For beginners or readers with chronic illness or pain, some of the exercises in this book may seem intimidating. I would certainly recommend beginning with some of the breathing and meditation exercises that Dr. Zazulak suggests, regardless of your fitness level. For those who have a solid base of core stability, the more advanced exercises like those incorporating medicine balls and plyometrics may be the challenge you’re looking for. 

You’ll also find some useful nuggets of information that may even surprise you if you’re a personal trainer or fitness junkie, like the link between the core and the jaw. The following is an exclusive excerpt from Master Your Core. To learn more or order your own copy, click here. ​

The connection between your core floor and your jaw begins in the third week of embryonic development, when they are joined by your spine. From this time on, the jaw and pelvis are strongly linked in mind-body-spirit, as tensions in the two areas very often mirror each other. The pelvic floor is integrally linked with your entire being, which includes your emotions and nervous system. 

Women in particular tend to internalize emotions more often, which manifests as muscle tension in an unrelaxed core floor. When muscles tense, they constrict the nerves that send electrical signals between your muscles and your brain, causing spasms, weakness, and/or pain. Muscle tension also compromises blood flow, which deprives your muscles of the vital oxygen and nutrients they need to function optimally.

Most people do not even realize that they cruise through much of their day “riding their clutch,” with the core floor engaged all the time. When new drivers learn how to shift gears, it takes practice to get the hang of fully disengaging and re-engaging the clutch. This causes mechanical problems in a car, just as having a constantly engaged core floor does in your body. If you never truly disengage your core floor, you may experience tightness, decreased range of motion, and even pain. Awareness and mindful relaxation of tense muscles is the key to good nerve transmission and blood circulation, which is necessary for a healthy core floor. Again, this takes practice!

To practice relaxation of your core floor, scan your body for areas of tension and gently release, as you practice your mindful deep breathing. Gently place your tongue behind your front teeth to relax your jaw and think of something that makes you happy and grateful. Fully relax your pelvic floor with each inhalation. If you tense up your pelvic floor muscles, you’ll notice that your jaw will also tighten up. Relax one, and the other will follow.
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Visualization helps relax the floor, so think of a peaceful place such as a mountain, forest, or beach. Imagine what you would see, hear, feel, smell, and taste, and let your floor go. Reconnect with your pelvic floor to stop driving through life riding your clutch, and cruise your way to a relaxed and balanced core, mind, and life. ​

​Researchers have studied the strong connection between addiction and distance running, proving that many recovering addicts have a unique disposition for the sport. For many, one obsession is replaced by another (usually less destructive) one. The traits that can predispose a person to addiction can also produce fierce athletes. 

We hear less about runners who struggle with chronic pain. Of course, the cause of pain determines whether or not a chronic pain warrior is physically able to run without causing further damage. But those who continue to run through the pain, like those who have turned to running as an anti-drug, have a unique mindset and stamina that can lead to success in running and in life. 

But what about endurance athletes who already live in a chronic pain state? The jury is still out on this one. We know that activities like running increase feel-good hormones that can help reduce pain, but further research is needed to explore the relationship between chronic pain, endurance and performance.

As a runner who lives with chronic pain, I have my own theories. I think running appeals to me because it puts the ball back in my court. I didn’t choose chronic pain, but I can choose to run. And the pain associated with running is one that I can practice some control over with proper training, recovery and determination. That feeling of control, coupled with the mental fortitude required to run long distances with chronic pain, gives me a sense of power over my pain. 

Running isn’t an easy sport, and it certainly isn’t for everyone. But if you’re interested in giving it a try, keep in mind a few tips to start running as a chronic pain warrior:

​Your doctor can help you decide if running is safe for you and may be able to give you some recommendations based on your diagnosis and current fitness level.

​A general rule of thumb for beginner runners is to increase your weekly mileage no more than 10% each week. Runners with chronic pain should be especially mindful of this rule and give their bodies extra time to adapt. 

​Any running routine, from the low-mileage beginner plan to an elite training regimen, requires adequate rest and recovery. Take time to listen to your body and don’t ignore any unusual aches or pains. There’s nothing wrong with taking a day off!

Are you a runner with chronic pain? Share your tips in the comments!

Resources:
Effective Options for Runners with Chronic Pain
How Training Helps You Handle Pain
​Tips on Confronting & Managing Chronic Pain
Is It Safe to Run If You Have Chronic Pain?

