The pic above shows the very lovely Petrina B and the very grizzled IannodaTruffe after a delightful run along The Granite Way, a disused railway line skirting the Northern edge of Dartmoor. The section we ran on had neither trains nor rails, but is a very civilised tarmac foot and cycleway.
While Petrina and I have known each other for years, this was our first time running together. This run was her W9R2, so I was there to offer theoretical help and frankly have a darned good natter. So much so that I, the one supposedly in charge of time and distance, let things slip abominably and, especially after remonstrating with some of you on here about exceeding the programmed runs………..I sheepishly admit that we exceeded Petrina’s programmed run. Not a good idea, but in my defence, the pace which we had settled to was extremely gentle and we were chatting away, which is the way to define an “easy” pace.
So, while Petrina is the newbie in the running stakes, I am the newbie in the world of living with cancer. Over the years we have watched this incredible woman battle with breast cancer, through some very dark episodes, but her spirit and love of life has been an inspiration to all who know her. She now has cancer in her bones and lung………….and she is just about to graduate from C25k and plans to go on to run a half marathon next year. She will do it.
My prostate cancer diagnosis, in June this year, has seen me come to terms with the challenges ahead and Petrina’s advice and example have been invaluable to me. She was the one who welcomed me into the club that nobody wants to belong to. Running has been a boon, getting me out regularly, apart from a couple of annoying non running injuries, and being part of the natural world, has helped me to appreciate every day and every run. The hormone treatment that I have been on for the past few months has robbed me of a lot of muscle strength and my pace has gradually been dropping off to the lowest since I started running. The satisfaction that is gained from each run has almost been the inverse, possibly because running slowly is very gratifying or maybe because my reduced testosterone levels mean that a large part of my male arrogance and vanity about my pace, has dissolved and frankly, I don’t give a damn. I am fortunate not to have yet suffered the fatigue that often accompanies this form of treatment. Interestingly, to overcome the fatigue, regular exercise is prescribed; maybe I was already doing enough.
As we passed the cloud covered moor, scattered and shattered by the scars of quarrying, which are slowly being subsumed by the green cloak of nature, we talked about running and we talked about cancer. We agreed that our diagnoses and prognoses had changed our lives forever, (a bit like running) but also that the Big C had given us a gift of clarity about what is truly important in this world and in our lives. For both of us, making plans for the future is as important as living each ordinary day with an appreciation and reverence for life. It might sound strange, but we are lucky. So much of how we experience the world is dependant on a positive outlook.
On Monday, I am hoping to squeeze in my last run before I am hospitalised overnight after an internal dose of radiotherapy; brachytherapy. After that I am looking forward to having some time off work, as I come to terms with any possible side effects and prepare for daily radiotherapy, which will continue until mid January.
After that………..who knows……....nobody for sure. I have every intention of getting running again, as soon as possible, joining Petrina for another glorious run and aiming, provisionally, for a half marathon of my own, some time next year. I don’t care how long it takes.
Life is good and life is for living. Make the most of it.
Keep running, keep smiling.
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IannodaTruffe
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All best wishes to you both. My dear wife was diagnosed with breast cancer over 10 years ago and after some very dark times has been healthy since. Our recovery was completing the moonwalk in London a year after her last chemo session. TBH I really do not look good in a bra but it was useful space to store spare socks! You are so right about resetting priorities. At the time I thought I would be bringing our 4 children up alone, but this did not happen and they are all now young adults making their way in the world.
I believe that it is often tougher for partners than the one going through the illness, so my thoughts go out to you. We all become stronger through these things. Great to hear that your wife is now healthy.
In a way yes. For me the surprise was ( after 20 odd years together) realising that I really did not have the faintest idea of the depth of character and strength of my partner. Well that's impressive I thought. I really need to stop moping about and do some practical stuff.
Having been through it, the funny thing ( yes really) is that we are both fantastically intolerant of others moaning about trivia. e.g. "the roof blew off my house". "well move somewhere, get it fixed and then move back in". Next!
Take care and best wishes to you and yours.
