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Cheri Dworak's avatar

I’ll make this as brief as possible… On July 12th I went to bed well conditioned and ready for an upcoming 10k and felt normal. I woke up on July 13th in a different status. Just didn’t feel “right” - a little dizzy, walked with an unsure gait, didn’t finish breakfast, wanted to sleep endlessly, couldn’t swallow well. Thought it would all go away with time. That afternoon I asked a friend of mine to take me to the ER. Over the next 24 hours and in this order, I could not talk intelligently, could not swallow, went into acute respiratory failure. Doctors were working no -stop to determine what we were dealing with. At that point I went on a ventilator. From that point all of my muscles were becoming paralyzed. I was unable to open my eyes or move on my own for 3 weeks. What a journey I was on and I know that God was with me. I had no fear but the peace that only He gives. After being cared for in 3 different facilities, I have been home almost a month. Still no firm diagnosis, but the evidence points to a rare autoimmune disorder.

My goal right now is to be able to walk at a pace that I break a sweat. If I can run again someday, that would be wonderful. I am blessed to have additional time in this life as a continue to gain strength every day. Thanks for reading this and keep up all the training and running. You never know when it will no longer be possible but it is not the end of the world!. God bless!

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Terrell Johnson's avatar

Oh wow, Cheri -- thank you so much for sharing this with us here; I'm honored that you did, and am in awe of your courage. I'm so glad to hear you sound so optimistic and resilient; I can only imagine how hard this has been! Thank you for being here, my friend, and Godspeed on getting back up and running again 🙌

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Cheri Dworak's avatar

Thank you Terrell!

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Dave Weinstock's avatar

May each day bring you joy

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Cheri Dworak's avatar

Thank you Dave. Waking up everyday is a blessing:)

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Nilima Srikantha's avatar

Quite a story. . .take it easy, do a little bit everyday. . .have faith, God will watch over you. :)

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Cheri Dworak's avatar

Thank you for the kind words Nilima. My faith has been both challenged and strengthened!

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Stan's avatar

make your goal just to "walk" every day!

Definitely 1 day at a time. We're with you...

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Cheri Dworak's avatar

Thank you Stan. Truly one day at a time is the key for anyone who has encountered a major setback. Appreciate the support!

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Maria's avatar

May you continue to improve and keep that same amazing attitude. Cheri, you are an inspiration.

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Marianne Rigby's avatar

Praying you stay in motion!!! We never count on the set backs (some like yours a medical mystery).....so everyday we move is a gift!!! Thank God for your recovery......Whatever your goals are know that I am praying for a complete recovery. Listen to that little voice that will tell you when to push and when to slow down. Blessings.

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Fr. Cathie Caimano's avatar

oh, my goodness, how terrifying! adding you to my prayer list.

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Mary Walsh's avatar

I am so sorry for what you have been through. I am sending you prayers & good wishes for speedy progress towards good health & many future happy runs!

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Faith Anderson's avatar

Hi Terrell!

I'm just returning to running today after a long recovery from health issues. I have a running coach to help me uplevel to ultrarunning while minimizing risk of injury.

My challenge is that I am currently working two full-time jobs to make ends meet. I am launching my own business to stop this insane work schedule, but in the meantime I have faced the choice of either running or sleeping, but not both. Because of that, I have not been doing scheduled workouts. Naturally, this is not moving me any closer to my goal, so today I am changing that.

Our YMCA just started 24-hour access, which I paid for this morning, so I no longer face the obstacle of unsafe conditions outdoors.

So, my goal for this month, starting today, is to do the workout scheduled by my coach (running, cross-training, or rest) every day this month, without missing or rescheduling, or rearranging. What's on the calendar is going to get done, no matter what. I don't care about miles or minutes, just establishing a consistent daily habit. The rest will follow naturally from there.

Rabbit, rabbit to you, too! 😎

Faith

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Terrell Johnson's avatar

I love this, Faith -- you're focusing on a goal that's right for you, and one you can realistically achieve. That's so much better than pie-in-the-sky goals, you know? Keep in touch and let me know how it goes! 🙌

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JAMIE SIZEMORE's avatar

I’m a walker- I can walk it out, right?

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Terrell Johnson's avatar

Of course! I should have titled this newsletter "running/walking challenge," actually.

