July 11, 2012

I survived last Saturday's race (barely). The race was close to home in Winnebago, IL. The temp during the race was over 90 degrees... It was HORRIBLE (understatement)!!! I was doing well till the half way point and then the heat just got to me. I started mis-stepping and had to break down and walk/run the rest of the route. I HATE THAT WHEN THAT HAPPENS!!! I really was doing well - had a nice pace and everything! But what can I do? It is better to break down and walk part than end up on the pavement because I have mis-stepped and fallen. My time for the race was HORRIBLE!!! My worse time all season...40:43.. By some odd reason, I actually received 3rd place! I did live! Cooled down immediately and then rested the remainder of the day. I did run the next morning without any problems. Then the fatigue hit on Monday morning. Fatigue is a very odd devil that lives with me... I never know when it is going to "hit". You would think the day after or even that day of something so strenuous would knock me down... No, sometimes it takes a couple of days after a stressful event to hit me full force. It is really very odd. So anyway, on Sunday I ran my new route (in Pec) just fine. In fact, I even over shot my street by a block and added to my distance. The weather the day after the race was ideal, nothing like the day previous. That is all part of the challenge to the races - you never know what the environment is going to be like... This morning, I was back at it. Ran my route from Summit to the fairgrounds and around the grandstand twice, 3.5 miles. That went well. The temperature this morning was wonderful! Now, this weekend I do NOT have any races. I know, very odd, a whole weekend of rest. I will definetely run my route. Maybe if the weather is decent, I can do a double of my route (7 miles). I would leave a water bottle at the end of the driveway. Then I can make sure to hydrate. I am very leery about running out on my long path in this heat without having a "safety net" of being able to come home for water or whatever. Otherwise, I feel like I am managing my MS pretty well at this point. Yes, I do have issues and will always have issues. I have Secondary Progressive MS. That means that my symptoms do NOT GO AWAY AND COME BACK... They are there and I tend to slide slowly downhill. I amazed my MS doc last time I was at UW MS Clinic. He said that, someone with secondary MS was not supposed to be getting better. I attribute it all to the nutrition, exercise, overall outlook, family/friends, ect. I have stated this many times... It all makes a HUGE difference!! One of the nice things when I run besides listening to my music that I like is that I meditate. Now, I know that you are thinking - how can she meditate when running? Yes, I have to be very diligent to my running and the pavement. But I am also have to have a very calm mind. My mind at that time is very peaceful. It HAS to be peaceful or I could not concentrate on my body and the pavement, ect. Some people go and work out or run to vent aggression. I cannot have those types of thoughts when I am running. That would consume my thoughts then I would not be able to be in tune and able to be mindful of the biofeedback. People may think I am really tuned into my music. I am not. The music is nice but it is a tool to help me with pacing. Most of my mind is on me, physically. I know that other runners are probably also working on reading their bodies as they run. But for me, due to the various MS issues (spasms, mis-stepping, muscles that decide not to work, tremors, ect) I have to really concentrate on reading my body 100%. But you know what... that is OK... It has taken me time to learn to do this. I think I have a handle on how to do this. It does not mean that sometimes my body betrays me and goes south, I just have learned how to avoid some of it and what to do when it goes into its own thing. Such as the mis-stepping, usually when my body is really stressed such as high heat... When it starts getting very chronic - I have to walk. I can regain myself and then run again. There is nothing I can do about that. I am not going to give up and say, forget it or feel like a failure. I also need to keep in the front of my mind why I persue this... Yes, to maintain my mobility as long as possible and also I run for everyone with MS who cannot. I always run with my MS hat... I am showing support to the MS community. I am also educating people that not everyone with MS is in a wheelchair. Yes, we still have symptoms and they suck -- but for many of us those symptoms are invisable to others. They do not see the neuropathy pain that is so severe that you are crying in pain, they do not see the MS hug that is squeezing your midriff so hard that you can barely breath, they do not see that your vision is blurry or have double vision, they do not see how you cannot find the words to verbalize, they do not see these things... EVERYONE with MS knows these things are VERY VERY REAL!!! Do they suck? YES!!! But you just have to get up and say to "hell with it" and go do your thing. I REFUSE TO HAVE IT BEAT ME!!! I WILL CONTINUE TO GIVE IT A DAMN GOOD FIGHT!!!! ARE YOU WITH ME???????

