Going Beyond My Limits

A few days ago, I ran down my street with tears in my eyes. Okay fine, I was actually crying. 

But I was crying because this was a very emotional moment and these were happy tears.

As some of you know, I used to be a marathon runner, and the last time I was able to run down my street was in the Fall 2017, when I was training for a marathon. That was before my back injury and before I was diagnosed with Vestibular Neuritis. The only 'running' I've done since then, has been  wiping a runny nose and running a bath.

I'm not sure why I believed that running was no longer an option for me. I think it was in part due to fact I could barely walk straight and the constant dizziness. Both my disorder and my doctor had put physical limitations on me. But I also put limitations on myself.

In May I joined a new Facebook Group called 'Running Dizzy'. It is a group for runners with vestibular disorders. If i'm honest, I never really expected that I would run again, but I still loved all things running and wanted to stay connected to the running community. 

Soon, some members of the group began to set small running goals for themselves. My goal was even simpler than that. I'd become quite sedentary and just wanted to walk a little bit each day.

While out on a walk one evening I actually attempted to run. I was only able to run for about 20 seconds, but to my surprise, I wasn't too dizzy, I didn't fall over and I didn't pass out. 

So, the next time that I went for a walk, I tried running again. This time I was able to run for around 25- 30 seconds. Every time I went for a walk, I would try to do this. Eventually, I was able to sustain my running for about a minute at a time. I run very slowly and always try to centre myself before stopping. Running has become excellent vestibular therapy for me. 

After a few weeks, I was walking less and running more. 

By walking the same route at approximately the same time each day, I could measure my progress. Before long I could see improvement and I was starting to shave minutes off my walk each day. Now, minutes may not seem like a lot, but when you consider that professional athletes train really hard to shave seconds off their finishing time. And at the Olympics, it's often split seconds that is the difference between a podium finish and going home empty handed.  

So, I will keep moving forward, and try to put  less limitations on myself. I'm realizing I can still do some the things I used to enjoy. I just have to do it dizzy!

And the very next time I go for a walk...I will change the exercise setting from walk to 'RUN'!

  

Special thanks to Rhoda Watkins, for 'Running Dizzy'!

What limitations has your vestibular disorder put upon you? How can you try to go beyond your limits?