Slow and Steady Wins: Running a 10K with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain

I’ve posted before that running has become the latest tool in my wellness toolkit. But, living with fibromyalgia and other chronic health conditions means that I have to take running (like most things) very slowly. I plan every run in the context of my week to ensure that I don’t do too much and cause my energy levels to crash or trigger a flare in symptoms that could take weeks, if not months, to recover from.

Once I had completed the excellent NHS Couch to 5K programme last year, I was looking for my next running goal. In a fit of enthusiasm, I signed up for my first 10K event which took place a few weeks ago.

I’d meticulously followed a training plan to go from running 5km to 10km, and I’d really enjoyed it. As the event approached, I was keeping everything crossed that the day wouldn’t fall on a day when I was experiencing a hormonal migraine. Otherwise, I would be going nowhere (think bedridden in a blacked-out room, ice hat on, throbbing head pains, dizziness, nausea, vomiting; the full works). Fortunately, the migraine graced me with its presence 4 days before the event, so all was well.

Event Day

The big day dawned bright and sunny, and we arrived at the event village nice and early. Nonetheless, I still managed to miss the official warm-up as I was in the (enormous) queue for the loo!

We then had to line up according to our expected finish time. I was aiming for 1 hour and 5 minutes as this was the best I had done in training. Once in with the crowd of runners, I just felt keen to get going, so I was glad when the hooter sounded and we were off.

I loved the experience of running with other people, and it was amazing to have crowds of people cheering us on. I soon settled into the rhythm, and the kilometres flew by. I have absolutely no recollection of where I was running; I was just focused on keeping going. Coming up to the finish line, there was lots of encouragement from spectators which really spurred me on, and I was delighted to cross the line in a time of 1 hour and 2 minutes. I know that is very slow compared to many runners, but for me, a 50-ish woman with multiple chronic health conditions and very new to running, I was over the moon!

I had honestly thought that this would be a one-time thing I would do, just to say that I had done it. But I enjoyed it so much that I have signed up for another 10K in autumn, and I can’t imagine not running now as it has helped me so much since I started.

Going Back in Time

11 years ago, almost to the day of the event, I sat in a rheumatologist’s consultation room and was told I had fibromyalgia. At that time, I could barely walk to the local shop 5 minutes away without being exhausted and in a world of pain. I felt that my life was over and could never imagine being able to achieve any of the goals I’d set for the future.

Once the diagnosis had sunk in, I resolved to learn everything I could about the condition and find ways to push forward. Every day since then (migraine days excepted), I have worked on my mobility and fitness because I was frightened at how my body was beginning to be able to do less and less. At first, this was through walking and then swimming. The improvements have been minuscule, and it has taken a long, long time to get to where I am now, but I’ve never given up trying to improve.

I still feel exhausted when I have done a longer run, and unlike most runners who get out, run, and then go about their day, it’s not like that for me. I need a lot of recovery time, even after a 20-minute run, and I need to plan this into my day. I know I am extremely fortunate that, at the moment, I can focus most of my time on trying to rebuild my own wellness. Fortunately, running doesn’t increase my pain levels at all, my mental health has improved since taking it up, especially as I love being outdoors. But the biggest gain for me has been the sense of accomplishment in doing something way outside of my comfort zone. I am so grateful that my body allows me to run and grateful for the benefits I have seen so far.