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Above: A beautiful Fall shot of the park where Gideon runs regularly.

Running With IBD

Composed by Gideon Sofer: May, 2001

My passion for running came in 7th grade. It was a year after my surgery, and I decided I wanted another challenge in my life--something that required practice, commitment, and a good attitude. Somewhat parallel to what was needed to survive my disease.

That year I remember I ran pretty well. I tried taking on the mile. I loved long distance from the get-go. I enjoyed sprinting as well, but long distance was almost like a survivor story in it of itself.

Just a year later, I cut my time by an entire minute. My health wasn't as stable as I would've liked it to be, but nevertheless, when I could run, I ran.

Running in my life has been somewhat of a mind, body, and spiritual challenge. There are, of course, the days where I feel so tired from my Crohn's that I simply don't have the energy to run. Some days, it's important that I don't run to jeopardize my weight. But other days, it's a perfect day to run, even if there's pouring rain outside.

When I picked up running in 7th grade, there was something really special and rewarding about it. Running one or two miles isn't easy. Now it seems like cake compared to three years ago, but it still isn't easy. But whenever I might be going through a flare-up, I often resort to patience these days rather than frustration. Running for me, has been an exact parallel to that: patience, peace, serenity, and inspiration.

There are the days when I go running, and I'm tired halfway through a normal day's run (5K). Depending on the amount of (recent) food intake, I can usually judge if I'll be able to run. But when I'm running, there's no predicting how far I can take myself. Right then and there, my mind takes over (if my body agrees). When I am halfway through my run, I normally don't focus on how much is left, I first focus on how much has been accomplished, and then I take my mind off the running, and into life.

I credit running to a lot of things. Often time on my runs, I make life-plans. I make short/long-term goals, and review what has been accomplished. Ever since my Campaign has begun, the majority of the great ideas have sprung from a daily run. If there's a long time period where my Crohn's hasn't been calm, I use running to let my my mind and body relax. Nature nurtures my body like nothing else. Even if I am going through a flare-up, I can go down to my local park for a short run, and then meditate to calm my mind when health or life gets hectic.

There was actually a point in my life where my running was in jeopardy. I was taking a medication that caused my feet to be 50% numb. To date, there are things I cannot feel when walking. Sometimes I'll stumble on the sidewalk not even feeling the inclination with my sneakers--but fortunately enough, 50% was not enough to stop me from running.

Ever since my medication incident, I never take a day of running for granted. If I am able and healthy enough to take a run, I do it. I always make sure I make the time out of my day to take a run. If my life is too busy to even think about running, I know there's a problem.

Running for me, is a time to mentally rejuvenate. There have been the times when running has lifted me out of Crohn's-flare-ups. There have been the times when running has created such stable "meat" on my bones, that my average weight-loss in a Crohn's flare-up has gone down. The benefits of running are infinite, because it's all about what you make of it. It's my judgment and perception asking "can you do it?" In running, I can. When I have any challenges in life, such as my health, the very same attitude has follows through.

I would recommend running or any physical activity to anyone with IBD or any other chronic illness--if it can be tolerated. Running has done crazy amounts of things for me, and I'm sure it can benefit others as well.

For me, there's no stopping or giving up in life. Running is a direct representation of just that.

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