I had about 9 hours of solid sleep. I woke up with lingering pain in my shoulders and tired legs. I knew I had to get up and get moving. I stretched and started walking outside. After about 8 minutes of walking, I started running really easy, I felt some discomfort in my hips and left quads, but I figured that's natural for someone who hasn't ran in over a week.
I warmed up for about 15 minutes with a light run. Then, I just kept doing run/walk intervals of 4 mins/1.5 mins for about 2 miles. The discomfort did subside over time, but I have to admit not to a point I'd liked it to be. But I felt comforted by the relief, no matter how small it was. I knew that there was no way I could run over 5 miles without feeling pain later, so I slowed down on the way back and walked fast to stretch my hips and monitor my pain. My mind was still running wild, one minute positive and another minute negative and gloomy. I was worrying about my ability to do a half marathon in 3 weeks. I was feeling antisocial and worrying about a dinner commitment i made for tonight. I was at times telling myself I will have a great day. I was at times telling myself my life was over - my head was very very unstable! These mind tricks could fool us to making us believing that we are worthless and our lives are pathetic. But I know even this mind battle is part of the process. Whenever my mind plays tricks on me, I have to focus on the positive. I know those negative thoughts are not real, and they are driven by lower serotonin levels, especially on high-pain days. When my body is about to feel better, my mind struggles even more before it gets back to its positive state...brain chemistry runs the gamut.
I'm going in to the office today for about 5 hours to get a lot of work done, which stresses me out, but I will just push through and get it done.
Tomorrow I will attempt to get up early and do a real run, since I managed to warm up today from a week long streak of pain and fatigue.
I can turn this around. Even when I think i can't, I know i just have to.
Crossing the Finish Line - my first Half Ironman!
No matter how much pain you're in, you always smile at the Finish Line!
Running Against The Pain
Representing Patientslikeme.com (see visor) and LA Tri Club!
About Me
- Minnie S. Lee
- San Francisco, California, United States
- I have made it my life-long commitment to beat Fibromyalgia by training for endurance races. Once bed-ridden most of the time, now I am a "triathlete," while i'm still fighting my illness! Find out how and remember - IF I CAN DO IT, YOU CAN DO MORE!
2 comments:
Hi Minnie,
It's great that you are able to run and exercise. You may want to investigate the guaifenesin treatment protocol for fibromyalgia. Our office has had much success with this treatment, and we are close by in Torrance. Please go to our website: www.thenaturaldoc.com to learn more.
Regards,
Dr. Tarcha
Hi Minnie,
I have just found this blog and like you I have fibro and I am trying to learn how to run. I have my first 5K in 2 weeks. I am very nervous about it. I can not run more than a mile without walking. It is so hard to get through the pain in my legs and hips. I have been reading that strenching is very important and I need to bring that into my training.
I am training with my friends from work but they do not have the same challenges that we do. There are time I resent them for the ease as which they run. I want to do this run so badly.
Having someone to communicate with that is experiencing the same things as me would be great.
Positive thoughts for a pain free day.
Karyn
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