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I finished my first marathon in 4 hours and 23 minutes!  I was afraid, I worried my colitis would be a problem, but I stayed positive and I did it.  I contribute my success to a gluten/wheat/oat/dairy/barley/corn/soy/and process food free diet and most of all Slippery Elm powder and Cinnamon.  Anytime I felt crampy or had diarrhea during training I took this and it really helped.  I drank some before the marathon and I didn't have any problems.  I also take probiotics regularly.  What an awesome feeling and I hope this tells everybody that you can have an active life.  That doesn't mean I don't struggle some days, but I stay positive and look for things that work naturally and listen to my body. I don't plan on stopping at this either.  Don't let this disease beat you, you just have to stay a step ahead of it. 

 Reply posted for jstroeing.

 I know you posted stuff months ago, but I have been studying for my MCATs, and have not had time to go to this site.  I am truly inspired by your accomplishments!  I ran the New York City marathon in 2007, but that seems like so long ago.  I was actually diagnose right around that time, but I did manage to finish in slightly under 5 hours, but I didn't eat anything that morning, and the race was very stressful, because I didn't know if I would make it without having an "accident".  I tend to get real strong urgency especially while running.  It has resulted in me being scared to even try and train for the marathon, because I honestly don't know if I can do it without being embarassed.  Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks

 Reply posted for TURQUOISE46.

I get the Slippery Elm powder from my local herb store so I am not sure of the brand but it may be Frontier or something like that.  As for the probiotic I just get what I can afford.  Pearls work for me but they don't have as much of the bacteria in them.  I do not keep a food journal because a food reaction can occur days later so you can't really tell unless you get tested for food intolerances.  That is my next goal.  I just started taking Nettle tea to control the immune response to these allergens.  It works great.  The Slippery Elm coats the lining of the intestines to aid healing.  So take Nettles first or it won't be effective.  I still have not had to take meds since February and feel the herbs work much better.  Keep exercising!

 Reply posted for dbmontana.

You guys are awesome.  I think it is so important to show one another that we can do anything we try to do.  There might need to be adaptations, but we can get through this.  I definitely have had some really hard years, and have been depressed by the disease but after my last really bad flare up I just wouldn't let it control my life anymore.  I am lucky, because my medicine is working now and if you stick to your medicine it will start to work. 

When I am working out or doing a big activity that makes me a little nervous dealing with the symptoms of Chron's there are a couple of tricks I do to help me get through it.  I definitely will drink coffee to help clean me out.  I know that is gross to say aloud, but that will often give me some time to do things like hiking or biking outside without having to worry about needing a bathroom.  I definitely need to time it right, but it usually works.  Running is the hardest, I do all of my training on a treadmill at the gym so I can get to a bathroom quickly.  I keep a journal of my food and try to keep a time table so I can see how quickly it affects my system.  I'm mostly looking for foods or drinks that I know will really disagree with my system and how long it takes to affect me.  I also eat a lot of bananas and peanut butter the day before a race.  I try to keep it as simple as possible.  Cottage cheese works well with my system along with string cheese.  I hope these tips work.  Remember positivity really helps!

Jen

 Reply posted for dbmontana.

WOW.  I AM SO IMPRESSED.  I WAS DIAG 2 YRS AGO.  AND I AM 62.  VERY STRANGE TO GET THIS AS OLD AS I AM...BUT I WORK OUT IN A GYM 4 DAYS PER WEEK.  A HEAVY WORKOUT.  LOTS OF WEIGHTS.  I HAVE NEVER TAKEN THIS SLIPPERY ELM POWDER.  I AM ON MED FOR COLITUS.  YOU MIX CINNAMON IN WITH THIS SLIPERY ELM POWDER?  I SPENT A WEEK AT THE BEACH WITH MY DAUGHTER, SON-IN-LAW AND 3 YR OLD GRANDCHILD.  I DEVOURED COTTAGE CHEESE AND ALL KINDS OF FRUIT MIXED IN WITH THE COTTAGE CHEESE SO I COULD LIVE ON THE BEACH....AND SCRAMBLED EGGS WITH CHEESE AND COFFEE.  NOT A VERY BALANCED DIET BUT IT WAS WHAT WORKED THAT WEEK.  LOL

I WANT TO LEARN HOW TO KAYAK BUT WITH THE COLITUS I DON'T KNOW....YOU HAVE GIVEN ME INSPIRATION.  SO WHAT BRAND PROBIOTIC AND WHAT BRAND SLIPPERY ELM POWDER...IF I AM PERMITTED TO ASK.  I PROBABLY ALSO NEED TO MAKE A FOOD DIARY..DID YOU DO THAT?

PAMELA IN SC

 Reply posted for jstroeing.

That is awesome!  I love to hear about people taking control of their lives.  It is too often we are inundated with negativity on this site.  It is good to be hearing some positive stories.  Yes, what we have sucks and makes things much more complicated, but not impossible.  The mind is a lot more powerful than people think.  Congrats on the triatholon, that is wonderful you met your two goals.  Have fun on the next!  I too finished and did it in a time I was elated with.  I am already searching for the next race.  It is such a good feeling and one I hope everybody can experience.  Always have goals and take baby steps to get there.  I started out in February walking 20 minutes a day in a horrible flare.  Now I am a marathoner. 

KEEP MOVING FORWARD!!!!!!

 Reply posted for dbmontana.

Congrats on completing the marathon!  I just finished my first triathlon on Sunday.  My doctor told me not to do it, because I am in a flare up.  But I also stayed positive and kept training.  I loved the feeling after I finished!  There definitely were times when I didn't think my stomach would hold up, but it did.  I ate a lot of bananas and peanut butter, that seemed to help.  I met both of my goals to cross the finish line and to finish under two hours.  I barely made it under two hours, but I met both goals.  I will not let Chron's run my life!  Stay positive and think positive thoughts, it truly helps!  And I feel the exercise really helps the Chron's and my flare ups.  I can't wait to do my next triathlon!

Jen

 Reply posted for ngc249.

I just know that many people have soy intolerances and I have just cut out all foods that could be a problem.  Now that the marathon is over I am going to add some foods back slowly and start rotating foods so I am not eating them all the time.  If you handle soy ok by all means go for it.  I just wasn't sure if I did and wanted to keep my colitis under control for the marathon.  I get the Slippery Elm powder at my local herb store.  You could probably order it online but make sure you are getting it from a reputable supplier.  It is a pretty common herb so it shouldn't be hard to find.  It is the one thing I can depend on to calm a flare everytime.  It sometimes takes a few days though.  I usually take it with a lot of water as it has gelling properties and needs water to do this.  It seems to work better with cinnamon for me, I don't know why.  Tastes better too.  I heard it may reduce effectiveness of medication as it coats the intestinal tract so be careful if you take meds.  I don't and haven't since February.  This seems to work better for me.  The meds always made me feel worse and bleed more. 

More than anything I want people to know they can accomplish things like this, even if it is just walking down the block.  It just takes a bit of discipline and determination. 

 Reply posted for dbmontana.

Congrats!! What awesome news to hear! My goal is to be able to cycle long distances again. Haven't been able to for a while now but am not giving up. Way to go!!!!!

Liz

 Reply posted for dbmontana.

awesome job! proud of you!

 Reply posted for dbmontana.

I also meant to ask you about the powder.  Where can I get that?

Thanks!

ngc

 Reply posted for dbmontana.

Congratulations!  I run as well but not marathons.  I have to ask you about the soy....I thought that was okay?  I bought a protein powder to add to my rice milk and it has a little soy in it.  Congrats again and keep up the positive out look!

ngc

 Reply posted for dbmontana.

CONGATS!!