July 5, 2012

HOT, HOT, AND MORE HOT!!!!! That is the forecast!!! It is predicted to get up to 106 degrees Fahrenheit (actual temp) today!!!! It has also be extremely dry. We have not had any good rains. In fact, it is so dry that many communities in the area cancelled their fireworks for last night's 4th celebration due to the fear of fires. All the grass and yards are basically brown. In Pecatonica, no one waters their grass because our water rates are just WAY to expensive!!! Oh well.... The other part of this is the heat. As I have explained MS and heat are not good together. In fact, quite the opposite and a bit of a dangerous combination. I have explained this in relation to the thermostat in a car getting stuck. When that happens the car will over heat and stop running. It may even ruin the engine. Same with people with MS. We cannot regulate our thermostat, ours gets "stuck". Therefore, after a race I HAVE TO COOL DOWN IMMEDIATELY!!! IT IS NOT AN OPTION!!!! Otherwise, that thermostat gets "stuck" and I will over heat which will cause serious issues with my cognitive aspects, coordination, tremors, heart rate and on and on... The only thing to do is FORCE THE BODY TO COOL DOWN AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE... That is why after a race I ice down... I literally have ice packs that I wear... It forces the body to cool down and get that thermostat back into line before it goes 100% off alignment. It is the time of year, for more activity at the fairgrounds so running through there in the morning is getting more difficult. So I have plotted a new course. It is a little farther (3.5 miles). (I was doing 3.4 with my fairgrounds route.) I think it is a little more hilly. I did it today in 45 mins. That is not too bad considering the heat. Even early this morning (6a) it was still very very hot. It is predicted to get to 106 degrees today (actual temp). Tomorrow is a non-run day being that it is the day before a race. So tonight is my 2 exercise classes. In fact, I am teaching the Pilates class for my friend Laura tonight. As I have mentioned, I LOVE Pilates. It has helped me so much with my stability and core strength. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT TO ALL PEOPLE WITH ANY STABILITY ISSUES!!!!!! Last week was the 5K in Stockton. This is EXTREMELY HILLY AND ALWAYS VERY HOT race!!! I was very pleased with this race -- I ran it 100% (1st time) and received a 3rd place in my age group. So I came home not just with the shirt but also a beautiful medal! Tomorrow's race is in a neighboring town, Winnebago. I have never done this race. Just due to the heat, it will be extremely challenging. Then I have a break from race for a week or so... That is OK - I can just work on my own training and my new route. The other interesting thing that happened to me this week is that I had jury duty. Now this is the second time I have been called. The first time, I went and sat their for awhile then was told to leave. This time I was actually picked for the jury. I served on the jury and listened to the case. It was a case regarding resisting arrest. There was two counts of this crime against this person. When we went to our room to discuss the case. We all vote guilt except one person. So then for the next hour or more we had to discuss the case to convince that person to change her vote. She finally did and we could unanimously render our verdict. We voted one count guilty and one count not guilty. But it was a VERY VERY interesting experience!!!! Which if you think about it... here at time of our nation's birthday and being part of our democratic system in action... It was really very fulfilling to me as an American. Now till Saturday, I do not run. Today, I will be in the pool. It is too hot to do much of anything else outside. Then afterwards over to the gym for a non-impact exercise class and then Pilates. Tomorrow I will probably just go over to the gym and do Pilates and non-aerobic type of workouts.

