I’ve Tackled Triathlons, Marathons, and Mountain Races—All While Living With Crohn’s Disease

I’ve Tackled Triathlons, Marathons, and Mountain Races—All While Living With Crohn’s Disease

Managing my symptoms of this inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) requires a ton of my energy, so I really like that running takes among the power away from my diagnosis and provides it back to me. I fell into the game after I joined the highschool track team, and in college, I ran alone for fun as an outlet for stress. I finished my first half marathon during my senior yr. Despite making some rookie mistakes (like having zero strategy for sports nutrition and a penchant for running in cotton T-shirts), my mindset was totally dialed in. I used to be—and still am—so grateful to be the one to choose where, when, how far, and how briskly to run.

Since then, I’ve accomplished a sprint triathlon, two marathons, and various half marathons, 25Ks, 10Ks, and 5Ks on the mountain trails near where I live in Juneau. I also did a cross-country, self-supported bike trip (meaning, no crew around to assist with supplies and necessities!) with a friend in 2013, shortly after graduating college. It was each awful and amazing. Riding 2,000 miles from Baton Rouge to California, on a poorly fitting bike with almost no training, I learned I can keep going even when I believe I can’t. That’s a lesson that has served me over and over as a runner.

It hasn’t at all times been smooth sailing, though. After having a baby through the height of the pandemic, I experienced a Crohn’s flare-up shortly after, which I imagine was triggered by the stress of sleep deprivation coupled with managing the whole lot else occurring: my work, my marriage, and running, for starters. In the previous couple of years, I’ve undergone gallbladder surgery, three bouts of COVID-19, mono, and one other upper respiratory infection. For years, it felt like just after I was able to run consistently again, some latest barrier would get in my way. It was demoralizing—until I shifted my mindset. Once I let go of a goal-oriented approach, focused on having fun, and gave myself permission to walk or decelerate, I began to enjoy running again. I used to deal with whatever race I used to be training for, but now I’m blissful simply to run for its own sake.

This doesn’t mean I’ve given up on my running goals, though. Eventually I plan to run either a 50K or 50-mile trail race, but I’m not rushing to get an event on the calendar. At once, I’m specializing in my health and taking someday at a time.