Well! Where do I start. My old posts seem to have been unearthed recently and after getting a reply from Curlygurly2 I decided I needed to say hi, 3 years later!
So! I hope there are some oldies on here that can remember me! I’m still running. And yes! I have done the Great North Run!!!! Yipeeee!!!
Without boring you all to death, a short version. 2017 my running was going from strength to strength. I had a GNR ballot place. I was training hard. I had lost 4.5 stone!!!! Then bang. I discovered a lump in my breast. Yes. I had breast cancer. Cancel GNR. Devastating.
So 2017 was surgery, chemo, radiotherapy but!!! I kept running! It kept me sane! I still got out there and did what I could! 2018 began. My hair started growing. I got a GNR charity place. I did it. And raised £4,000 for Breast Cancer Care! I was also lucky enough to have my story featured on Look North the week leading up to the run! Totally amazing experience!
My point of this post.... apart from the check your boobs ladies ( and gents, yes you can get it too) just keep running! It seriously is the best thing I have ever done. I really do believe it has saved my life. Without running and losing weight I may never have found the lump until it was too late.
So just keep going peeps. Believe in yourself. Enjoy!
Love from Toonlou24!
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Toonlou24
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Oh what a uplifting post! 😁 Thanks for sharing your experience! It’s amazing how much you’ve been through and just kept on running! You’re amazing! Well done for sticking with it and losing 4.5 stone is outstanding too! Brilliant!! 😁😁❤️
Aaah thank you! Unfortunately the treatment made me gain half of it back and I’m now on hormone meds for 10 years which make it difficult to lose weight but I won’t give up! I will get there! But hey! I’m alive and running!!! 😊 xx
You certainly are! I’m sure you’re fitter and healthier for it too! There’s lots to celebrate! What’s a couple of pounds when you have conquered so much?! There’s many ways to be fabulous and you’ve got that down packed!! Happy IWD Toonlou! 👊🏽❤️
Wow. That’s an amazing story... thanks so much for sharing. Great job getting GNR done and raising money for a very good cause. I went with wine... happy running... cheers 🍷
I am fine thank you.still plodding on, my next HM is May, but I loving my training. We have loads of new runners who will love your enthusiasm, I remember how you used to keep everyone going 😀.
Welcome back and thanks for sharing your story! It is great to read all the positives running can do for the mind, body, and soul. We hope you stick around and join us on the Bridge to 10k and Marathon and Race support forums.
You are very inspiring and such a positive role model thank you lots of love ❤️
Well done for carrying on running through it all. I know how much running can help mentally let alone physically. I guess it certainly helped you! What an amazing read. Also amazing that you raised £4K 👍🙏
Thank you so much for sharing your inspirational story. . As someone who is just beginning the journey, it's stories like these that stick in my mind and keep me going on the long road to weight loss and fitness. What amazing achievements!
Aaah thank you. That’s such a lovely thing to say. It’s amazing how fitness improves and before you know it you can run further and for longer. I will never forget doing c25k and how hard is it at times. But stick at it and before you know it you’ll be running a half!! 😊 xxx
I haven’t seen your posts before as only been on here about a year, but reading about you and your journey has been a wow. Keep going, there is such a lot of support on here, you are an inspirational lady Toonlou.
Thank you! It was such an emotional day. I was gutted when I had to pull out in 2017 so this was my aim. The end of it all. I was in bits crossing the line! My finish line photos are not the best!!!! Xx
Great to hear that you have battled through Toony.
I couldn't agree more with your assertion about keeping running through your treatment. It has made all the difference to me and helps the body and mind cope.
Another name I recognise!!! Thank you. Haven’t been on here for so long I’m presuming you’ve had treatment too? Hope you are well now. Yes running was the best thing for me. One of the first questions to my oncologist was “can I still run?!” Xx
Prostate cancer, nearly two years in, but side effects have been minimal, because of good basic fitness, apart from muscle depletion, which has meant my pace gets slower and slower (could be old age!). Another year of treatment and then hopefully I can build up again, but all going in the right direction.
Oh bless you. Brilliant positive attitude. Yes being fit definitely helped me. I didn’t have many side effects too apart from the obvious ones. I too am much slower than I was but who cares! We are still here and still running. That’s all that matters. I really hope rest of your treatment goes as well. Xx
Toonlou!!! What a fabulous start to my day! I remember you so "hello" 👋
You've certainly been through it but you've nailed it! What a story! A great big well done to you and it's great to see you back here. Are you planning on staying? 🙂
Helllloooo!!! 👋 lovely to hear from you! Yeah had a bit of a dramatic absence didn’t I! Yeah I may stick around for a while! Remembering what a friendly bunch you all were!! Hope you are well too xx
Cooo eeeee Toonie!!!!! Toonie, how marvellous to hear from you and what an inspirational story. Goodness, you look fantastic- so strong and so proud. Congratulations on your GNR and how exciting to be one of the featured runners on the telly. I don't check into the forum as often as I did these days, so I'm delighted I did this morning. What a great joy to catch up on your tale of triumph and success xx
Yoooo hoooo!!! Lovely to hear from you too! Hope you are well and still running too. Thank you for your lovely words. Yes it was a fantastic way to end a horrendous year. If you search on BBC Look North’s FB page it may still be on there if you want a nosey!!! You may need tissues!!! Xxx
I'm fine thanks- still running and loving it after all this time. Did the Cambridge Half last weekend and looking forward to getting out for a run this weekend once the wind drops a bit - 50mph gusts don't make for enjoyable running! I'll get a fresh cup of tea and my tissues, and head on over to fb to check out your story. xx
Hey Toonlou - you did the GNR last year and didn't tell me you were doing it!!! I'm so disappointed If I'd known I would have been looking out for you on the start line. I don't know how I missed you. Next year I'm going to have to search harder...
