Don't Give In to The Wall

If you're a distance runner, then you know what "hitting the wall" is all about. Usually it's around
mile 20 in a marathon. Most of the time it's due to improper fueling, hydration, or both. Sometimes, it's due to going out too fast too soon. And sometimes, it just happens with no explanation.

There are other walls we encounter that don't involve marathons. Walls we can't control. Right now, Covid-19 is a huge wall for everyone affecting our daily lives. For runners, it means no group runs, social distancing when we do run with others. For many, it's meant canceled races for which they've spent months training. Sickness and injury are similar walls out of our control.

Then there are self-imposed walls that keep us from achieving our goals. One of the biggest self-imposed walls is lack of confidence. We are often our own worst enemy. Something I often hear early on in marathon training is, "I can't run 26.2 miles." My response usually is, "You're right. Right at this moment, you can't run a marathon. But if you follow the training and take it one day at a time, and believe in yourself, you can run a marathon." We often look at the end result and get overwhelmed. A runner has months to prepare for those 26.2 miles. Will it be hard? Yes. Will it be challenging? Yes. Will there be bumps along the way? Yes. But you can do it.

For most individuals it's pretty common for self-doubt to creep in when they dip their toes into the unknown. The initial response for many is, "I Can't!" But here's the thing. You can. You have to just flick-it! Flick that self doubt to the curb! Don't give into the Wall. Easier said than done, right?

A big step in achieving this is clearing your mind of "Can't." Just remove it from your vocabulary. Next step is to be "Real." It's going to be hard. Marathon training is one of the hardest things you'll ever do. But it will also be one of the most rewarding and life-changing things you'll do! Training for a marathon causes you to dig deep and find a you that you may never even knew existed. Once you find this new you, you'll be amazed how much you pull on the new you in other areas of your life.

If you follow my Instagram or Facebook page, you're probably aware that I've been dealing with an Achilles and Hamstring issue in my right leg. Because of the stay-at-home order, I've been able to get more rest and focus on my running. I've been doing 5-6 miles with 7 being my longest run of recent. I've been dealing with these issues since the end of August, so this is major progress. 

On today's run, I felt good. My goal was 6 miles. During the 3rd mile, my brain kept telling me, "When you reach 4 miles, you can stop, rest and stretch." I quickly recognized this as a self-imposed WALL.  At mile 4, I said, "No!" and kept going. But my brain kicked in again at mile 5, telling me to stop, rest, and stretch. I did not SUCCUMB to the WALL! I did the full 6 miles. That may not sound like a big deal, but I needed to show my brain and my body, that 6 miles is good with no stopping, and it was. Clear your mind of Can't!

Another self-imposed wall is the "I'll do it later syndrome." For many, they'll grab the first excuse that pops up as a means of putting off what we know may be difficult. Whether, it's too cold, too hot, raining, work, family, whatever, don't let excuses be your wall. Yes, there will be times, when you can't get in a run, that's life. But, if you schedule your workouts and make them a part of your daily/weekly routine, then you're much less likely to shove them aside. Schedule your workouts into your calendar just like you would a meeting and treat them with the same importance. Consistency is huge and often the key to successful running.

Walls don't just occur in marathon training. They occur in beginning running, training for a 5K, 10K, Half marathon. They occur in our everyday non-running life with that new job, new friend, new baby, job loss, financial issues, and more. Running is often a metaphor for life and rules for how to best succeed in running can be applied to everyday life events too. Running is so much more than running.

The next few weeks may be scary. Most stay-at-home orders allow for daily outside exercise with proper social distancing. So, unless the orders in your area restrict you to staying completely at home, get out and get in the daily walk or run. Not only will you not succumb to the Wall, you'll relieve a lot of stress too. 

Trust. Believe. Conquer!

Benefits of Morning Running

Fellow runner and blogger (Runners Blueprint), David Dack contacted me about sharing a post on the benefits of morning running. Some good stuff here. Check it out!

