Bragging like a bragger for finishing the Madison Mini Half Marathon – 13.1 miles! Woohoo! It was my slowest race, and also my sweetest. Six months ago I experienced a traumatic brain injury. I may share more at some point, but the short version is I lost my speech, my short-term memory, and my ability to cognitively execute many day to day tasks. I was then put on bed rest (I called it “Mommy’s Time Out”) to help calm things down in my brain and also reduce the risk of a secondary impact which could’ve resulted in permanent damage or worse.
When I was cleared for activity, I started walking on the treadmill. I started to notice I had more functional hours in my day on days I would sweat. I was regularly having fluid drained from my head to help alleviate my symptoms, and also noticed (and still do) that when I sweat on a regular basis I feel better and can go longer between treatments. It felt like my first real step toward “recovery” versus just managing my symptoms or trying to not make things worse. So I set a goal – I would start running again, and I would run a half marathon.
That was 10 weeks ago.
I dug up an old training program I’d used years ago, and hit the pavement. When I started I was symptomatic approximately half of my day. Now I only experience symptoms (to the level that it significantly impacts my day) about 1/week.
There have been a few moments over the past six months when I’ve wondered if I’ll ever be, feel, and function like myself again, but today felt like a little victory lap – I went from bedrest to running a half marathon in 10 weeks.
I am here. I am strong. And I am so proud of this finish.
My finisher’s medal, which doubles as a beer bottle opener. #wisconsin
That is quite the achievement Dusty. Well done!!! Wishing you a full recovery.
Thank you so much, Janelle!