Are you planning to run it again in 2019? I've got my place booked. If not (or even if you are), you'll have to tell me when you are next in the North East. We'll go and do a parkrun together. I know you have family up here so visit from time to time.
I'm sorry to hear of your health issues, but not surprised to read about the inspiring way that you've risen to the challenge.
I'm still plodding round. I've had one or two issues with my knees and arthritis, but I still run about 3 times a week, do the odd race, and manage to fit in a parkrun most weekends. I'm also helping run C25K courses now for the local Council as well as help set up a new parkrun (things are still hush hush as we haven't got final approval yet, though we do now have the funding, so I'm not saying exactly where yet - it looks promising though).
I hope to see you around. You must let me know if you are doing the GNR again and we'll definitely have to meet before the start.
Hello! Another name I recognise!!! Oh bless you! I was definitely there in the pink wave at the back!!!
I am not running it this year as I’ve just had more surgery and don’t want to put too much pressure on myself. I’m
Also worried after the high of 2018’s this year’s may be a let down. Next year maybe?! I will def do it again though. I loved it. Was amazing. Even got a rainbow at the start!!!
Sounds like you are doing great! I would love to meet to park run with you. New one sounds exciting too!! Don’t come up to the toon that much now but will give you a shout when I do!!!
Lovely to hear from you. Keep up the good work! Xxx
Ok - I might just let you off for 2019 if you've just had surgery, but I definitely expect to see you at GNR for 2020. Put it in the diary now!
I'm told that if you tell them you have a story (even if it's just that the cat ate the hamster - it doesn't have to be relevant...) you seem to have a great deal more success in the ballot. Alternatively just remind them that you're a celebrity (of course you are!) or go for one of the guaranteed places (I forget the smallprint, but it's something like - anyone who has run for the GB team in the past year gets a guaranteed slot in the elite group at the front)
Ha haaa!! I will enter the ballot but I’d do a charity place again as it’s not like the London Marathon where you’ve got to raise thousands!!! A couple of hundred is doable!!! Elite group at the front? Naaa! I like being with the oggy oggy oggy lot!!! Take care and keep running too!! Xx
Ah Toonie! I'm so glad I replied to you now. You know we are pink sisters? I've had it too, lumpectomy, rads, Tamoxifen, I've even got those leggings!
Don't know if you've seen my post, like you I had to pull out of my HM last year, but I've done it this year!!
It's bloomin' hard innit? I'm just getting back on my feet now, like you I kept running but saw my pace go right down. Still, we're still here, still running, so lovely to see you back here again xx
OMG! Curly! I wish I had known this sooner. We could have helped each other through the crap.
I had mastectomy, 8 chemos, 15 rads, and tamoxifen for 5 years at least, possibly 10. I had immediate recon with implant which went wrong so just had it removed. 2 years for my diagnosis this month and feel I have finally finished.
I will go and find your HM post!!! Well done you!!! It’s just the most amazing feeling isn’t it. You must be so proud of yourself. My pace is far slower now but it will build up again I’m sure. I need to shift the weight I put on. Tamoxifen seems to like my hips!!!
So lovely to hear from you pink sister. Keep well and keep running xxx 💕💕💕
Toonlou24 Yes! I wish I'd known sooner, but we know now, so we can help each other. Feel free to PM me if you need/want to. I'm off the tamoxifen now, I put 5-6 kilos straight on my belly, and can't shift it...I did some amazing fundraising for my hospital, I took part in a fashion show, proper cat-walk stuff, I'll send you the videos and stuff if you'd like...
My diagnosis was just before Christmas '17, just feel I'm getting back to normal now.
I’m a year ahead of you then. I was diagnosed March 17 and finished treatment Dec 17. I seem to have settled on the tamoxifen now just put loads of weight on and really struggle to lose it now. Yes we know now! Message me any time too. Would love to see the videos! Sounds amazing. Xxx
Oh toonlou! I remember well your profile pic with those glasses.
Blimey what a time you've had. But come back fighting and strong and with an amazing can do attitude. Sounds like a really tough time but onwards and upwards,well done on the gnr and brilliant fundraising xxx
Sounds like a positive year ahead for you ,I'm full of admiration .
Yes I'm still running, had a bit of a week off this week but have an event tomorrow ,just a local one called the "friendly frolic" doing various routes as much as you like in 5hr's should be different!
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If I'd known I would have been looking out for you on the start line. I don't know how I missed you. Next year I'm going to have to search harder...
I've done it! I've only gone and done it!
Anyone remember me?
Anyone remember me?
Boom 💥💥 finally I’ve done it!! 
12 Months Running and celebrated with a Half Marathon.
