If you’ve done your research, you know that I have Crohn’s disease. I’ve written about it for The Frisky, which was a major step for me, since it’s not a disease that’s talked about too much (mainly because the symptoms are incredibly un-sexy: bloody diarrhea, stomach cramping, you get it…).
Anyway, in late August of this year I experienced a pretty bad flare-up. I was out of work for a while, felt miserable and was put on a high dose of Prednisone, which is a steroid.
At first, being on steroids sucked. I was very restless and couldn’t sleep at all. So I’d be up all night, then exhausted all day. But once I started feeling better and my body got used to the medicine, a pretty cool side effect happened: I had tons of energy.
Soon, I didn’t even need sleep. I was bouncing off the walls and I sort of loved it. I’ve never been more productive than when I’m on steroids (I’ve been treated with them a bunch of times now). The medicine also affected my morning running routine. Instead of settling in at a 9-minute mile pace, I was cruising along at an 8:30 pace. Then, a week later, I broke a personal record by regularly running my 5 miles in 40 minutes: an 8-minute mile pace. I was psyched. But I told myself to remember that it was probably because of the Prednisone.
Now I’ve been off the steroids for about a week and a half and I’m a bit sad to say that, although I feel so much better and am thrilled to be healthy again, it’s been much harder to maintain that 8-minute pace. My regular pace now is closer to 8:30, which I’m still ecstatic about. For an entire year, I never pushed to be faster than a 10-minute mile. To think that I’ve shaved an entire minute and a half off that time makes me smile.
TALK TO ME: I’d love to hear from other runner readers who have Crohn’s disease, or might know someone who does. How does it affect their running?
On tap for today: Getting my booty dressed and heading to the office for a productive day, then hoping to try out a class or two tonight at Crunch. Spinning? Absolution? Hip hop? We’ll see what I’m feeling later on.
Have a great day!
0 Responses
I don’t have Crohn’s disease, but I do have pretty severe IBS. I just started reading your blog, and I love it! I’m 15 and I try to run 2 miles a day and jump rope 15 minutes. I’m no where near your fitness level, but I try. ( : I’m rootin’ for you and I hope your stomach cooperates with you.