Robert Song's Running

I'm over 50 and been running off and on since 1968. I have run everything from 800m to 10k on the track, to half marathons (PB 1:21 Brisbane 1993) and marathons (PB 2:53 Gold Coast 1985).

Monday, September 28, 2009

Hanging In There

I have just finished my second of six cycles of chemo treatment.

So far I have been able to dodge most of the harmful side effects such as nausea, fatigue and secondary infections. I have had a lot of hair loss and find myself without beard for the first time in 35 years.

I have tried to get some exercise in every day but once or twice a week I don't feel up to it. So far the majority of the exercise has been brisk walking with a small amount of slow (and I mean slow) running at the end. Anything above 5:30 pace sends my Heart Rate soaring past my aerobic threshold so I have to be careful not to stress the body too much. The drugs are doing a good enough job of that.

The good news is that I have managed to build up to be able to go 5k slowly (27:13 avg HR 151) which I did on Sunday morning at the BRRC. 27:13. It was great to get out there and feel normal and catch up with friends. This may become harder as the treatment progress and my red blood count continues to drop but I will keep at it whenever possible.