July 2, 2012

Well, I survived one on the hardest races of the season. Not only did I survive but I ran it 100% (which was my goal) and got 3rd place!!! WOW!!!! The Stockton 5K is always EXTREMELY HOT and the hills and grades on the course are very challenging!!! Last year, at that race time I was not running a 5K 100%. I was not running that far 100% till about later July... So it just shows how much I have improved. I recieved a really BEAUTIFUL medal!!! That is what I would LOVE for a Christmas present is a hanger/showcase for all my medals!!! That would be so wonderful!!! But I was looking back at my time from last year's Stockton's race I did it in 38.19 mins. This year's time was 34.52. That is an improvement in ONE YEAR of 3.67 mins or 10% improvement... That is pretty darn AWESOME!!! I know that I have done better with my time. But for that course which has so many very steep hills and grades plus the heat... I know that I went as fast as I could.... Next year, we will see... maybe I can do it faster... My next race is this Saturday... So no rest... I have been running every day since the race. I have not stopped. I have ran as early as I can to try to avoid as much heat as possible. But since the temps have been nearing 100 during the day --- even the early morning is still very very very hot. But I have been holding it together... This morning I did the 3.5 route from Summit to the fairgrounds and around the grandstand twice... I did it in 39 mins.... So that is not too bad considering the heat.... I am up to a total of 509.82 miles to date... This is since February 14, 2012!!! So my goal of the 1000 miles in one year - is a strong maybe.... I just kept track and also the challenge just for fun... What the heck??? But I am TOTALLY enjoying it and challenging myself to do more and more miles is really mindblowing!!! Here I NEVER would have thought I could do this... Not only do to the MS and all my physical limitations but there are other factors.... These factors include age (hey I am over 50); the fact that I NEVER was a runner and NEVER ran before; and there is the weight issue. I have started my whole journey grossly overweight. I still struggle with the weight and probably always will but, I feel for the first time in my life I have found the right path for me... I have found not just a "diet" but it is a way of life for me... So people ask me what I eat??? I stay with non-processed foods, alot of raw foods, no red meat, very little dairy (the only thing is yogurt a few times per week), ect.... So I make my own bread (in the breadmaker) that is with course wheat. I use very little white flour. All my flour is organic. I limit the fat content as much as possible. I use olive or canola oil sparingly. So what do I eat??? Yesterday, I had a vegan waffle (my husband made) using pumpkin and yogurt (no eggs) and sugar-free syrup, an orange and banana. For lunch I had a bowl of watermelon cut in cubes and peanut butter sandwich. Dinner was a turkey bratwurst on a homemade wheat bun; baked beans (vegan); watermelon. Then for dessert we had raspberry creme pie that I made with tofu... It was WONDERFUL!!! So there is a sample of my menu for a day. This morning for example I have had an orange and banana... I do eat ALOT of fruit and raw veggies... Tonight for dinner I will have a very large salad... But that is my dinner.... All raw greens... I LOVE it!!!! But like I have said it is a combination of items that have raised me to this point. Yes, the nutrition is a HUGE deal but also the exercise and also your overall mental status... You have to be accepting and deal with the good and the bad. When the bad (MS issues) you don't have to LOVE it... Bull --- it SUCK!!! No you have every right to get mad as HELL at it... But then you have to move on... and look at what you do have.... My MS has been a very bittersweet thing to me... If I was not diagnosed I may never have "woken up" and realized what I was doing to my own health. I was literally killing myself with the horrible nutrition and non-exercise. But the MS did "wake me up". I did realize I need to do something. I do not want to be depend on others... I WANT to be mobile... I want to be able to go do things that I enjoy... Yes - and now after 6 years of working on myself I am at that point. I can go somewhere and enjoy myself. Not go and be so damn tired that I could barely do anything. Plus be absolutely exhausted for days and days after... That is not fun... My fatigue level has improved GREATLY!! I still take my ritalin for my fatigue but it is SO SO much better. Every aspect of my symptoms have improved... There are days that it is hard, I mean REALLY REALLY hard... But you just have to keep moving.... So I do... Well another race coming up and the heat is supposed to be staying with us... All I can do is try and go... The faster I go the sooner I can cool down... That is how I look at it. I still want to go out for a long run (12 miles) but I cannot with this heat. There is NO WAY! Maybe I can do my fairgrounds route twice and stop for water half way - if I get up really early. I generally now leave at about 5:30a. So I would have to leave before 5a I think to get all that in before the heat really kills me... Well, it is 4th of July holiday this week... So I only work 2 days this week... HEY!!!! More run time for me... Plus, I am teaching Pilates for my friend at the gym this week. So I have to prepare for that... So I am ALWAYS busy -- I love it!!!!

