Running and M.E

A bit of background - for starters, Jim is an absolute legend. If you’ve been involved in any sort of running or cycling in the Milton Keynes area you’ve likely shared a start line with him or he’s been volunteering at the event. Even with 2 your children Jim’s life sounds more hectic than mine! in 2023 he was actually the person who came to the most events, our MVP if you will. He was missing from the last event however which was unlike Jim and then sparked this from him too.

“I was diagnosed (with ME) back in 2012 after failing to recover from a bout of 'flu. I was bad and long story short, it cost me my career and a lot of my previous life. I was told there was no cure but I could help manage it by getting fit, avoiding stress and eating well. I was put on a course of Graded Exercise Therapy. I'd never previously done any sport or exercise but found I loved it... I took up karate, then swimming, then cycling and finally running... The rest they say is history...

M.E has left me with quite serious cognitive issues which is why I'm so scatty and stupid most of the time! (no he isn’t!!) I still have my bad days but generally, with my fitness, stress avoidance and nutrition I keep quite good. If I have any illness, thankfully rare now, I invariably end up with an ME flare and this is what happened leading up to the Dormouse.

Running, and to a lesser extent cycling and duathlon, has been my saviour and has become my life. I never ever thought I'd run ultras but with you I have and that's all thanks to you and Big Bear. Without you I know my running career would not have come as far as it has... So a huge thank you! “

M.E is something I know a bit about as my mum, Ann from the aid station!, has been suffering with it since the mid 90’s when knowledge from mainstream medicine on it was very low. However, much like Jim she has it under control a lot more now and exercise has really helped her have more energy - which seems like the ultimate paradox! Although Ann’s running hasn’t got to ultras the difference between not being able to get up the stairs to being able to do half marathons is pretty remarkable. I’d like to think if my events had been around 30 years ago they would have been a place for her to get out and move without judgement and for it to help her in her general wellbeing and health.

Again, I’m no doctor but I’ll argue with anyone who thinks that getting out and moving at some sort of effort isn’t good for you. I’m so happy that my events can be used for people trying to see how much effort they can put in without the fear of being a failure.

Cheers Jim!

This is part of our series of posts we’re doing around the real lives and stories of some of our runners. Without being too unsubtle - the idea is to show you that they aren’t all super hero ultra runners who have been doing high level athletics since they were 4 and they aren’t all retirees who have nothing else going on in there lives either! Of course I’m sure we have some of those in our start fields but the majority of our runners are “normal” people with “normal” struggles deciding to do something a bit different and enjoying it. I hope I’ve given these people a venue to enjoy themselves for a few hours every few weeks surrounded by good people. But enough of my waffle… .