The Morning Run

There’s a long list of good reasons for running first in the morning. You’ll kick off the day doing something healthy. You’ll have more energy throughout the day. You’ll be more consistent.

I could go on and on, but by now you should be familiar with some of the perks of catching a run when the rest of the world is still asleep.

Want to make your morning workouts work out for you?

Here are my best tips and practical steps to make the morning exercise part and parcel of your life.

Sound great? Let’s get started.

The Benefits Of Morning Workouts

Before we get into the strategies you need to make morning exercise a reality, let’s first look at some of the benefits you’ll enjoy by doing so.

• Increase productivity. Pounding the pavement first thing in the morning will help you feel uplifted and energized for the rest of the day. This, in turn, can do wonders for your productivity and the way you deal with everything else in your life.
• Be more consistent. Heading out for a run when the rest of the world is still asleep makes it more likely to stick to your routine since you got fewer things and obligations to worry about first thing in the morning — no more interference from a demanding job or making lunch for hungry kids.
• Good for weight loss. Are you looking to shed the pounds? Running in a fasted state may help. Research shows that not only working out before breakfast burns a lot of fat but it also revs up your metabolism for the rest of the day, resulting in a higher calorie burn, even at rest.
• Improve your mood. Running triggers the release of feel-good hormones, such as endorphins, which can enhance your mood and help kick the day off on a positive note. Running also lowers stress like nothing else, keeping it at bay for the remainder of the day.
• Less traffic. If you live in an urban area, this will come in handy. Braving the roads before everyone commutes to work means fresher air and less pollution during your run. Just remember to stay visible to oncoming vehicles.
• Faster races. Since the majority of race events take place in the morning, pounding the pavements at that time helps you simulate real race conditions, thus, makes it more likely for you to achieve peak performance on the big day.

Strategies:

Get Enough Sleep. Not only will you feel energized after a good night of sleep, you’ll also find it easier to get going when the alarm goes off.

Instead of binge-watching some stupid show or scrolling through Instagram before bed, avoid all electronics an hour before bed. Using such a device before going to bed negatively affects your sleep quality.

As a rule, shoot for at least eight to nine hours of non-interrupted sleep during the nighttime. Sure, there’s no such thing as the magical number that works for everyone, but that range is the recommended baseline for optimal sleep.

Prepare in Advance. Build the habit of preparing everything you need for your morning runs the night before. This helps you avoid the struggle of finding everything when you’re half asleep.

You don’t have to think about what gear to use when you’re half asleep, having all of your essentials ready to go makes it easier to be be out of the door running without having to waste precious time nervously looking around for your gear.

Trying to get ready for your morning workout within the short window you have means that you already have lost the battle. You’re more likely to forget something you need in the fog of waking up.

What will more likely happen is, you’ll roll back over and revert to your pillow instead of workout gear.

Things to prepare include: 

Your...

• Phone
• Music playlist
• Water bottle
• Pre-run snack
• Running clothes
• Running shoes
• Running buds
• Running socks

In other words, everything you need for your workout. This is what’s going to help you set your environment for success. The rest is just details.

Have A Hearty breakfast. Eating breakfast is a fantastic way to give you the energy boost you need, especially if you’re depleted of energy first thing in the morning.

That’s why I highly urge you to eat something light before you head out. A small bite will ensure that you have enough fuel in the tank to keep going, especially if you’re about to run for an extended period and/or are not used to exercising on an empty stomach.

Remember to plan out your pre-workout and healthy breakfast before going to bed. 

Some of my favorite options include:

• Banana
• Dried fruits
• Two hard-boiled eggs
• Toast and peanut butter
• An energy bar.

Stick To Your Schedule. Commit to a specific time of the week—typically a Sunday—and jot down when and how you plan to carry out your exercise routine.

Doing this makes you more likely that you don’t let life get in the way of your runs, and eventually help ingrain the exercise habit for life.

