it will be on grass. Definitely need to find some soccer fields somewhere nearby. The sidewalks are not my friend.

I think you've mentioned an interest in alternative treatments. This turned up here at LR a while back. Maybe you'll find it useful:

http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?board=1&id=1744046&thread=1743206

Thanks HRE. I'll review it tonight. I literally have probably 50 books on various topics. (You'd be amazed at how much you will learn to try and save your life.)

As far as running, I'm taking the day off. My wife had strep last week and my middle kiddo got a positive test today. My throat/lymph nodes have been a little off the past week, so, I won't put any extra stress on them out of sheer will power. That's not so smart. Maybe tomorrow I'll feel a little better and get in a 45-50 minute plod.

Week 1: starting where I left off last Friday

Day 4: off

Day 5: 1 mile walk with eldest kiddo - too cold

Day 6: off

Week 2: Monday, Feb 6, 2011 - Sunday, Feb 12, 2011

Day 1: off

Day 2: 2 miles (31:31:9 - 151) - cool, cloudy. My right leg felt good. Toes are under control thanks to hydrogen peroxide. Throat/lymph nodes feel better; started drinking apple cider vinegar to knock down infection. Wife and kiddo 2 have had strep in the past two weeks. Overall, I'm pretty pleased with this one. Hopefully I can get some more in this week. Maybe in a couple of weeks, after I get to 6-7 days a week of 45-60 minutes, throw in a couple of "doubles" of 20 minutes each. Who knows, that may be 1.5 miles by then!

Glad you're still at it.

Personal aside, I found out Sunday that my dad has cancer in some lymph nodes in his chest and neck and in his esophagus/bronchial tubes.

He's starting radiation and chemo for 7-8 weeks soon.

He and my mom seem to be dealing with the news ok, but do you have any advice for an adult child?

redux wrote:

Glad you're still at it.

Personal aside, I found out Sunday that my dad has cancer in some lymph nodes in his chest and neck and in his esophagus/bronchial tubes.

He's starting radiation and chemo for 7-8 weeks soon.

He and my mom seem to be dealing with the news ok, but do you have any advice for an adult child?

Sorry to hear about your dad. No one ever wants to hear that for anyone they know! Unfortunately, dealing with it is always an individual process. Everyone handles stress differently. Some people freak out and want to make it all their life is about. Others want to have nothing to do with it and pretend like it's a non-issue. Most people fall somewhere in between.

Do you know what kind of cancer it is? Don't bring a bunch of stuff to him about every off-the-wall cure you may run into. Depending on where he lives I would recommend he check out the Block Institute (near Chicago). If he wants to get into alternative/integrative stuff I'd be glad to share what I know about things I've done, gone through, and, the results. Granted, I haven't tried it all, but, I have read a lot of the "alternative" stuff. While I don't go so far as to claim dietary changes alone can cure cancer (though I believe that's happened to some folks) there are a lot of basic things to look at with regards to diet, stress, etc.

One book I find helpful is What to Eat if You Have Cancer. I am a voracious reader and highly motivated to learn about what I can do so I can turn over all the stones and see what I can do so this may not be something he would be interested in getting into. It's a big change. I just that some of the changes that come about from changing diet can make radiation much more tolerable. Also, look into chronotherapy. Most oncologists will just start treatment whenever, but, there are cyclical patterns when treatment is most effective and when it is harder on the body.

Thanks! I'm not sure when it's all starting and I'll have to talk to my mom because she's more forthcoming with information. My dad definitely falls close to the "non-issue" group.

To bring some levity (if it can apply) my dad told me about this move recently: http://www.50-50themovie.com/. It's a little different from being a kid watching their parents go through it, you can get some idea of what non-sense you go through. Still haven't seen it, but, it sounds pretty apropos from his description.

Thanks for sharing all of this. Good luck!

Day 3: 2 miles...again (32:06 - 151) - cold, no wind, overcast. Almost didn't run today. Really hate cold weather these days. This would have previously been little more than shorts and long sleeve shirt weather. Now, two shirts, a cover and a jacket. A skull cap, thick gloves and pants. I look like such a poser. : )

On a side note my dad is flying me in to my home town to be in a race he did last year. I had won the race several times when I was running seriously. When I found out the specific date I was having my surgery he decided to walk from the race to where the hospital I was having the surgery at to inspire. Realize this is a several hundred mile distance. 20 days later he showed up three days before my surgery after walking the whole way. Humbling to be loved so much. Being able to go back and be at that race will be pretty cool. Hopefully I can break 45 for 5k...only about 3 times slower than I had won it in days past.

Great to see you're back at it. Best of luck at the race. Anything you do is going to be a major triumph.