BTW you were right about running along the beach at Woolacombe although the second time it looked very wet so I ran up and down to the Watersmeet hotel and back. Not pretty but hey it got the job done.
Beautiful post, beautifully said. There's a lot to be said for keeping that positive vibe. But of course don't beat yourself up when the vibe takes a day off. Love to you both
Best wishes to Petrina for her upcoming Graduation Run and with her half-marathon training. She is a gutsy lady and will do it with your help and friendship lannodatruffe...😊
Tim, good luck to you with your upcoming treatment. You know we will all be thinking about you and wishing you well. Hope your run on Monday is a good one and you Positively will be training for that HM next year.
Sending you a hug (because you are a special guy) and hope will stay active on the forum. 😊 ()xxx
Thank you @Jan-now-runs! I hope that @IannodaTruffe and I will be able to run together again soon, even though his timekeeping leaves something to be desired!
I actually have a slightly different visualisation of my cancer to most. For me it is not an alien invader but an errant bunch of my own cells that need taming............more like an annoying blister.
Beautiful post, Tim, thank you so much for sharing this. I feel deeply moved, and wish you both all the very best on your running journeys, and your road to recovery. Your positive outlook will certainly help you through this and will aid your recovery. Petrina is amazing. x
Thanks, Sadie. I did post about my cancer on here after diagnosis and as you can imagine there was the expected support from this amazing forum. I am lucky to "know" you all and certainly fortunate to know wonderful Petrina.
Best of luck IannodaTruffe, take it one step at a time and listen to your body. I’ve been living with breast cancer for nearly 3 years and only recently taken up c25k so I guess we’re opposite! You having all the running knowledge and me having the cancer knowledge!
Running has been amazing for helping me come out of my recent slump and I can’t ever see me giving up on it now. Enjoy every moment and appreciate the little things xx
It is great to hear that running is helping you cope. I believe that having been running for four years prior to diagnosis, I have given myself the best possible chance of pulling through this all, both physically and mentally.
Hello @dennymac82! I've had this monkey (the disease I mean, not Tim!) on my back for four years now. I know that one day my current treatment will stop working and things will get very dark indeed. But until then, I do my thing as best I can. I only began running this year after I agreed to do a fundraising 1/2 marathon for Breast Cancer Care next March. I've gained weight but lost girth (bonus!)I and I feel good. The added plus is I never expected to make so many friends on the way!
You look great @PetrinaB ! The drugs make me put on weight and feel so so tired. Thought cancer was meant to make u lose weight! 🤔 😂 we gotta keep smiling tho eh? Xx
Gosh, a very thought-provoking post, thank you for sharing this with us. Good luck with your treatment, we will all be thinking of you, wishing you well and hoping for a quick and easy recovery for you. And in the meantime, we'll all be running for you, keeping the streets warm, waiting for your return
My treatment is aimed to be curative, so I am fortunate, although nothing is ever definite. At the current state of knowledge, Petrina is in an ongoing state of living with her cancer, which she does with fierce determination.
Gosh! Thank you, @fishypieface. What a lovely thought. I know that sooner or later my treatment will stop working. For now though, I'll keep on going (in every sense) and try to be there for Tim too!
If you saw my running, you might not be impressed! I hope the wonder of running will be something that you can use to help you clear your mind. Good luck with your graduation run, we'll all be with you in spirit, pushing you on!
Brilliant run both of you, what great support you provide each other and an amazing example of positivity to us all here.
Wow Tim (and Petrina) what a truly inspiring post. We could all use some of your clarity in recognising what is really important and taking the time to appreciate it. I have no doubt that your positivity will do you nothing but good in facing the next challenge and getting to the starting line of your next run. Every time I struggle within that toxic ten minutes you once told me about I'll make sure I keep going and think of you.
Thank you for sharing this part of your life with us. Wishing you and Petrina the best for whatever may lie ahead. You both are so blessed to have a friend that understands the ups and downs of your respective diagnoses and treatments. We'll be patiently waiting to read all about both of your running (and life) journeys over the next year. Best of luck in the next stage of your treatment.
Not only is Petrina a brilliant support, she is also, amongst so many others talents, a pharmacist, so can offer advice and explanations about drug regimes. It is great to have an informal chat with a friend about such things as opposed to the usual white coat exchange.
