Saturday, April 10, 2010

What Excuse Do You Think You Have, Maggot?

A friend of mine with two kids around HB’s age just spent four days in the hospital because she had developed an odd neurological symptom. Yesterday they told her she has multiple sclerosis and did a spinal tap. This morning they discharged her. Do you know what she did this afternoon?

She went RUNNING, Maggots.

Now if that doesn’t get you off your asses, I don’t know what can.

21 comments:

Allie said...

I ran a 5K today... personal best!
(40 mins, but still a personal best!)

Rosanne said...

I'm scheduled for 20 tomorrow. 5 weeks until my first marathon. Eeeekkk!!

Anonymous said...

I'm trying, but I keep getting shin splints.

Anonymous said...

Your friend is probably the woman I kept hearing about while having chemo who didn't miss a single day of work while having hers....

Some people!!!

Anonymous said...

I'm working on it. :)

http://8junebugs.com/2010/04/09/calling-all-runners/

Anonymous said...

Her story sounds more like "someone who's gotten in the habit of running to cope with stress" than like "someone who'll run through lightningt, tornadoes and hail."

Which, if it's true -- hey, good on her! Running has to be one of the healthiest ways there is to cope with stress. It's much better to train yourself to be a person who goes for a run, or meditates, or does yoga when she needs to clear her head than train yourself to be someone who pops a clonazepam or heads to a bar when she gets bad news.

I'm just saying, for me, this anecdote suggests, "with time and habituation, the prospect of a run will soothe not stress you," more than it suggests, "Suck it up, maggots!"

Maybe your friend DIDN'T have to "suck it up." For her, the run could have been a RELIEF from the feelings of powerlessness & anxiety that might have plagued her. (I know 2 women who went on long, 7+ mile runs the mornings of their weddings because, they said, "I needed to clear my head.")

(But I generally quite like the "maggots" theme to your running posts and would not ask you to abandon it.)

-victoria

laura512 said...

I joined the Maggot Brigade about a month ago. Every other day after work, I strap on the bra and the shoes (and..uh..pants) and hit the hike and bike trail for 30 minutes. And I am SLOW. And it's already getting easier.

DoctorMama said...

Welcome laura512! Yes, remember the pants. And yay Allie, Rosanne, & junebugs.

Of COURSE you go for a run on your wedding day! I only did five miles, though, I think.

And my friend said she had to run 1) for mental health and 2) because she's so grateful she still can. But she is in fact a pretty tough mofo. She'd probably miss some work for chemo, though, Anonymous. (Aren't you sick of hearing about THAT woman?) Running is much more important than work. (Depending on the work, I suppose.)

(And shinsplints Anonymous? Slow down! And suck it up! And other insults in your general direction, if it will help!)

Anonymous said...

In regard to shin spints. there are some new thoughts and theories on why some people are more susceptible. The theory is based on forefoot strikers verse heel first strikers.

Heel strikers are the majority of us who wear running shoes. we depend on the large padding in the heel to cushion each stride.

Forefoot or midfoot first strikers depend on the foot natural arch to decrease the impact. It does this by distributing the force over a longer period of time thereby reducing the impact.

See citation:
Foot strike patterns and collision forces in habitually barefoot versus shod runners.

Lieberman DE, Venkadesan M, Werbel WA, Daoud AI, D'Andrea S, Davis IS, Mang'eni RO, Pitsiladis Y.

laura512 said...

I used to run on a pretty regular basis and then I just kind of...stopped.

The hardest part about starting again is explaining to people that no, I'm not trying to lose weight, I run every other day so that I won't kill anybody. I've found coupling this explanation with a heavy dose of crazy eye is pretty effective.

Anonymous said...

You're too funny!!! I'm up! I'm up! Thanks for the inspiration!

Jericho said...

Wow---good story. That is inspirational. I'll finish my cheetoes and then go for a walk. :P

Anonymous said...

I guess I don't have an excuse not to start. I lost 65lbs, am in normal BMI range and can certainly handle it now. Lou

Anonymous said...

Since I'm not a maggot, I'll point out that this just confirms my belief that runners are very strange people. I wish your friend any means she has for coping, though, even running.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, well, I update my blog on pain-negating meditation techniques while I'm undergoing a root canal. I Tweet on updated CPR techniques to kill time during chemo. I write white papers that inspire industrial polluters to wake up to global warming while I'm in labor, using only my meditation techniques to control the pain.

So what excuse do you have for not writing about your life-changing epiphany and how you are going to help all us angry, negative, judgmental, arrogant types change our ways for the better? Huh? Huh? WE'RE WAITING, MISSY.

victoria

DoctorMama said...

I'm working on it, I swear, victoria ... it's the helping part I'm not so sure about, unfortunately.

Rosanne said...

Oh, and I forgot to mention... First marathon in 5 weeks (the 20 miler went great!) and heart surgery 6 months ago. I understand why she runs. When my heart saga started in April 09, all I wanted to do was run. Actually put off the surgery to run in a half marathon 2 days before surgery. Ran another 2 months after. Running is what keeps me sane and makes it all manageable. Go Dr Mama!! Keep inspiring us Maggots!

Anonymous said...

Sometimes running is running from.
Sometimes running is running to.
Sometimes running is the answer.
Sometimes running is not the answer.
Sometimes running is a way to detach from the body.
Sometimes running is a way to attach to the body.
Sometimes it hurts.
Sometimes it feels wonderful.
Sometimes I can do it.
Sometimes I can't.

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry to have pressured you, Dr. Mama. I know you don't have all the answers and you might not be able to help me. Don't write about your epiphany if it's not comfortable. I hope your life is going well. -victoria

Anonymous said...

I don't mean to be anon, just can't figure out what else to put in.

My husband has MS and was diagnosed about 10 years ago. He has a muscle in one leg that seems to have atrophied, but his other muscles have compensated. He is really lucky. He has no lasting symptoms other than things like occasional dizziness. He rides his bike a TON...his neurologist is convinced that the high amounts of biking plus a generally low carb diet are what are keeping him well. I know other people who were using walkers after 5 years. Who knows why but I thought you might want to pass this along to your friend with MS. Tell her to keep running!

Unknown said...

A friend and I ran the "walk" portion of the crazylegs because we're heavy and we thought "we can't" about the 8K run. Then I get up and read this this morning about a woman with Lupus who ran the run...: http://www.channel3000.com/news/23258048/detail.html