Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

At the age of 20 I was diagnosed with Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME)  and thought I would never be able to walk 5K without breaks, let alone run again. 

So this run is for 20 year old Jen that never thought she could and for all the people out there that never think they will.

When I set up this page 2 years ago I had spent 6 months being able to run and thought 10K could be in reach. However, as with everything ME related, building up my running, particuarly with my intense work in pandemic response, proved to be more challenging than I could ever imagine. I had to put my race date back a few times and I thought 10K would be out reach as my energy was focussed on work. I do not regret putting my energy into work as it was so important.With ME no matter how mild, sacrafices have to be made as you just don't have enough energy to do it all. In reflection there have been times where I pushed myself too hard and paid the price with some flares, I am very lucky that did'nt set me back with a bigger flare  but I know this year i have been feeling the payback from my intense work and wedding year. 

With that in mind, I decided to adjust my target and run for the M.E. Association on Christmas Day 2022 at the local park run focussing on running as far as I could and not worrying about the pace or the final distance.  My Dad and Liam were with me all the way and I am so excited to say that with their support and the Christmas cheer I RAN 10K! I DID IT !!!! Thank you for all your patience and support. I can't stop smiling and can't quite belive I managed it. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

My journey to date

Going from an incredibly sporty person to living at home with my parents and spending most of my time in bed or on the sofa was devestating. I felt like I had lost myself and spent most of the last decade grieving for my old life. What made this worse was being told there was no real treatment options, facing disbelief from doctors and hearing terms like "yuppy flu" and its in your head.. your just tired, all because of the lack of awareness and research into it. 

For the first five years before moving to edinburgh I struggled to walk a mile or so up town without chest pains. When I moved to Edinburgh I was reintroduced to pacing and energy management, slowly building up my walking, Arthurs seat was my nemesis and my goal, still dealing with the chest pains and shaky legs but I met this goal ( breathing out my arse the whole way) and thought what more can I do; but then I had a moderate ME crash in January 2018 and was back to square one and in the ME management program again.

I started very slowly  building up my walking again with the support of my awesome husband Liam taking me on daily walks in the summer evenings; and walks on my lunch break. Then 2020 hit and I have absolutely no idea why my body has suddenly allowed me to do this, but with the encouragement of Liam and my incredibly supportive and fanatical running dad I put on my multi coloured leggings and jogged 2K and then 3 and then 5, something I never thought I would be able to do again.  For 10 years I lost sport, and felt like I had lost me. Running has given the sporty part of myself back and wow I really missed her. I want more people with this condition to have the feeling that I have had, accomplishing something I didn't think would be possible and getting their lives back.

In order for this to happen for more people there needs to be more research into ME, which I why I am fundraising for the ME Association. I was so happy when I found the ME Association: the research they do, guidance they give and fights they have on behalf of the vulnerable ME community are invaluable in spreading the awareness of the condition and helping the community get the research it deserves. I have actively used their guidance for the management of my condition and felt more seen and understood by their presence.

Unfortunately funding for ME research is incredibility limited and without this research no real progress can be made to help hundreds of thousands of people in the UK  and millions wolldwide get some semblance of their life back. donations towards the fantastic ME Association will be greatly appreciated.

For anyone with ME- this is just my journey and my personal experience. I am not advocating for nor encouraging people with this condition to start running, do what feels right for you, listen to your body,  speak to doctors/ professionals and use resources like the ME Association. I have built up my walking and exercise over a 7 year period with some set backs over the years but luckily my crashes were not long long term nor did they result in me being bed bound. My ME is now very mild; more mild to moderate with flares and crashes but not severe. I hope this story brings you some hope that things can get better as i know stories of others exercising when I couldn't brought me some much needed positivity and hope- but i also know it can result in guilt for not exercising and pressure to exercise yourself better: please dont. Everyone's journey and condition is different and personal,and this is mine 😊

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