Very moving post lannoda. One hurdle at a time until you beat this. I have followed your advice and posts for some time now and admire your attitude. I'll be thinking good thoughts for you and of course praying.
Wow, what a truly inspirational post. I’m pleased you were out there doing something you love. My thoughts are with you both. Sending positive vibes and a big hug 🤗
Thank you for such a wonderful post. It had been a pleasure to read about the lovely run that you and Petrina shared today. Running, and indeed any exercise, really does bring out the positive vibes in us. Long may you both continue to run and I wish you both the very best for your future treatments.🏃🏽♀️🏃👟
Running, and indeed this forum, have provided me with so many truly happy moments over the last four years, and hopefully will continue to do so for many years to come.
Ordinary people going through something extra-ordinary, albeit something many people do end up going though, but with the ability and desire to honour us with your wonderful writing and your story. Not everyone would take the role of Mentor, I'm sure, either, so if it's alright I already respected you for that.
I have no doubt that you are in fact only human though - which only makes it more helpful that you can share your story with your fellow ordinary people. Reminds us all that we can be capable of strength and positivity, which doesn't come as easily to everyone. Keep doing what you do x
We all have to deal with shit at times and you just don't know til it hits you how you are going to cope. You can either go under and live in fear and despair or you can get on with enjoying what is left of your life.
I am lost for words ....... I have nothing but admiration and total respect for you both . I am so pleased that through such tough and testing times , your positivity and friendship has provided such a rock for both of you .
In your own words Tim , keep running , keep smiling .
Thank you for sharing this and I'm so sorry that you are going through this. The lovely Petrina sounds amazing. Both of you running your own race at your own pace whatever life throws at you. I'll be thinking of you come Monday.
Beautiful post and well written. You have a great strength and a positive out look and with that you will do well in your journey you are about to start. Hope all goes well for you both and you continue to post to let us know how your doing. Take care best wishes Michele x
This is actually a follow up post to my initial announcement on here of my cancer and so many asked me to keep them posted, that I will do so, as long as I can relate it to running and not just a blow by blow account of my condition.
Thank you ( both) for sharing this with us. You have written a courageous and very moving post. Cyber hugs, prayers and my thoughts winging their way to you both, Iannoda and Petrina.
You both are an inspiration and my thoughts are with you. May the other side of this come quickly and easily. Those HM’s are going to be going to be amazing Rfc x.
Your courage and perspective is touching, powerful, and moving. thank you for sharing what is undoutedly very difficult to share. We are here to support you. And we will be thinking of you with each footfall on our runs.
A very inspiring, moving and positive post all in one! Life is for living and fully appreciating what you have. My thoughts are with you both, you are both amazing and truly what this running journey is about. Hugs to you both xx
Doing C25K was one of the most empowering things that I have done in my life and I am not at all sure that I would be coping with this thing in the way that I am, were it not for this little training plan.
We cycled the Granite Way years ago when the boys were a lot younger - a beautiful route to run and contemplate. Wishing you all the best Tim and sending positive vibes for your treatment.
While it is a good surface, it is a bit crowded and I think I prefer my quiet lanes and tracks.
Fabulous post Tim. Running, lovely scenery and a beautiful friendship; possibly the meaning of life. Wishing you both all the very best; this journey is not straight forward but without pain and sadness, we couldn't know love and joy. So (just as soon as you can) keep running and ummm (how does it go?) KEEP SMILING
I am just about to head out with Mme daTruffe for a gentle 5k on our home turf, across the fields with Dartmoor in the distance. This may be my last run for some time.................but who knows what the future will bring. Fear not, the smile will be in evidence.
Good luck IannodaTruffe and PetrinaB and what a great run!
My father (my un-inspiration for running) is hoping to be enrolled in a study of advanced (ie incurable) prostate cancer and exercise/dietary supplements. But you are not eligible if you are classed as 'very fit' only 'fit' and below so just waiting to see. Certainly managing the fatigue is the biggest challenge for him, being a 'go hard or go home' sort of a person. I have decades of experience with profound, disabling fatigue but have to accept mine comes from a different place to his and we have different attitudes... mine being more like yours. So very loud cheers from here for your lovely, lovely post.
