Today the training schedule called for a 14 mile “easy” run, mother nature had other plans. Let’s talk about it.
Hello again, my name is still Kourtney and today you will learn a little more about me. The main point that I want people to take away from this blog is that Run Kalamazoo runners train for all scenarios, whether that be an acute or chronic medical condition, or maybe a Michigan blizzard. I mentioned mother nature had other plans, and what I mean by that is despite me wanting to go to Run Camp, I didn’t. It was the best decision I could have made for myself. I’m not feeling well, and the night before 14 miles easy, it snowed again. Thankfully from what I have learned at Run Camp, I was prepared and informed of the conditions and how to train in this kind of weather, but today the weather isn’t my only disadvantage.
On December 23, 2020 I was finally diagnosed with Endometriosis. “Finally” sounds rewarding, but if you know anything about this disease, a diagnosis usually comes after a long, gruesome battle of advocating for yourself and for answers. Finally knowing what was causing me paralyzing pain was my Christmas miracle two days early. Endometriosis is also what kept me home today. When you look up the definition of endometriosis, you will find answers like: chronic condition, pelvic pain, depression or anxiety, nausea, bloating and fatigue. The answers you expect to get when diagnosed with diseases are how to cure the disease, how to prevent the disease from getting worse, how you get the disease, etc. Those answers simply don’t exist for endometriosis. Everyone is different and there is no cure.
On my worst days, endometriosis feels like being stabbed with a knife from the inside out. On my best days, I’m prepared for any of the textbook definition symptoms at any given point. Over the past four years, I’ve learned to slow down and listen to my body to figure out what I need to manage my disease. Sometimes mother nature has other plans, but Run Camp has also taught me to understand my physical limitations, recognize the need for rest, and learn to adapt and adjust. So today, listening to my body was a late night seven mile treadmill walk. See you next week!
Endo Warrior,
Kourtney
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