wow ..very interesting and good for her ..i couldnt run a marathon even when i was young and healthy ..love reading about success stories though ...thanks .

OOOooooooooooo. I'm a bitter little spud - so tell me Ms. Marathoner how many DMARDS, biologics, and other meds did you fail before finding a cocktail other then Celebrex to handle you RA condition? How many deformities, erosions, and other restrictions do you have to compensate for? When was the last time you got a ticket for falling asleep at a stop light as the fatigue was so sincere?

It's stories like these that really get my grannies in a knot. My brother runs marathons (he has no health issues) and this will just add to his claim if you just lost weight and exercised you'd be better!

Well doi. I know that but how the blazes do you "exercise" when you've attempted to shower for the past four days and failed for various reasons including but not limited to not being able to get your sports bra off! And don't you dare tell me to just push through it! Arrrrrggggghhh! Arrrrrrgggggh! Give me my pirates patch because Arrrrrrgh!

Will anyone who reads this ever take note of the If you have a really well controlled disease and no history of deformity of feet, ankle, or knees, you could train? Ahhhhhh you think this platypus left foot of mine fits that bill? Sure does but will anyone talking to me notice that I have been in a darco boot for at least two years as orthotics just don't cut it and can't be made for "that" foot. Noooooooo.

But, but I read this article of someone who lost weight and now runs marathons. If you would just do that your RA would be fine.

To quote RA Warrior again, "If sloth did not cause my disease, exercise surely will not cure it"!

(insert deep cleansing breaths here - out with the bad - pause so I don't suck the bad back in - in with the good) Okay I think I am done ranting. ;-)

Somehow I think I missed the whole point of the article. Tends to happen when I get such a wedgie. Sorry folks!

I feel happy for the author, but like Smith 101, I was also ticked off that the article seems to suggest that you just need to get off the couch Lazybones. I'm sorry, but I was a marathoner before this disease hit and now there's no way that I'd be able to do even a 5k. I know what it takes to train for these and what a toll it would take on my joints. I guess it's a matter of degree of RA, but I need a pirate's patch, too.

I'm very glad that this young woman is able to do this, but i do not think it's the norm. I do feel better if i walk and exercise, but it is very limited and i wouldn't run 100 miles if i didn't have RA. LOL...

It is wonderful to see a success story like this.

smith101...yikes ..guess you are rite ..didnt look at it that way ...so re- thinking this ..so is most what gets posted the truth or a fabrication of the truth or just feel good stories to keep our chin up..im still searching for the truth and answers ..but like you ..my toes are going in the opposite direction then what they used to do ..almost like a hitch hikers thumb ..but not ..
so re- thinking this ..sure hope some good things happen mixed in with the bad ..who knows.

I love this story, but it sounds like her RA is fairly mild, no joint deformities, etc. I am afraid people will use it to say that all people with RA could be cured with running. Still, I found it moving, I have been walking with my daughter who is training for a 5k. The walking feels good and does help with pain management, but the balls of my feet have been swollen and I do have joint damage, so I can't really see being a marathoner in my future, but I'm really glad this girl did.

seems a little sugar coated, does anyone here "manage" their RA with IB?? I pretty much think most of us wouldn't be here if that was the case. there is nothing wrong with being in the best shape that you possibly can (it helps with every aspect of your health) but I think that it would be really easy to over do it--and that can hold serious consequences for someone with RA ...lol how about a nice walk :D

I ran a 1/2 marathon before my RA diagnosis and made it up to 18 miles before ending my training as my symptoms progressed. I have often dreamed on returning to running. I walk and hike unless I have a significant flare.

I find it interesting that in her blog, Ms Murphy doesn't once mention her RA diagnosis. While she may be disappointed that more folks dx'ed with RA don't run, I'm a bit disappointed that she never addresses the topic of training with RA in her own blogs. I'd be very interested in how she integrates her condition into her training routine.

And yes, as others here have mentioned - if Celebrex and/or ibuprofen alone control her flares, then her disease is not as aggressive or as advanced as many of us experience. It's unfortunate that this point is not addressed in either the article or her blog. But I do wish her well, and her success story would be amazing with or without RA.

I agree that someone without RA could easily misinterpret the article. Even for someone who has RA, the article can be confusing, and the advice seems a bit contradictory.

Sorry, Smith101, I didn't mean touch a sore spot! But I'm glad you highlighted a crucial caveat -- whether one's RA is/was well controlled or not. That's a huge factor. The article also says "let pain be your guide."

Murphy's been able to stop her daily meds (Celebrex), so I can't imagine that her RA is very severe.

OK, after a re-read of the blog, I see that Ms. Murphy mentions her RA dx in the "about me" section. And maybe she discusses RA implications in her archived sections in previous years (not like I have the time to search the whole blog).

But my point is still this - if she wants more folks with an RA dx to climb on board the marathoning wagon, she'd be well-served to reach out to us and address the topics of running through a flare (or not), pain, soreness, disfigurement, equipment, shoes, training, etc, to offer hope and success stories for folks with moderate to aggressive disease. Fingers crossed.

Vigorous activity of high intensity can be well tolerated

I find this article bizarre. It's also very misleading for the average person without RA. I found a blog where she does go into detail about running with her RA
http://www.thefitbee.com/2013_01_01_archive.html

She says "Living with my RA became a lot easier when I lost my weight. It limited my ability before I lost the weight because I let it."
What kind of statement is that?

This may sound mean, but I think she's kidding herself. She thinks her activity makes her less likely to have joint damage later, but I think she is setting herself up for big problems later.

I have relatively mild, very slow progressing RA - that's one reason it's taken 22 yrs for a rheumy to take me seriously - and Ibuprofen hasn't held me since 1993. Her experience should not be held out as a goal to others with RA - I think it's very rare.

And I've lost 35 lbs this year, and it hasn't helped my RA at all.

Re: weight - I'm with lady3jane - I've lost weight and my RA is worse than ever. Got healthy, eating clean clean clean, weight loss - you'd think that would help - and I'm not saying it doesn't for others (!) - but it has had zero effect on my RA course.

p.s. I used to run - now walking to the mailbox is a HUGE accomplishment!

For those of you who were runners (and you know who you are!), your problem is that you slackers weren't ULTRAmarathoners. Had you only known . . .

I'm also on the list of people who get annoyed/enraged by these cheery little up-by-the-bootstraps articles. Of course, Advil!! Why didn't my doctor think of that?

Altoclef - I can always count on you to make me laugh, lol. I confess another reason I cringe at these articles is b/c I already have people (without RA or its myriad complications,naturally) advising me that exercise will make me better. OMG so if they see this stuff they can feel righteous about their "get up and MOVE" advice while I sit here fuming, lol.

I not only used to RUN, but I did lots of cardio and weight training, PLUS yoga and dance classes. Yeah, a real slacker I was (sarcasm alert). ; )

BOOM - right on RASally. Like we "attracted" our illness through negative thoughts..........as just one example....

If anyone is a cheerleader for positive thinking, getting "centered," and spiritual health and all that jazz, it would be me - but I draw the line at implications that our thoughts or attitude cause or worsen our RA, etc. etc.

It's one thing to use the many, many psychological and mental tools at our disposal to DEAL with the issues/challenges with a chronic illness - but it's another thing altogether to wield said tools as a weapon against the sufferer.....