Sweet Caroline... RUN RUN RUN
Two entries in and I've already done a terrible job of keeping up with writing here. Although I hate the idea of starting off with excuses, I have to give myself a little leeway. I made some big life changes at the same time I started this blog (ended a 10-year relationship, moved back in with my parents, started a job hunt in order to further my career and move out-of-state), and all that in combination with an absolutely insane work schedule made it difficult for me to sit down and put ideas to internet.
That said, I've been telling myself to start posting again, since some things are happening with my journey as a Crohn's patient, and the whole point of this blog was to chronicle that journey (but also because my 'second mom' asked me for the link to my blog the other day, and I felt guilty about there being nothing new for her to read... hi Mom D!).
So, where to (re)start? As of this past August, I've stayed out of the hospital for a full year. Although I'd been diagnosed with Crohn's years previous, my hospital stay in August 2017 (which I'm sure I'll fully detail in another entry) was when my Crohn's really started affecting my day-to-day life.
I've run many races since I last posted... at least a dozen 5ks, a handful of 10ks, 2 half marathons, and a couple of Obstacle Course Races (OCRs). Just this past weekend was the Spartan Sprint in Fenway Park. Such a fun race through an iconic baseball stadium. The course takes you around the stadium, through the seats, up and down the stairs (so... many... stairs...) across the Green Monster, through the Guest Locker Rooms, and out onto the field through the Guest Dugout... all while throwing plenty of Obstacles in your path. We jumped walls, climbed nets and ropes, threw spears, carried sandbags and water jugs, box jumps, and so much more.
Outside the stadium before we started. It was a bright and brisk day for a run! Spartan number 8454, reporting for duty!
Burpees in front of the Green Monster!
Amy really looks up to David Ortiz. In more ways than one, apparently... that guy is TALL.
Finish line is on the field, which was actually set up for some sort of football game. Apparently I was on the jumbo-tron in center field while I was jumping over the first wall on the course... my friends assured me that I jumped that wall gracefully, and didn't look like a total slob on the big screen (probably a good thing that it was the first wall and not the last).
And of course, the Red Sox had to be show-offs about the fact that they won the World Series last month:
With the temperature hovering around 35 degrees, it was a miracle that my 'disgruntled Yankee fan' face didn't freeze that way. Maybe one day Spartan will look into hosting at Yankee Stadium. A girl can dream!
Overall, it was a fun race, which thankfully was not spoiled by any issues from my guts. I had genuine concerns going into this one (and at least a few of my last runs, including the half marathon in Hartford), because I have been experiencing pains and flareups in the last few months.
I mentioned that some things are happening on my journey as a Crohn's patient, and I'm still waiting for answers... there's a possibility that I've built up antibodies to my medication, Humira. It's been less than a year since I started, and although I saw some initial improvement, I still found myself experiencing symptoms. My GI set me up with a lab test and we're waiting on the results, which I should get when I see her next in early December. We're both crossing our fingers that the results come back negative, since Humira is a convenient (and frankly, rather easy) option for someone my age, with my lifestyle.
But of course, the goal is remission, and if I'm still experiencing pain in my gut and any urgency to go to the bathroom, we need to address it. After all, my New Years Resolution for 2018 was to stay out of the hospital, and with a month and half left to go... it may be the first resolution that I actually stick to!
That said, I've been telling myself to start posting again, since some things are happening with my journey as a Crohn's patient, and the whole point of this blog was to chronicle that journey (but also because my 'second mom' asked me for the link to my blog the other day, and I felt guilty about there being nothing new for her to read... hi Mom D!).
So, where to (re)start? As of this past August, I've stayed out of the hospital for a full year. Although I'd been diagnosed with Crohn's years previous, my hospital stay in August 2017 (which I'm sure I'll fully detail in another entry) was when my Crohn's really started affecting my day-to-day life.
I've run many races since I last posted... at least a dozen 5ks, a handful of 10ks, 2 half marathons, and a couple of Obstacle Course Races (OCRs). Just this past weekend was the Spartan Sprint in Fenway Park. Such a fun race through an iconic baseball stadium. The course takes you around the stadium, through the seats, up and down the stairs (so... many... stairs...) across the Green Monster, through the Guest Locker Rooms, and out onto the field through the Guest Dugout... all while throwing plenty of Obstacles in your path. We jumped walls, climbed nets and ropes, threw spears, carried sandbags and water jugs, box jumps, and so much more.
And of course, the Red Sox had to be show-offs about the fact that they won the World Series last month:
Overall, it was a fun race, which thankfully was not spoiled by any issues from my guts. I had genuine concerns going into this one (and at least a few of my last runs, including the half marathon in Hartford), because I have been experiencing pains and flareups in the last few months.
I mentioned that some things are happening on my journey as a Crohn's patient, and I'm still waiting for answers... there's a possibility that I've built up antibodies to my medication, Humira. It's been less than a year since I started, and although I saw some initial improvement, I still found myself experiencing symptoms. My GI set me up with a lab test and we're waiting on the results, which I should get when I see her next in early December. We're both crossing our fingers that the results come back negative, since Humira is a convenient (and frankly, rather easy) option for someone my age, with my lifestyle.
But of course, the goal is remission, and if I'm still experiencing pain in my gut and any urgency to go to the bathroom, we need to address it. After all, my New Years Resolution for 2018 was to stay out of the hospital, and with a month and half left to go... it may be the first resolution that I actually stick to!
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