June 27, 2012

Well, the heat is coming back.... I knew it would, this is the weekend for the Stockton 5K. This will be my (I think) 4th time doing this race. Last year, I STILL was not running a 5K 100%. So I pray that this year, I run it 100%. Since know I have been running that far and farther 100%. It is a very difficult race. Stockton is a small town close to Galena, IL. Therefore, it is VERY, VERY hilly. It is TRULY very challanging! The other REALLY nice thing is that they have opened the community swimming pool to the runners after the race. For me, this is PERFECT!!!! It really gives me an opportunity to cool down that core temperature. That is where I have such issues... I have NEVER placed at this race. There are many "big" runners that come to this race from the Galena area. These are true avid runners. But there is also people like me - just regular everyday people. My goals for this race is the usual: stay upright, finish, not be last. I would also love to improve my time from the last race in Davis. I had a time of 32.41 mins. I still REALLY want to get down to 29 by the Orangeville race in October.... Otherwise, my training has been going well. I did one longer run this last week, 6.8 miles. It had been a long time since I did that long of a run. I did not go out into the country, which I really enjoy, because of the warm weather. I worry about being out there in the middle of no where without any water. So I just did my usual route two times. That way I could stop at the house and have a water bottle at the end of the driveway. I thought that was probably a wiser idea at this point. I would love to be able to continue doing a double or even triple of my route at least one time per week. This would definetely improve my strength. That is one thing I have really improved on this last year is my strength in my legs. I believe it is from all the squats we do at BodyPump and John's classes. Then of course, my Pilates keep that core strong and me more stable!!! So right now, I have on my calendar Stockton for this Saturday and Winnebago for the following Sat after that. So I have two races in a row. I have been invited to do another race on the 4th (which is Wednesday). But I think having 3 races in a week's time span is to much. I have just graduated to having them each Saturday. Last year, I only did races every other weekend. So I am doing more races this year. That does improve my overall running, time and strength. So not only is the exercise a key component to my improvement but the nutrition is the other key aspect. Staying away from the processed foods, red meat, and going into a more whole foods and raw foods type diet. It is not to say I never have pizza. Let's get real, there are some things one must have sometimes. But I have pizza maybe at the most twice a month. So even that is really limited. The pizza I have is vegetable and chicken. Never with any red meat. But that is probably the only packaged prepared foods that I have anymore. Everything else is either raw or I cook from scratch. Now with a big race on Saturday, on Friday night I will probably have some carbs... so maybe some spagetti with a little tomato sauce. If I feel like it I may heat up one of my homemade Bocca burgers just for the added protein. But I try to keep it light and yet keep the carbs and protein up. It seems to work out. Then on the morning of the race, I have a small bowl of oatmeal with some fruit. Nothing big... I mean a SMALL bowl... It seems to be enough to keep the energy level up. Then after the race I can have a real meal. But now with the warm weather it lets me get in some "quality pool time" and also lets me continue with my quilting projects. Swimming is something I have always loved. I have swam since I was a little kid. I was on various swim teams. My stroke was the butterfly for that you need to have a very strong upper body. I still swim in my pool. I have a 24' round pool. Jeremy got me a really wonderful thing - basically it is like a leash that you put around your waist and fasten to a stable post. Then you can swim and swim and swim.... So I usually get in and swim for awhile various strokes. It is also good cross training for my running. Plus, you don't sweat when you swim. That is the beauty with summer - there is always so many things you can do. I love all the activity and options. That what makes everything fun!!! Well, wish me luck for the Stockton 5K and hope that it is not horribly hot!!!!! I really want to run it 100% and just do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