I bang on a lot about a well-rounded approach to 'fitness' here and I see yet more starkly how important that is now. If your life revolves around intense physical activity and you value nothing else in life, you are onto a loser whether you are lucky and end up a centenarian with no significant ailments or you are not. I cannot begin to tell you how I felt when I asked him (knowing that he had metastases but that the news wasn't really going to be quite this grim) "If they tell you you've got a week, would you want to spend it doing spin class every day?" and he didn't say no.
Thanks you for sharing this run with us. Good luck to you both. although I didn't feel up to running when I was having treatment for cancer (too many other things going on ) it certainly has helped since, with regaining physical strength and dealing with the mental/emotional stuff.
I have been fortunate to date to be able to keep running, despite the flagging pace. Having some running aims for post treatment will keep my spirits up. I have decided that I will continue, as much as I can, going out three times a week and just do what I can do. It has to be better than doing nothing.
You and PetrinaB are just so positive it's humbling. All things considered, it sounded like a very special run. And there are so many messages in your post we should all take note and remember them each and every day.
I wish you both well with your treatment and remember IT, you are epic.
Sending you a big hug and a wish for strength to walk by your side (not that I think you need it but too much is always better than too little) 😏 xxx
I am soooooooo humbled and awestruck by your positivity and humour (both excellent weapons) in the midst of your plights.
There may be dragons, but you both are very ready for them?
Today is today, not yesterday and not tomorrow, and you are NOTH living it like that!
One of my friends at Parkrun has met and beat Big C twice in the past 2 years and is the most upbeat individual you could ever meet, but her opponent did remove some bits of her innards both times This week she got the all clear (again) YAY!!!
Great news about your friend. The science is incredible and constantly moving forward, so there is always hope for the future, but you are quite right, we have to live in today.
Plight? The way through is to just accept the situation as your new "normal".
Gosh that is a very moving and inspirational post. Your positivity shines through , and I wish you well for your course of radiotherapy. Thankyou so much for sharing your journey with us .
Hi @ju-ju- I'll be in touch with you soon; I need your help to get me to 10k (and beyond)! I'll look out for your posts on B210K.
25th March 2018 is 1/2 marathon day and the clock is ticking... someone said I was mad to take on that kinda challenge as a complete novice... they don't know me very well! 😉
An inspirational, moving and beautiful post, Tim. I wish you all the very best for the next phase of your treatment, and I wish PetrinaB a most enjoyable graduation run.
I hope you have a great run on Monday, and while you are temporarily benched you can plan your comeback and that HM.
Great read, thank you for taking the time to share. Well done to you both and all the best for your bout of radiotherapy, please keep us informed. Will be thinking of you ..
Thank you for this lovely post. You've helped a lot of people get into and carry on their running journey. It is nice we can help back! Many virtual hugs to you both!
“Sometimes people come into your life for a moment, a day, or a lifetime. It matters not the time they spent with you but how they impacted your life in that time.”
This was something special. Thank you for sharing this with us. I feel honoured to be a part of this group and wish you both the best of whatever the future may hold. May we all be able to adjust our priorities to what is most important in life. To look after ourselves and one another. Take good care both of you.
I have been living for many years, but only recently through running and specifically this group, have I felt really alive. For this I will ever be thankful to you. If I had a hat to tip now, I would, but its 6 am and I’m on the couch
Learning to start speaking Italian is on my list of things to keep me occupied during my time off work. My daughter lived in Sicily for about 3 years recently and will be able to help me with pronunciation. I promised one of her Sicilian friends that when I returned to Sicily, that I would be able to speak a degree of Italian and it is such a beautiful language.
I have always had great experiences in Sicily and am very drawn to Sicilians. Whereabouts did your daughter live?
Learning Italian sounds like a good plan! Pronunciation is quite easy to learn as it has very shallow phonemes - basically it is pronounced letter by letter and the rules have virtually no exceptions. It's just a question of getting used to it. Learning a language is always always a work in progress and not without frustrations, but also immensely satisfying.