I remember flipping through a magazine when I was a sophomore or junior in high school and coming across an article about a celebrity who had started running local 5Ks. I think it was one of those teen magazines (I have no idea who the celebrity was). I wasn’t a particularly athletic kid, but I found myself thinking, “maybe I can be a runner. I don’t have to join a team, and I can wear cool shoes.” It seemed like a logical choice for a 16-year-old with no interest in organized sports or after-school practices. 

So I went to Kohl’s and bought a crappy pair of running shoes (something I wouldn’t be caught dead doing now that I work in a running store). I decided I would start by just running around the block. That seemed reasonable. But I quickly realized that I couldn’t even make it the 50 yards to the corner from my driveway. 

​At 16, I had already been diagnosed with migraine disease, but it wasn’t well-controlled with medication. I wouldn’t know about the endometriosis that was making me anemic and sucking the oxygen from my muscles until almost fifteen years later. In the meantime, my doctor would give me an inhaler for what he assumed was exercise-induced asthma. Each time I’d hit the road to attempt a run, my lungs would seize and burn, making it impossible for me to do anything faster than a (very) slow jog. 

But I stuck with it. If it had been easy, I don’t know that I’d still be running today. Each time I went out, I tried to pass a few more houses before I had to stop and walk. Eventually, I was running a mile nonstop. I might have had a very loose definition of “running,” but I was putting one foot in front of the other. And you have to start somewhere.

Most days, I came home from school with pain and swelling behind my right eye, some degree of nausea and severe sensitivity to light and sound. When you have a migraine flare, all you want to do is curl up in bed with the lights off. And while that’s a totally acceptable response to migraine, it wasn’t my response. After all, I was in the angsty throes of teenagerhood. Running became my way of saying “fuck you” to my illness (and some days, the world). I was doing the very thing that I shouldn’t be able to do. I was sticking my middle finger up in the face of a disabling disease. I was running out of spite.

​I’ve run a lot of races since the Pumpkin Dash. In just a few weeks, I’ll run my longest race yet – the Hot Cider Hustle 15K in Detroit. And I’ll need all the motivation I can get to reach that caramel apple waiting for me at the 9.3-mile mark. 

I know plenty of runners who repeat empowering mantras or wear shoelaces with inspiring quotes when they run. The only mantra that seems to work for me has always been “Fuck You.” So if you see me on the race course swearing under my breath, just know I’m not cursing the weather or cramping up. I’m in the zone. This is my mantra, my power move.

​I was surprised to find that creating a new habit - running/walking every day (no matter what) - was much easier to commit to than "quitting" a bad habit. Something about adding a new activity to your routine is more appealing than subtracting something that's already ingrained in your everyday life. So instead of giving up ice cream (not going to happen), I've committed to eating more fruit this month. And guess what? I'm still enjoying my ice cream and reaping the nutritional benefits of eating more fruit at the same time. After all, it's not about depriving yourself of the things that make you happy - it's about intentionally doing things every day that are good for your body, mind and soul.

When you stop seeing an activity - in this case, running/walking - as optional, you eliminate the mental battle that goes along with choosing to participate in it. The time and energy that I would usually spend debating whether or not I should go for a run (and coming up with excuses not to) was entirely eliminated when I committed to the run streak. There was nothing to debate. My run suddenly became a priority. It would happen every day. No. Matter. What.
The weird part? Not having an option was somehow incredibly freeing. I felt like a little kid again: no stressful decisions, just me, my shoes and the road.  

Have you ever completed a run streak? Tell me about your experience in the comments!

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If you follow me on Instagram, you're probably already getting annoyed by my #runstreak posts (sorry, not sorry). May is Mental Health Month, and I've committed to running and/or walking at least one mile every day in support of people with mental illnesses.

I recently learned about Still I Run - an organization dedicated to raising awareness and stopping the stigma surrounding mental illness - whose founder, Sasha Wolff, was featured in the May issue of Women's Running magazine. In celebration of Mental Health Month, hundreds of Still I Run community members are streaking (running or walking every day) for the entire month of May. 

In addition to supporting a cause I care about, my personal run streak is a challenge to become both more intentional and more consistent in my daily exercise regimen. I've always struggled to maintain consistency, whether it's in running, writing, or any other routine. Just as blogging has given me a weekly deadline to keep me writing consistently, my hope is that this streak will get me back in the habit of moving every day. No excuses.

My motivation for taking on this challenge was sparked when I completed the Run For It 5K last month in support of another great organization dedicated to mental health, To Write Love On Her Arms. My friend's sister hosted the fundraiser, complete with a post-walk cookout at her house, raising a record-breaking $5,000. It was a beautiful day for a walk and a helpful reminder that it's going to take intentional action to overcome the stigma attached to mental illness.