Once you decide on a schedule, cast in in-store and stick to it. Never deviate. Treat your sessions the same way you’d a work meeting or doctor’s appointment.

Make sure your workout routine is the priority—maybe as urgent as or more so than going to work in the morning or participating in family events — the more urgent, the better.

There you have it! 

The above guidelines are all you need to turn your running habit into a part of your morning routine. Now it’s up to you to put into action what you have just learned. The rest is just details, as the saying goes.

Please feel free to leave your comments and questions in the section below. I can’t wait to hear from you.

In the meantime, thank you for dropping by.

About the author:

David Dack

David Dack is an established fitness blogger and running expert. When he’s not training for his next marathon, he’s doing research and trying to help as many people as possible to share his fitness philosophy. Check his blog Runners Blueprint for more info.

RunnerDude Full-Body At-Home Workout #1

With most gyms and fitness studios closed due to Covid-19, getting in you weekly workouts can be a challenge. Below is a full-body workout that takes a little over 40 mins. The workout includes lower-body, upper-body, and core exercises.

The workout is a modified Tabata format. There are 9 rounds. Each round has 6 cycles of 30 sec work/10 sec rest. After all 6 cycles are complete, you get 1-min of rest before moving to the next round of 6 cycles. Each round either has one exercise for which cycle cycle you switch sides (i.e. lunges on your left side, then lunges on your right side), or there are two different exercises that you'll rotate between for the 6 cycles.

I know you may have limited equipment at home, so the workout uses only a light-medium set of dumbbells. If you don't have dumbbells, try holding canned vegetables, or half or full-gallon just filled with water. You could also hold books or hold light ankle weights. I you don't have any weights or alternative weights, you can still do the movements without weights. 

Give it a try and let me know what you think. 

RunnerDude's Full-Body Workout #1

All you need is a mat and a light to medium pair of dumbbells (or soup cans will do!)

The Right Clothes

A few weeks ago porfessional decathlete and Olympic 2021 hopeful, Chris Helwick reached out to see if he couple provide me with a guest post for RunnerDude's Blog. My reply? "Sure!" Chris writes a blog about his experiences in athletics, and it can all be found on his website ChrisHelwick.com. Below is his post on "The Right Clothes—for better habits, mindset, and performances."
To check out some of RunnerDude's interviews with various Olympians and other great runners click here.

The Right Clothes

— for better habits, mindsets, and performances

My high school soccer team always had the best-looking uniforms. It wasn’t that we had a particularly large budget for such things; rather, it was that my coach had a firm belief that the way our team dressed, both in practice and in competition, had a significant impact on how we performed. His motto was simple:

“When you look good, you feel good”

Most people recognize that the way they dress — no matter their style — sends a message to the outside world about who they are and what they’re all about. But what isn’t as obvious, or well-understood, is how our clothing shapes the opinions and beliefs we have about ourselves.

See, my coach didn’t care what the other team thought about our uniforms, he cared what we thought about them. Or more accurately, he cared what we thought about ourselves when we put them on. His motto — when you look good, you feel good — was all about instilling confidence and belief, knowing that such qualities were the cornerstones of high performance.

High Performance Starts with Better Habits

“We are what we repeatedly do; therefore, excellence is not an act but a habit.” Aristotle

If Aristotle were with us today, he’d probably say something we’ve all heard many times before — If you want to perform at a higher level, you have to train at a higher level.

To become a better athlete, or to achieve the next goal you’ve set for yourself, you must be consistent in your training. No one heroic workout is going to advance your abilities in any meaningful way. So how do you become the type of athlete who has better habits?

The Connection Between Our Clothes and Our Habits

Wearing the right clothes can be an excellent primer for creating better habits. For one, your clothes are highly visual and always right in front of you. That influence is abundant and inescapable — so whatever message you happen to be sending to yourself with your clothes, remember that you’re getting a constant dose of it all day long.

