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26 posts for 26 miles
26 posts for 26 miles
Mile 9 is a good point to look a little deeper at some of the factors that can impact marathon runners and epilepsy patients. What are some of my tricks for improving hydration and electrolytes while training to run long distances? How are Freeman’s seizures influenced by his sleep and stress levels? The more we understand these factors, the better we can prepare to be at our best. Everyone deals with stress in their day-to-day lives. Imagine if that stress caused you to have a seizure! That is a reality for many people we know that battle epilepsy. We have noticed Freeman can have an increase in his seizures during stressful times. School homework and tests, new social groups, and sports competitions have made Freeman nervous and stressed. The stress usually assures that Freeman will have a seizure when he falls asleep. However, in extreme situations Freeman has told us that he has had seizure-like events during the day. We now plan beforehand to make sure Freeman is in the best situation possible. The school administration has approved 504 plans to improve his participation in all class activities. The primary accommodation allows Freeman additional time to take tests. Freeman has excelled in the classroom, but we believe this simple stress relief has helped him from having avoidable seizures. Who doesn’t like to stay up late with their friends watching movies and/or having a sleep over? Typically, a late night with Freeman leads to a seizure once he falls asleep. We noted that Hospitals use this cause-and-effect to schedule their complex imaging procedures. However, think about how that impacts a young boy. Freeman has had few sleep overs. We educate the parents of Freemans close friends so that their kids understand a few things about Epilepsy and make sure they know that Freeman is safe and will be ok. Unfortunately, Freeman has had seizures during his sleep overs. It is nice to see his close friends support him and not get scared. Beyond sleep overs, we make sure to keep Freeman on a good sleep schedule. It is difficult with a growing young man, but we make sure he understands that sleep is important to reduce his chances of having seizures. He knows this is the case, and “normally” listens to us and tries to go to bed at a regular time. I am sure this will become more of an issue as homework increases and there are more evening activities with friends. Hydration is one of the biggest concerns of a distance runner. I have shared examples where my lack of proper hydration has caused me to struggle to keep running. Preparing to run a marathon requires weeks of long training runs. I have found a couple things that help a runner beat the challenge of staying hydrated. They also help you practice your hydration plan for your race. The first suggestion is to join a running group for your long runs on the weekends. Find a group that provides hydration stations along their long running courses. I have benefited from running my 16 to 23-mile-long runs with hydration fluids every 4 miles. The stations typically have Gatorade and water coolers to allow me to practice the same routine I follow during a race. I mentioned before that after 15 minutes of the race, I begin alternating water and Gatorade every station to keep my body hydrated. It is important to include a sports drink, like Gatorade, to replace the Sodium that your body is sweating out. Most races are sponsored by Gatorade, but other drinks are becoming more involved. It may be helpful to identify what drink will be provided at the marathon stations, and begin using that during your runs. The other suggestion is to carry a water belt for some of your other runs. I like to have water for any of my runs that last longer than 60 minutes. That is when I find my body begins to suffer from not replenishing fluids. I have used Gatorade or Nuun sports drink mixes with equal success. Usually 16 to 32 ounces can satisfy any run under 2 hours. Electrolytes are easily replenished using the sports drinks, but I have also relied on using Gels and Goos. The Gel/Goo contain the Sodium and Potassium that your body needs to replenish. However, they also are made to provide more sources of quick energy. Caffeine, Chocolate, Fruit flavoring allow you to get additional boosts while getting a strong dose of sodium and potassium. When I ran Boston in 2015, I did not do a good job taking my gel/goo. By mile 21 my legs began to cramp. I believe that I failed to have enough Gel/Goo as the warm weather caused me to sweat more than I had anticipated. It is always better to begin taking a Gel/Goo no later than the halfway mark, even if you only take part of the packet. Your body will appreciate the quick burst of flavor, and you will begin replacing the electrolytes your body will need soon enough! We covered some of the major factors that affect marathon runners and people with epilepsy. It is important to be keenly aware that sleep and stress affect people that experience seizures. Help them improve their situation by developing good sleep schedules and removing stressful situations. Similarly, a marathon runner must have a solid plan for handling their hydration and electrolytes. Join a running group to easily practice hydrating during long weekend runs. Consider these factors and you will be better prepared to handle your long marathon and or epilepsy. Next up: Mile 10. Running 5 days a week, Pills 5 times a day!
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