This Year, I’m Running for Rare Diseases

New Year’s resolutions. Do you make them? Do you keep them? Are you still going strong? Or are you like the 75 to 80 percent of Americans who quit their resolutions by February? 

I don’t make resolutions because I believe that change can happen regardless of the time of year or day of the week. You don’t need to wait for Jan. 1 or a specific Monday to make the changes you seek. It takes one day — any day you decide — to set a goal and create habits that enable the change you desire.

I stopped running about 18 months ago because I was tired of being in pain after my runs. I went to the doctor and tried both physical therapy and chiropractic. Nothing seemed to help permanently, so I stopped running.

Read: I gave up!

I missed out on challenging myself and working through difficulties. Running has never come easily to me. Give me a bike and weights and I’m a happy girl. But there’s something fulfilling about trying hard things, working toward and accomplishing goals, and proving to myself that I am capable. 

Eunice and family out for a run while on vacation. (Courtesy of Eunice White)

One of my goals this year was to start running again. Recently, for the first time in a long while, I set out for a purposeful run. Running is so hard for me, no matter the distance or intensity, and has always been an emotional and spiritual experience. Tears came to my eyes as I remembered that I was choosing to run.

I also realized it was my first run since my dad died. Do his death and my quitting running have anything to do with each other? I don’t know. But I will say it felt good to get back to the hard, to the hurt, to pushing myself in something that doesn’t come easy for me.

This year, Rare Disease Day is Feb. 29. Rare Disease Day is set aside every year to raise awareness about rare diseases and their impact on people’s lives. Coinciding with Rare Disease Day is SeeRareRun, a virtual race to raise money for the National Organization for Rare Diseases. You can choose to run either 5 miles or 5 kilometers. I am signing up to run in honor of my fellow Rare Disease family.

This year, my goal is to prove to myself that I can do hard things.

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Note: Fabry Disease News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Fabry Disease News or its parent company, Bionews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Fabry disease.