Second, clothes serve as a form of self-expression and are linked to our identities. They are the costumes of real life. In the same way that a good, convincing costume helps an actor get into character, we can use our own clothes to prime ourselves to think and feel like the athlete’s we wish to become. We can literally shape our identities with the clothes we choose to wear.

James Clear, a renowned expert on habits, explains that forming better habits is largely

about changing one’s sense of identity. When we change our beliefs about who we are, we naturally find it easier to change our behavior in a way that aligns with those beliefs. For example, if someone in the habit of staying up late can learn to identify with a statement like — I’m the type of person who goes to bed at 10pm — it will be much easier to change the habit of staying up late. On the other hand, if that same person identifies with a statement like — I’m such a night owl. I hardly ever fall asleep before midnight — then it will be difficult to make any lasting changes to bedtime.

Granted, retooling your athletic wardrobe is not going to turn you into Rocky Balboa overnight. There is always hard work to be done in building better habits and bettering one’s performances. But important insights can be gained from understanding how your clothes impact your sense of self and your duly taken actions.

According to one study from the Journal of SocialPsychological and Personality Science, participants scored much higher in creative and organizational tasks when wearing formal attire opposed to casual attire. The participants wearing formal attire also reported feeling more confident and focused during these tests, indicating their clothes had a significant impact on both their belief in their ability to perform well and their actual performance.

The Right Clothes — Not Necessarily the Most Popular Clothes

The right clothes for you, the ones that make you feel like the athlete you’d ideally like to be, day-in and day-out, aren’t necessarily going to be the most fashionable or luxurious options. They certainly might be — but wearing a set of clothes merely because they’re popular isn’t going to make you feel the way you want to feel. So forget about how your outfit appears to others, and think about how it is impacting your self-image instead.

At the same time, don’t just assume that all of the well-worn clothes in your closet are working against you. Any older garments that you have a positive association with can be extremely valuable. If the tattered and frayed race t-shirt you got six years ago reminds you of the time that, in the face of persistent pain, you charged the last 5k of your half-marathon without ever slowing down — then that old t-shirt is the one for you. Just be careful that the “classics” in your closet aren’t holding you back. While some older clothes have the power to lift you up in ways no others can, some have the potential to lead you back around to a former, worn-out state of mind.

Clothes are an Investment

The most common objection to investing further into one’s wardrobe is — I already have plenty of workout clothes. I really shouldn’t be buying any more.

I get it. You probably feel like you have too many clothes in general. Most people do. Plus many of those clothes are probably perfectly adequate in terms of function.

But in the same way that you invest your time and energy into your sport or activity, it's equally as valid to invest your money into a mindfully constructed wardrobe.

Ask yourself this — How are my clothes affecting the way I see myself as an athlete?

Along with keeping you warm, dry, and protected from the sun, shouldn’t your clothes be helping you feel strong, confident, and determined, too?

How to Get Started

First, give the following questions a generous ponder:

What’s the image of my ideal athletic self?

What habits do I need to form in order to become the athlete I ultimately want to be?

Then come up with 3-4 descriptive words that capture the essence of your answers. As a professional decathlete and pole vault coach, I spend about 4-5 hours each day training, coaching, and writing workouts. To do all of it well (or even decently), I must be able to think in both a long-term and short-term way.

When it’s time to train, I have to narrow my focus and be completely in the moment. When it’s time to write workouts, I have to envision a long-term plan and act strategically. One of my biggest day-to-day challenges is letting go of the long-term, strategic thinking when it’s time to be in the moment of a workout. With that in mind, I’ve landed on the following descriptors that, for me, embody the type of mentally agile athlete-coach I want to be day-in and day-out:

Present

Persistent

Thorough

Objective

Your descriptors may be completely different. In fact, I’m sure they will be! So here are some more descriptive words that many athletes, regardless of sport or skill-level, might use:

Patient

Grateful

Joyful

Supportive

Encouraging

Healthy

Driven

Strong

Determined

Prepared

Tactful

Fearless

Trusting

Once you have a sense of how you want to feel in your clothes, donate each of the items in your closet that fall short of getting you to that place. Then start filling in the gaps with carefully considered pieces that will anchor your thoughts to your chosen descriptors.

