Welcome to my world!

I sat next to one of my cousins at Christmas dinner last year. We hardly see each other except at holidays (that’s what they’re for, right?) and I only vaguely know what he’s up to, but he’s always up to something good. This past year for him, it was triathlons. We started talking about them—I’ve always wanted to do one, but haven’t because I’ve been struggling with chronic illness due to a series of tickborne infections (Lyme, Bartonella, Babesia, Errhlichea, if you really want to know) which I’ll refer to as Lyme, Ect. going forward. Training was never an option, I was so tired all the time. I was an athlete, I am athletic but Lyme, Ect. had me on my ass.

This past year has been incredible. I have ventured way out of traditional American medicine and into a variety of alternative care and have made leaps and bounds in health gains. So when my cousin suggested that I do a sprint triathlon with him in May, I said sure, with more desire than conviction that I could train that consistently again.

I went on my first run this week. It was excruciating. I am humbled. I live in a really hilly area and set out on a 2.5 mile loop around my house. I barely made it up the first hill. I walked more than ran. My breath grated. My quads shook. It wasn’t fun but I felt fantastic after I finished.

I took a nap (really?! I’m so out of shape that I need a nap after 2.5 miles?).
I went out again two days later. And again, two days after that. It’s painful but so rewarding to see the little increments of progress and I feel so good when I’m done.

I am really loving this and I’ve decided to start blogging about training with a chronic illness and about all the alternative health care that I use to stay well. Expect to read personal updates, rants and raves about training, interviews with health practitioners whom I hold in high regard and tips to staying injury-free while training.