Maybe it was a runner's high, maybe it was optimistic delusions, or possibly it was just the natural ups and downs of a flare, but I felt great! It all started with an early morning run. I haven't been able to run much more than 4 or 5 miles since my flare started, so my half marathon training has been stuck at 9 miles. My last outdoor run felt so terrible that I convinced myself that I would have to start my training over. But, I had been feeling better and spending a lot of time on the elliptical machines at the gym without much trouble. So, my goal for the day was to run at least a 10K, or about 6.34 miles. My hope was to be able to run 9 miles, I thought it would give me an emotional victory and I'd at least get back on track with my training. My run felt great through about mile 4, then there was a moment that I thought I was going to have to stop at 5, but I found some more inspiration and made the 10K. It wasn't a personal best or anything, but it was a much better run than any I'd had recently. When I stopped for a drink at 10K, a fellow runner stopped to ask about my training. She is a Type 1 diabetic and gave me some great ideas for future races to sign up for. This conversation gave me some motivation to keep running. So I kept it up, I had some trouble through mile 7, but once I got to 8, I knew I could do it from there. I did it! I was thrilled with myself. I felt like I'd won, I'd beat the arthritis at least for the day.
Unfortunately, the arthritis fought back, I have had an increase in my achiness since. I had a hard time pushing the stroller at the zoo due to pains in my shoulders. It is disappointing that I've felt so terrible since the run. I went back to the gym for my next scheduled workout, but I lowered the intensity some. I'm hoping the resurgence is very short lived. I'm not going to stop fighting!
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