Running blog by jo taylor

1. What do you love about running and why? 


I love the freedom running gives you to walk out of your home and run. No monthly payments and no ties to times of classes. You can do it whenever you want to suit your life. Getting out in the fresh air, summer, winter, even in the rain can be exhilarating.


2. How long have you been running and how did you discover it?


I started running 6 months after my son was born 11 years ago with my sister in law to help loose the baby weight and was regularly running 8 miles. Stopped when I was pregnant with my daughter, was going to go back running after 4 months but was then diagnosed with primary breast cancer when she was 5 months old so all plans went on hold for a good year.


3  Do you think that having goals for this particular exercise is important and if so why? What goals have you had?


The only goals I have is to try to run 2 or 3 runs a week, usually 5/6 miles a time (I also cycle once a week too) I'm not competitive. I'd love to run a 1/2 or full marathon but it's not a big goal. Knowing I can run every week at the level I run with secondary breast cancer is a huge achievement.  Many cant even do exercise let alone run at the level I run so I know I'm lucky.  I'm on new drugs which give a good remission (I'm currently in remission) but I know things can change with my diagnosis.  I exercise to keep my fitness up in case of these changes so I'm in the best possible physical state to deal with this.


4. Why do you think running is good for people having cancer treatment or for those patients moving forward with life after a diagnosis?


It helps physically and mentally through the treatment. Helps you to loose weight if you have put some on due to chemo and tablets. I blamed the tamoxifen for excess weight. I just needed to up my running, which I did, and it worked. I think diet and exercise is very important for anyone whether they have cancer or not.  It is the only thing that you can control and help yourself with with a diagnosis. It does give people a focus and as I said it doesn't have to cost much.  You have to find what's right for you.


5. What do you think are the disadvantages to running?


Can be hard on the knees and joints especially if you are on drugs for cancer. Easy not to be motivated if you run alone. It's good to join a group or get out with friends. Like any exercise you have to commit yourself and results don't happen overnight but you will run a mile, then two, then three and before you know it able to do a 5K and maybe a 10K! 


6. How important do you think exercise is during cancer treatment generally and why?


Massively important like I said for the reasons of mental and physical wellbeing. Also reports out that it can help to increase the benefits of chemotherapy and I do think that it helps to get the toxins out of your body quicker. Exercise is very important - lots of studies show this in cancer patients.  Macmillan call it a 'wonder drug' and promote it in their 'move it' campaign.