Now is the perfect time to make a change like this. It’s the perfect time to pause and reflect on how your athletic wardrobe has been holding you back or lifting you up for the past few months or years. It’s the perfect time to put words to the type of athlete you ultimately like to become. And in a few weeks (God willing), when retail stores all across the country reopen their doors and hold massive sales to jump-start their businesses, it will be the perfect time to find some great deals on the clothes that are going to help you work towards better habits, mindsets, and performances.

RunTheBoro: A Field Trip for Runners

One of my runners, Rochelle Cook, described the annual Greensboro running event RunTheBoro as "a field trip for runners." It's ironic that the birth of RunTheBoro actually started with a field trip. One day back in April of 2016 (actually it was April Fool's Day), I found myself with a free half day (which is extremely rare). So I took a field trip to Raleigh to a check out a running store I had heard about, Runologie. They had some great T-shirts. One shirt that caught my eye had "Greenway City" printed on the front.  Raleigh has one of the best greenway systems in the country with over 117 miles. The Greenway City shirt was celebrating that awesome network of greenway. Greensboro also has an awesome network of greenways and trails, over 90 miles!

That trip got me thinking that we (Greensboro) needed a shirt to celebrate our great running city. Not just the greenways, but the whole city. There are lots of awesome neighborhoods, including the downtown area, in addition to our vast network of greenways that are great for running. So, when I got back home, I started designing a graphic for the shirts. I used a photograph I had taken of the skyline of Greensboro to help me create a silhouette of the skyline. While working on the graphic, the phrase "Run The Boro" came to mind and it stuck and I added that phrase to the shilhouette.

It's funny how things evolve. Initially, I thought I'd sell the t-shirts and use part of the proceeds to help fund the Greenway Water Fund. In 2012, RunnerDude's Fitness began putting water coolers out in four spots on the Atlantic & Yadkin Greenway each Saturday. We put out about 10,000 bottles of water and Gatorade each year. We recycle all the bottles that are placed in the recycle bags with each cooler. The shirts seemed like a great way to celebrate Greensboro's awesome  running community and help continue the weekly water cooler service on the greenway.

During the process of getting the T-shirts printed, I had the epiphany for a series of runs during May and June getting runners into these cool areas of our city. What better name to call the series than RunTheBoro! I wanted the runs to be free and the shirts would be optional to buy. Two separate ideas that serve the same purpose...bringing runners together and exploring our great city. Idea conceived on April 1st. Shirts printed on April 20th. Runs announced on April 27. First run on May 7th. Quite the whirlwind.

That first run was just one run distance of 7 miles. We explored the Kirkwood, Latham Park, and Old Irving Park neighborhoods. I thought mainly my runners would show for that first run, possibly 30-40 runners, but we had over 75! Each week the numbers grew and we averaged about 110 runners for each run. After that first run, I began offering 2 distances, a 4-5 mile and an 8-10 mile route. This helped increase walker participation. For the last run of 2016's RunTheBoro, we had about 175 runners participate. Overall, for the event, we had over 300 total participants. It was awesome.

RunTheBoro 2017 saw even more growth. We averaged about 120-130 runners for each run and had over 400 total participants. The RunTheBoro newsletter was added as well as some special theme runs like the "Monument Run" and the "City of Murals Run." We had about 400 total participants for RunTheBoro 2017.

RunTheBoro 2018 surpassed my wildest dreams! We averaged 275 runners for each run and had over 600 total participants! Run #9 (the last Saturday run of RunTheBoro 2018) had over 330 runners! It was amazing!