Of course when your treatment schedule allows, you'll have to make the odd field trip!
Worthy and important work but not easy... I too collaborate with an institute for migrant health protection. The area around Catania is the part of Sicily I am most familiar with aside from Palermo (and attending a huge wedding there was probably the most memorable gastronomic experience of my life!).
The north of Italy really is a different world. I used to live in Ferrara but ended up marrying a Pugliese...
Wow what an amazingly positive post. I had no run today, my excuse was sorting out family birthdays due in a few days and a few weeks. This is no excuse really and I am inspired by your courage and determination.
Awww what a lovely post. You both are a inspiration and I wish you both the very best with your treatments and the future. To be dealing with such a life changing thing but to be still out there enjoying life, anyone would take motivation from you both.
No matter what life throws at us, we mustn't give up.x
Oh Tom, that just sounds awful. I hope the support here helps, I know it has helped me over the years, and as I've said before, I've never forgotten your replies in my early days. We're all there sitting on the bed with you... hugs xxx
I am feeling good and getting used to the new (temporary) regime of not working. I won't go into the gory details, but everything seems to be progressing as it should and next week the radiotherapy starts, which may or may not be a challenge. People react so differently to it, so it is just another suck it and see situation.
Cancer wards are an incredible mix of stoicism, tragedy and pragmatism leavened with a black, black humour and positive humanity. Certainly not a depressing place and another rich life experience.
Brilliant positive post - just so inspiring - my run tomorrow will be filled with positive thoughts for every one this forum - best wishes to you and hope you’re up on your running feet soon.
I’ve only just seen this, and wanted to say what a great post. Having cancer is such a scary place to be, and I started my running with the help of a personal trainer provided for me by Macmillan when I was fighting off breast cancer last year, as a way of getting some feeling of control over my mutilated body back.
You and Petrina are inspirational, and I wish you all the best with your treatment. It can be gruelling so just hang in there.
I read this a few days ago but have been struggling with what to say. Frankly, you are both incredible. A couple of years ago, after a huge deliberate delay on my part to get a biopsy, I discovered I have a meningioma that is mercifully benign. But the weight of mortality since this time sent me down into a spiral. I can't imagine I would be half as inspirational as you both are (and you truly, truly are). Happy running.
Getting the diagnosis of a potentially fatal illness is a shock, but I think most people do come to terms with their mortality and make the decision to appreciate what remains of life and face it with positivity. We are all mortal and that is the one thing that we all share. I believe accepting that is half the battle, rather than avoiding the inevitable.
You know, I think most folks underestimate their own resilience levels, you included! You’re so young, with so much to look forward to (I just snuck a peak at your bio)! AND you’re looking after yourself by running. Go for it!
Hiya Pops, I just got home and feeling pretty good. Apparently I can expect some bruising sensations in my nether regions over the next few days, but all has gone to plan so far.
Sleepless night in madhouse ward.........I will survive.
I just realised that I did not reply to your last PM. I am sure you will make allowances for me, having been there, my focus has not been at it's best.
Today is the first day of my new temporary regime, having some time off work and hoping to deal with many of the things i don't get round to, mainly because i spend too much time on this forum. It is such a lovely place to be.
This post really touched me and was beautifully written. I’m also an unwilling member of that crap club.
The ‘gift’ cancer has given me is that clarity and appreciation of the little (and big) things in life that you spoke so eloquently about and is why I’m starting this running journey. Reaching the top of a hill, out of breath, tired and looking out into the city of Edinburgh is such a special feeling - I actually shout when I get to the top - scaring the bejesus out of my dogs!
I have stage 4 breast cancer - four years out of treatment.
I hope your radiotherapy isn’t too punishing and I also hope the very best for your dear friend
The support on this forum is absolutely incredible and has been of great help to me. I hope we can do the same for you and that running can give you as much as it has to me.
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This week she got the all clear (again) YAY!!!
Running with friends :-)
Running with child?
Running Without Laura
Rest day... no running.. so reading about running 😂
Running has shown up a medical problem with slinkylinky
