For the past 3 years, I have controlled my diet. For the 6 years prior to that, my diet dictated my life. In August of 2007, I started the liquid diet that would change my life and reveal my food sensitivities and intolerances which include Lactose and Gluten intolerances, and egg and oil sensitivities. From that August until October, I followed my liquid diet, and my body had taken over every ounce of my being. I had already signed up for Disney's Race for the Taste 10k prior to the take over of liquids and ruled myself out of being able to compete given my limited diet choices. 2 days before the race, a random thought passed through my mind... how was I going to LIVE the rest of my life from the sidelines, ruled by my stomach and its inability to digest the food I was giving it? Scared out of my mind and with no training, I ran/walk that 10k and as I crossed the finish line, felt like I had conquered the world, one food allergy at a time.
I finished 9 races in that October 07-October 08 year... 5ks, 10ks, 15ks, and even a half marathon! I bought every running magazine, joined every blog, and googled every ailment I was suffering, from running pains to stomach pains. My gastro was very supportive through it all and taught me how to LIVE my life. When I had problems breathing right before the half marathon, we post poned the endoscopy to the day after my race to find that my esophagus was too small and involuntarily contracting and cutting air supply. We simply stretched it and rested until the 15k a month later.
It has been an amazing journey; a journey that I have often contemplated sharing with the general public as well as family and friends. I do not want to gloat about my accomplishments but rather share a common interest of running and GF LF tricks of the trade with fellow runners. I love it when I can find a blog from someone who can share their experiences with me that are also something I can relate to. I do not fall under one label, but many... in addition to the intolerances listed above, I also do not eat beef, pork, turkey*, or chicken*, shrimp*, cranberries*, soy*, corn* and its products, rice* and its products, raw sugar*, fructose*, and many more thanks to the ALCAT blood test* I took a few months ago revealing food sensitivities and changing my life which I will talk about later. I have an elongated colon, which requires me to take Miralax on a daily basis and sometimes twice a day, and acid reflux. Running allows me to control my body and my mind.
In short I eat and drink a modified vegan, paleolithic, gluten free diet and I am still able to run. I am 5'9 and my weight ranges anywhere from 137-150 lbs depending on how my body is processing my food and how many times I "cheat" with foods such as rice cakes and candy. My goal for all this is to document my experiences and hope to hear from other people with similar experiences so we can share ideas and brainstorm. I do not have all the answers... but I do have google =). As I train for my 1st marathon I am finding it difficult to find a category to google that fits me.... so let the compilation begin.
Whew... now the basics are covered I am out for my training run with more to come later... bookstore trip for running diet books should be fun too. Please post thoughts and experiences as we go and I cannot wait to learn something new and teach all I have learned so far! Happy running!
