Arthritis Life13 Mai 2024

What’s it like to run Half Marathons with Autoimmune Disease?

After facing skepticism from some medical professionals who doubted her ability to run, Gretchen defied expectations and has completed over 100 half marathons, all while raising money and awareness for autoimmune causes.

She and Cheryl also discuss the importance of self compassion in their journeys with chronic autoimmune disease. Gretchen shares why she resonates with progress over perfection and encourages others to be gentle with themselves while navigating life with autoimmune diseases.

Gretchen shares how she found creative ways to raise awareness about autoimmune diseases, such as running two half-marathons on two coasts in two days to raise funds for autoimmune research at the Benaroya Research Institute. Through her experiences, Gretchen emphasizes the importance of perseverance, self-advocacy, and building a supportive community. By sharing her story and promoting resilience, Gretchen aims to inspire hope and empower individuals to find purpose and joy in their own health journeys.

Medical disclaimer:

All content found on Arthritis Life public channels was created for generalized informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Episode Sponsors

Rheum to THRIVE, an online course and support program Cheryl created to help people with rheumatic disease go from overwhelmed, confused and alone to confident, supported and connected. See all the details and join the program or waitlist now!

For full episode details including a transcript and video:

Go to the episode page on the Arthritis Life Website

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(224)

Living Well with Ankylosing Spondylitis: Lauren’s Journey from Patient to Occupational Therapist

Lauren shares practical insights on adapting meaningful activities (including caring for and training dogs!), conserving energy, finding realistic hope, and building a life around what matters to you....

24 Sep 30min

The Power of Community: 5 Real Patients Share Their Stories

Cheryl, Marisa, Alice, Gittel, Meg and Annette reflect on the profound impact of community, the invaluable educational components of the Rheum to THRIVE program, and the collective wisdom that has hel...

10 Sep 40min

Rheumer Has It: Axial Spondyloarthritis Myths v. Facts with Dr. Jean Liew

In this encore episode, Dr. Liew shares her personal journey to becoming a rheumatologist inspired by a friend's diagnosis. She then discusses the condition in detail, addressing common misconception...

27 Aug 17min

Real Life with Juvenile Arthritis: Three Kids Tell Their Stories

Along the way, they talk about the comfort of pets, the importance of finding friends who truly understand, why kids with invisible illnesses deserve to be believed, and the hope they've found through...

13 Aug 34min

Rheumer Has It: Romantic Relationships & Arthritis

Drawing from their own lived experiences, they discuss everything from when to disclose a diagnosis while dating to navigating rejection, communicating with partners, managing physical intimacy, and r...

30 Jul 36min

Can You Live A Normal Life with Rheumatoid Arthritis? (2026 Reflection + Encore Episode)

In this updated introduction, I share how my response to this question has changed, the importance of exploring internalized ableism, and why I think a better question is: Can I build a joyful, meanin...

16 Jul 54min

Rheumer Has It: Busting Medication Myths with Dr. Hazelwood: Encore Episode

Dr. Hazelwood emphasizes the importance of balancing risks and benefits and provides insights into how modern treatments can significantly improve quality of life. The episode emphasizes the safety an...

2 Jul 24min

Becoming Immune Confident with Sjogren’s & MCAS, with Dr. Kara Wada

In this empowering conversation, Cheryl and Dr. Kara Wada explore what it means to take charge of your health with conditions like Sjögren’s syndrome and mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS). Dr Kara...

18 Jun 1h 7min