Then in 2019 we grew even more! In 2019 we averaged 350 runners per run with the largest run attendance being 400! RunTheBoro 2019 drew in over 700 unique runners and walkers! The walking group really grew tremendously averaging around 70 each week! 

RunTheBoro 2020 will continue the newsletter, theme-based runs (there are several new murals to add to this year's City of Murals run!) and returning title sponsor Volvo Financial in conjunction with RunnerDude's Fitness will be providing a brand new pint glass this year for those runners that participate in 5 or more Saturday RunTheBoro runs! WeeDoggie!

My dream of bringing the running community together, exploring our city and celebrating our city is happening and growing each year thanks to your support. The Triad's running community rocks!

Hope you'll join us for RunTheBoro 2020 with the first run/walk starting on May 2nd. For more information on RunTheBoro 2020, click here.

Be sure to check out our sponsors:

Volvo Financial Services

Cone Health

Got Your Floored

Greensboro Physical Therapy

Omega Sports

Atlantic Webworks

Bank of Oak Ridge

Royal Homes 

Forbis & Dick

Crest Leather

REI

Junction 311

Take Control at Any Age

The first time I had "Mary" do quick steps on the agility ladder, she got so frustrated that she couldn't make her feet do what she wanted to. I told her, "That's why we're doing these drills to help you get better mind muscle control." Second round of quick steps on the agility ladder in the same workout, she went so fast she almost lost control. When she finished she had the biggest smile on her face and said, I can't believe I just did that!" 

Mary who is 70, came to me not too long ago inquiring about fitness training. She shared with me that she had had breast cancer and had had a mastectomy. She said she wanted to do whatever to make herself as strong as possible. We decided on one-on-one training sessions, two times a week.

During our first workout, I asked Mary to get down on a mat on the floor for one of the exercises. She looked at me and said, "I have to get on the floor?" I replied, "Yes."  Then she said, "One of my biggest fears is falling and not being able to get up." I said, "That's exactly why we need to get on the floor. Getting up and down is part of the workout." 

After completing the exercise, I could see the difficulty, Mary had in getting up and a big part of it was not being confident in her ability to get up. So, I showed her how to bend her knee with her foot out front and how to distribute her weight so she'd have better balance when standing up. She did it perfectly and that same smile that I saw when she conquered the agility ladder appeared. 

At the first workout of her second week, Mary told me that she almost didn't come. She said she felt weak and a little lightheaded after the last workout and she almost talked herself out of coming back. But she came and we talked about it being normal to experience a fitness dip when adding new intensities to the body and about the importance of properly fueling and hydrating before and after a workout.

Mary's learned that lack of balance and muscle weakness doesn't entirely happen because of age, it has more to do with inactivity. We've worked on full-body strength as well as working lateral muscles such as her hip abductors to increase balance and that ladder to increase mind muscle control.  Mary is now doing dumbbell step-ups on a 16" step. Every time I increase the number of reps for an exercise or the weight for an exercise, she'll look at me to make sure she heard correctly and then she'll smile before doing the exercise.

Mary continues to conquer the ladder, get up and down with ease and is even starting to run. Even with cancer, Mary is taking control of her life. She's a true inspiration. 

Fitness Keeps Me Well and Sane

Present Day-54yrs Old

I know it's not a cure-all, but I truly believe that fitness and good eating habits go a long way in
ensuring good health, physically and mentally. Recently, I've been dealing with an Achilles issue that's kept me from running. So glad to have the fitness classes I lead to keep me challenged and motivated while out from running. My early morning boot camps at the studio and two corporate tabata group fitness classes I lead at the Volvo Group North America Headquarters keep me fit and focused. I'm probably about 20 years older than many of the participants in these groups and this grandpa is making them huff and puff and sweat hard...me too! It's been so awesome to see members of these groups get stronger and more confident.