06/20/2012

This week has been VERY hot outside. Heat is not a good thing for us with MS. We tend to be heat intolerant. What does that mean? So, everyone gets hot so what... Well, folks with MS... our nerves are basically exposed... So think of it this way... You have a huge cavity in your tooth. The nerve is very exposed therefore, if you drink anything hot or cold it would cause you severe discomfort. Right? Same kind of thing with people with MS, our nerves are damaged. The mylelin coating around my nerves is damaged. So just like if your house wiring does not have the insulating coating - there is trouble if you keep turning on and off the switches. It is probably severe enough that you get a house fire. Well, that is what basically happens to me. My nerves are damaged and there are places (many) where there is no coating around the nerves. Severe heat or cold cause me to overheat on an extreme degree. Since I do not have that coating in some places, my internal thermostat literally gets "stuck". Then I am just burning inside and outside. Another way to think about it is, if your car thermostat does not work properly and you drive extremely fast (such as one of my races) the car will overheat, stop working properly, and may destroy your engine permanently. Same thing with me, I shut down literally. My cognitive aspects go right outside the door, my balance, the foot-drop, the tightness/banding feeling --- all of it escalates 100000000000000000000%. This is not an exaggeration... For me it could very easily lead to some time in the hospital to bring down that core temperature and then through IV steroids to bring the symptoms to a manageable level. So yes, heat and MS are very SERIOUS!!!!! So with my running I have figured out that the very second I cross the finish line - I HAVE TO COOL DOWN RIGHT THEN!!!! So I go to every race with a pack of blue ice. I have my husband and friends literally start putting the ice on me as I cross the line. It seems that if this happens before that thermostat has a chance to really get "stuck". Then I can be absolutely fine for the rest of the day... no problems. So as you can see, there are SO MANY things that I have discovered so that I can participate in this sport. I have had to figure all of these things on my own and what exactly seems to work for me. But - OK - if that what it takes for me to run, OK. I have my "people" that understand and are willing to help me. This is also why my race times are MUCH better with cooler weather. It is less stress to my body. But I also fluctuate the other way... I cannot handle it if it is cold. Just like that tooth with the big cavity - you cannot go eating the huge cup of ice cubes. Same with me, all those nerves are basically exposed. So the extreme cold causes me unbelievable amount of shear PAIN. So as you can see, I am a balancing act all the time. I never know when my body will fall out of "balance" but, to dwell on that is pointless. I believe in living for today and the now. I celebrate EVERY single time I run and work out... I celebrate my mobility!!!! There was so many years, that my mobility was so very limited that now I feel (even with my current issues) that I have much more freedom. It is a very strange feeling. It is like I was in bondage and someone untied me. So YES - it is a HUGE deal!!!! So that is why I have decided to keep a diary of my experiences and thoughts. I hope that maybe it would encourage others and I hope and pray that I will continue to progress. I know and truly understand that MS is EXTREMELY unpredictable. Who knows, MS may knock me flat and my running days are over. But then again, maybe not.... I don't know the answer. I know that my overall physical health is better than ever and my MS symptoms (on the whole) are fairly tolerable. What more can I ask for at this point? I feel EXTREMELY grateful to be able to say that. So YES - the nutrition and exercise are so very important!!! I know there are MANY days that after work driving home - I think I am so extremely tired... But I know that is that damn MS fatigue talking.... I go and workout and usually I get a burst of energy to get me through. Afterwards, yes - I am EXTREMELY exhausted. I cannot even verbalize my thoughts. I just go home and rest. Then after I am ready to go again. I know you may think this is way to masochistic. Maybe so. Also I will tell you that my overall health is better than it has been in decades, my fatigue level is better than it has in decades, my cognitive aspects have improved GREATLY, my balance has improved GREATLY, etc. So YES - it is worth it.... I believe that by being diligent with the exercise and nutrition I will prolong my decline with the MS. I will also be around and active whenever I become a grandmother. I had a very active grandmother. I plan to be that same way. Not the grandmother that the grandkids push in the wheelchair.... I want to play with them, run with them, jump, and climb.... To me that is a goal.... So I continue to push... Yes, I do take "breathers" now and then. They do not last long maybe a day of rest. But for me since the spasticity in muscles are so severe they become very very tight feeling. So working and stretching the muscles everyday is so very important!!! It is not like "normal" people. The tightness is awful. So stretching and working those muscles are imperative to my mobility. It does not matter if I am tired or don't have time.... No - mobility is way to big of an issue for me. I have been down the limited mobility road for too may years - I want OFF.... I LOVE being mobile and vow to do anything it takes to continue down that path. The sacrifice is WELL WORTH IT!!!!!!!!!! So go and do something... run, walk, swim, whatever... just move.... I have a saying on my ID bracelet "Just Do It". So no matter what just do it... whether you walk with a walker, cane, or just slow... move... "just do it"!!!!!!

06/13/2012

Yes, I some how survived last weekend of having 2 races in less that 24 hours apart. Friday night was the race in German Valley IL. It was HORRIBLY HOT!!! Also the course, which was through the streets in town, there was not any shade. The other problem was that they did NOT block traffic during the race. So you literally had to look before crossing any intersections. I did finish the race, not as well as I would have liked. But for my first night race - I was OK. I did get 1st place in my age division!!! My time was 36:56. I had to walk some basically due to the heat.

