A Runner with RA Gets a Reality Check

After last week's race, I felt like I had conquered rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Finishing that race in a time I haven't seen since before my diagnosis was such a mental boost for me. I reflected on the possibilities. I have been running so well this spring and maybe, just maybe there is the possibility of remission. Maybe there is the possibility of a sub-2 half marathon for me this year. And maybe...well, I'm not even going to go there...

Ok, I'll go there. With Boston on my mind, would a BQ be in my wheelhouse? Of course, that would mean I'd have to run a qualifying marathon. And a marathon is a whole different animal from a 10 mile race or even a speedy half marathon. I know I said I was done with marathons and most likely, I am. But a runner can dream, right? After all, that's what keeps us running.

Silly old lady! The running gods laughed at all this. Inevitably, life and RA slapped me right back into reality.

The evening after the race, I felt a little off. You know that kind of sick feeling you can get when you've pushed yourself really hard? I thought it was kind of odd because it was only a 10 mile race and while I ran faster than I had in a while, it was not blazing fast and I sure didn't feel like I overdid it. I was well trained for that pace, my heart rate was within a good range, and I'd been feeling good throughout the race.

On Sunday, I had hoped for a shakeout run, but still feeling fatigued and "off". I dusted off my bike and took it out for an easy ride on the trails. It was a beautiful morning and I was really happy to have this option for recovery. I rode 16 miles with no pain in any of my joints. Still feeling overall kind of funky, I did some yoga and took it easy the rest of the day.

With early work days both Monday and Tuesday, I decided not to run those days and let my body recover. I was incredibly fatigued and I started to worry that this was more than post-race fatigue. On Wednesday, I went for a 6 mile run. This run was not at all the easy-paced, recovery run I had hoped for. My effort felt off the charts and with 3 days of recovery prior to this run, that really concerned me. For the rest of the day, I felt achy, like I had contracted the flu.

For this run, I even wore the race shirt for good luck.

Did I awaken that sleeping giant? You know, the one whose initials are R and A?

I'm afraid so. I woke up very early Thursday morning with pain in every large joint. My ankles, my knees, my hips, my elbows, and even my shoulders were throbbing. Ibuprofen did nothing. I was miserable. I canceled CrossFit. I made a superfood, anti-inflammatory smoothie. I took all my supplements.

I started steroids. That's how bad I was feeling. There was no running. There was no anything. I spent the day on the couch. I worked on the upcoming week's blog posts. I reflected on my situation. It wasn't time to panic. I hoped that I intervened quickly enough to stop the flare.

Friday was a full day of work, so I waited until Saturday to put my body to the test. I woke up early and thanks to the steroids and couple cups of coffee, I was a bundle of energy. But when I started out on my 4 mile run, once again, I felt the effort. I looked down at my watch and said "Whoa Nellie!". I was running faster than I should have been and reined in my pace. But by mile 3, I had to take a walk break and when my Garmin hit 4 miles, I was done. Toast. Called it a run and walked the rest of the way home.

I reflected on what happened. Yesterday, I read an article on Runner's World about training and it said that "easy runs should make up the majority of the workouts". I know this. Doh! I know this. I kicked myself for going out too fast. I vowed to run slower on Sunday, even if it meant going back to run/walk intervals. And I let it go. Tomorrow will be a better day, I vowed.

My actual mantra for Sunday's run

My running buddy Steph is back to running and earlier this week, we made plans to run together. Not wanting to hold her back, I begged off. I headed out this morning full of resolve to leave my ego at home. If I want to run long distances, I have to be prepared to have to adapt. I brought back the run/walk intervals, using 9:1 intervals and I ran 8 miles at a 9:11 pace. The pace felt moderately easy, I felt good, and as I write this I still feel good.

I needed today's run to sort out where I'm at and where I need to go from here. I thought that I was past this. I thought that I had my disease under control. I thought I was finally going back to running the way I know I can. What I realized this week--and this disease keeps teaching me things--that I can't control this disease.

What I can do is not let RA control me.

Do you push yourself to be your best no matter what? Do you have limitations that make you hold back? 

Congratulations to Holly on her half marathon PR this weekend!!!!! Way to go! Sub-2 hours, baby!

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