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Stan's avatar

I'm in, I'll get to 100 miles [hopefully].

I've got a "cheat" though, I'm running a half on Dec 22.

Ran 11.5 today so a good start.

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Terrell Johnson's avatar

That's a fantastic start, Stan! 🙌

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Nilima Srikantha's avatar

I'm here and in. . . started a rowing challenge of 200,000 meters on Concept 2 (the rowing machine) until Christmas eve. . . Dec. 24th. . . after that, I'll take up walking my hill until the end of the month.

Will not know how many miles it will be in the end, but it figures out to 6 miles per day on the machine if I go for an hour and a half (from previous experience).

Darn, it sure is cold here this morning! Still have 4 or 5 hummingbirds coming by. They're up eating at the crack of dawn. Take care. . . like the old man who was 112 y/o when he passed on. . . everything in moderation! :)

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Terrell Johnson's avatar

Love this, Nilima! (I always love hearing the details of the weather and your surroundings -- I feel like I'm there!)

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Nilima Srikantha's avatar

and it got colder and then the fog rolled in. . . That's December in the PacNW. :)

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Greg Puckett's avatar

I’m in for 100 miles. I started with six miles this morning.

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Thomas Aussem's avatar

GM Ladies and Gentlemen -- started the month with a 7.7 mile run/walk this morning -- goal will be for 170 miles

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Stan's avatar

WOW - go for it!

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Melissa Metzger's avatar

I’m in! My goal will be a little more modest at least 80 miles but something is better than nothing! Happy running!

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Terrell Johnson's avatar

Awesome, Melissa!! 🙌

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Donna's avatar

I’m in - I’ll be walking to get in 100 miles in December 😊. I walked a 10k this morning and it was beautiful 🤩! Have fun with the challenge everyone!

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Dave Weinstock's avatar

My initial comment, NO WAY … even though I got half #135 done this AM and I might do one more on the 15th … will try!

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Ceridwen Box's avatar

Also I just looked up 100 miles in KM 😬 so not sure I’d get there but I suppose that’s the point of a challenge!

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Dave Weinstock's avatar

160 KM

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Ellie's avatar

I’m in - just finished a run!

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Terrell Johnson's avatar

Awesome, Ellie!

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Ceridwen Box's avatar

I’m in! I’m wanting to get consistency so this is good for me - I am thinking a run a day for December or 5 runs and 2 walks per week which might be more achievable??

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Terrell Johnson's avatar

Totally! That sounds like an excellent goal 🙌

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Sharon Dene's avatar

I do this thing called run the edge. It's for the whole year and you do up to The miles are comfortable with. I joined this about 4 years ago and I usually do about a 100 miles a month. I combine walking at both jobs and my running.It seems to work for me. Next year I signed up for Is two T r a I R u n. You run Is three days. You go through the day before and the next day you run like ten to twelve miles and then the next day after that you run another ten or twelve miles and the next day after that you run another ten to twelve miles. It's a lot of fun. They provide camping if you like and it's called vacation racing. I've done one before and I really like it and i'm so happy they do these. They also do a global adventure and short adventures as well. To me the price is nothing. I get to meet people from all over the world and they have a Facebook site too.So you can kind of keep up what's going on H They also do half marathons outside the national parks. They also have some ultra runs as well. I've done those, they're amazing. When I do I get along the sites and sign up when they open? So I have a plan how to train. How to get my airfare and how to get my reservations? It seems to work really well for me. One of these days I will meet up with you guys to run. I just couldn't do it this year. I love when you post different racing places to do. I've gotten so many amazing ideas. And I have a bucket list no. I want to do one internationally too I think that would be really fun.

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Clark Rose's avatar

I'm in for a no "added Sugar" December "and 100 miles of walking /running‼️👣‼️

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Nilima Srikantha's avatar

Easy, Peasy, Clark! I'm surprised you even touch sugar!! Not part of my diet! :)

Walk/run on! You can do it!

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Julie Gabrielli's avatar

Fabulous! I ran 6 yesterday -- can I count that? 😁

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Terrell Johnson's avatar

Of course!

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Julie Gabrielli's avatar

This is just the challenge I need. Not currently training for anything. 😉

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