June 18, 2012

WOW!!! What a busy and exciting weekend!!!! June 15th was my daughter, Elyse's birthday. It is really hard to fathom that she is now 26 years old!!! She has become a wonderful, self-reliant, wise, loving, and fun person. I could not be happier of how she has grown. Saturday, was an extremely busy and very exciting day!!! I started the day with a 5k race in Davis IL. It was a hard race (they all are hard). There was only about a dozen people at this race. They did not have any prizes or awards. The whole aspect to these race is the challenge. Every single race for me is a HUGE challenge. I never know if my body (due to the MS) is going to not cooperate and then I could be out of the race... But I don't think of what may or could be.... forget that.... I just go..... In this race, I went.... I had my BEST time so far.... 32.41!!!! I am getting closer to that goal of breaking the into the 29 min.... This course was FAR from flat - we had step hills, grades, and even a small area that was NOT paved. So I did have some real obstacles. After the race, went home cleaned up and went into Chicago to hear Dr. Terry Wahl's speak. I was also hoping to meet my Facebook and MS running friend but, she had some unexpected family issues. There will be a next time, that I am sure!!! But I did hear Dr. Wahl's speak. I am a very strong proponent of her philosophy of nutrition and exercise with MS (and general health). I researched on my own through help of my colleagues about nutrition. Since my diagnosis in 2006, I have lost over 120 lbs plus look at the running.... Who would have EVER imagined that I could get to this point????!!!! Believe me - I am MORE surprised than anyone!! I researched about nutrition and MS. I found that getting rid of the processed foods and all the chemicals was NUMBER ONE!!! I do not eat red meat. I only eat poultry, fish, or wild game. Plus of these meats - I sometimes have it at the MOST twice a week or sometime not for a few weeks. My diet is primarily raw... a lot of fruit and veggies... I use soy or rice milk. I use tofu quite a bit as my source of protein. Since I exercise so much, I have to have a good ratio of protein. This I do from the leafy greens, soy milk with protein powder, nuts, and beans. So I am not deficient on any of my nutrients. We differ in some of our daily aspects but the general philosophy of nutrition and organic foods - I am 100% in her corner!!! After her lecture (which was FANTASTIC) I went up and introduced myself. I have talked with her a couple of time on Facebook. She was thrilled and seemed to remember me right away! She had everyone re-take their seats and she want ME to tell this very large room full of people my story. So I did. She told me afterwards that she wanted my contact information for another book that she is putting together. So that I thought was EXTREMELY AWESOME!!!!! Yes - I told the audience that the principles that Dr. Walhs' speaks about is 100% and does it help -- YES!!! Does having the proper nutrition and exercise help - YES!!! Does it make the MS go away - NO!!!! But I am 10000000000000....% healthier now than I have been in decades..... But it takes TIME! It took me about 6 years to reach this point. It is not a "QUICK FIX" BUT HAS TO BECOME A LIFESTYLE!!!! That is the TRUE KEY (in my opinion). Plus look I am running... not walking - a over 50 year old women running races... and actually placing and winning... Plus my cognitive is so much better and also my fatigue. I still take all the western medications... plus my interferon... But it is the nutrition and exercise that has gotten me to this point. I DEMAND to maintain my mobility and my independence!!!! Also another very important aspect to this recipe - is your over all outlook and faith. I have meet people with MS or other neuromuscular diseases and they just give up. WHY??? That is my question. Why would anyone just give themselves right over to that devil, MS??? That is absolutely moronic!!! Every time that devil, MS, tries to take me - I fight even HARDER!!!!! Those are usually the days that I exercise even harder.... I refuse to let that devil MS take me down... and if it does and might bring me down - it definitely will not be without a damn good fight!!! Every running race I do - for me is a celebration. It is a celebration that I am able to do this... it is a celebration for all the others with MS that cannot but are still fighting in their own way.... So therefore, I run.... Now you have to know - this is a newer sport for me. I was NEVER the track kid in school. I NEVER ran in my 20's or 30's. My sport was swimming. That was my sport since I was very young. I am truly blessed that I do have good joints. Especially, after all those years of being over weight. Some how I did get very fortunate in that regard. So what is stopping me - NOTHING!!! Do I still have drop foot issues - yes; do I still have the banding - yes; do I still have the heat intolerance - yes; do I still have the neuropathy pain in my feet and legs - yes; do I still have balance issues - yes; plus all the other issues... BUT - I have learned to manage and deal with them. I do not let them over take me. Since I have the neuropathy and banding feelings 24/7 - I am basically used to it. Yes - there are many times especially with running that these feelings become more intense. Those are times when I say, "damn MS, I will not let you win..." Yes, the heat issues are HORRIBLE and drain every bit of energy... After a race, I have my "pit crew" husband and some of my team mates --- literally start putting ice packs on me the second I cross the finish line. I have to cool down - NOW!!! Once I have cooled down - I seem to be fine and function through the rest of the day.... So there are various "tricks" that I have learned over the last year of running that works for me... The next race? All I can do is my best.... That is what I always try to do!!! Always keep moving FORWARD!!!!!!!