Even in my 20s and 30's I was always in pretty good health, but I realized the true importance of good health about 19 years ago. By 2001, I had run numerous 5K and 10K races and had already completed two full marathons. Then in 2001 when at my 3rd marathon (Chicago), I got sick (as in the night before the race sick). I could not stop using the bathroom. I ended up flying back home and not running the following day. I was depressed and sick as a dog. I went to my family doc and he just thought I had acid reflux. Acid reflux!! My mom had ulcerative colitis and my symptoms seemed awfully similar to her's. I shared my family history with my doc, but he didn't seem to take it seriously. It got so bad, I requested to see another doctor in the practice, and she did a test in the office and immediately said, she thought I had ulcerative colitis. She sent me to a gastroenterologist to confirm her diagnosis. I did indeed have Ulcerative Colitis. UC is one of two Inflammatory Bowl Diseases. The other is Chron's. UC affects the large intestine. Chron's can affect any part of the digestive tract.

Me (38yrs old) at the 2003
Country Music Marathon

It was a rough few moths following the diagnosis. Tried several different medications. Some blew me up like a balloon. Others seemed not to have much effect at all. In 2002 I began having severe pain and they were not sure what was causing it. I ended up in the ER. They sent me home with strong pain meds, but I ended up back in the hospital soon after. Probably too much info, but they discovered I had a fissure in my rectum. I had to have surgery to remove it and kind of reconstruct things. It was a pretty long recovery, but I did well.

I realized in recovery that I needed a goal to keep me from wallowing in my situation and to help me focus on getting better. So, what else would you do....decide to train for a marathon, right? (Keep in mind this was well before RunnerDude). My surgery was in early summer of 2002. Later that summer I began walking to get my strength back. Then slowly added in running. That fall, I focused on getting my strength, stamina, and endurance back. That December, I began training for the 2003 Country Music Marathon in Nashville. I completed the race in 4:10:00 and felt strong. It felt great to accomplish that goal. From then on I ran about one marathon each year for several years in a row.  During this time, working with my doctor, I found a medicine (Colozal) that really worked for me. It worked kind of like a topical medication. I had to take like 6-8 huge capsules a day. They were time-released and would open when they reached the large intestine and coat the walls of the intestine which helped reduce and stop inflammation an ulcers in the large intestine.

In December of 2005, I had a stress fracture in my heel that put me out of running for 4 months. Instead of going stir crazy, I decided to join a gym (remember this was pre-RunnerDude). It was this initial gym membership that I really began to learn the importance of full-body fitness. I also began to pay more attention to my diet and eating healthier. By the fall of 2007 I had set my PRs in the 5K (19:58), Half Marathon (1:30:42) and Marathon (3:42:00). That marathon was Chicago. I had to return and conquer it. 2007 was the year of the big heat wave at Chicago. They actually closed the race at 4hrs. Because of my time, I made it to the finish, but with heat exhaustion. I was on cue to qualify for Boston at mile 18, then the wheels fell off. I was severely dehydrated. But a PR was a PR and that race was really more about redemption for having to miss the race back in 2001.

Around 2008 -2009, my gastroenterologist shared how pleased he was with my progress in managing my UC. I had not had a flare-up in a long while. He thought it was time to wean off the medicine. I did. It's now 2019 and I've not been on medicine for UC since. I've completed 15 marathons, 1 ultra marathon and too many 5Ks, 10Ks, and half marathons to count.  I contribute my remission to my focus on exercise and healthy eating. Yes, I still eat crap sometimes, but in general I'm pretty good about what I put in my body. I'm not quite a vegetarian, but I eat very little meat. When I do, it's lean turkey, chicken, or fish. I eat lots of fiber from fruits, veggies, and whole grains. I'm probably 95% bread. LOL!  I'm a big believer in moderation and accountability when it comes to eating and exercise.  Today, occasionally, I'll have a mild UC flare-up, but nothing like in the early 2000's and today's flares seem to be more stress related. Hence the need for the mental and stress-relief benefits of fitness.

So, if you're not running or working out, give it a try. It will greatly improve your quality of life. I'm a testament to that for sure.