I'm Half Marathon Training!

This week, I want to talk about how I started half-marathon training as someone with hereditary spastic paraplegia.

Earlier this year, I started walking. First, it was a couple of miles. Then it was 5 miles. Then, all of a sudden, I was out walking 10 miles and decided I could keep going until 13.1 miles. Now I've walked many half marathons, with my fastest time being under 4 hours, and my hardest route including Box Canyon. I've also run a 5k and am signed up to do the Ventura Half Marathon at the end of February 2027! I never thought this was possible with my hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP), and I am really excited to be on this journey.

So far, my training has varied from me doing long walks, with my longest walk being 15 miles, and shorter runs where I do split sprints. I am enjoying the longer walks right now because I feel like I am pushing myself, whereas with the runs I feel like I am not where I want to be. Right now, I can run without stopping for 2 miles and am focusing on improving my running technique to avoid injury. This is where having a disability comes in- I can tell I'm more susceptible to knee and ankle pain, and I have to be mindful when training that I need rest days and patience. I've also been dealing with blisters. I thought I solved this with running socks, but I got new ones again from my latest half-marathon walk on Box Canyon. If you are a runner, please let me know how you avoid blisters. I have been given a list of stretches to do each day, and that is also hard for me to do because I am tired after training, and the stretches are hard for me to do because I am tight. But I am trying to be better about them. I have a little under 7 months to train, so hopefully I am able to stick with it. In addition to cardio training, I am also doing strength training 2x a week. One class is full body, and one is specifically core and pelvic floor. This approach allows me to be more well-rounded in my training, and get the benefit of gaining muscle.

Gear-wise, I've sucked it up and bought a hydration vest. I hate the look of it because I walk around town, but it is really important to stay hydrated. I fill one bottle with water, and the other with electrolytes. If you have an electrolyte brand you like, let me know! I am always looking for new electrolyte brands to try. Additionally, I am looking to solve my issue with blisters. I'm not sure if I need new running shoes, a different size of shoe, or if I'm having a different issue. I also have a new Garmin GPS watch that makes tracking my time and routes easy. I got a discount through my gym membership, and have been loving it. Besides my hydration vest, GPS watch, and shoes, I have been trying to listen to good running music and keep healthy protein bars on me. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know!

My biggest lesson during this period of my life is, "I am disabled, and." I am disabled, and I can try training for a half marathon even if I end up having to walk most of it. I am disabled, and I can explore new hobbies. I am disabled, and I can try new things even if I didn't think I could do them before. For a long time, I have struggled with being afraid of losing my disability community and identity if I didn't seem disabled enough. And my health isn't perfect- I've had days where I've tripped and fallen, or where my energy isn't at its peak because I've been training. But changing my mindset on my disability identity has really allowed me to try new things. Through trying new things, I've been learning how much I'm falling in love with walking and running. I can't wait to get even better at it!

If you want to get into running, I was sent the following promo code for a 5k training app. For a free week of the app, enter code: ANNIE5k

Thank you for reading my half marathon training! I will continue to update as it gets closer to race day. If you have any questions or comments, please comment on the blog, reach out at @Anniekrollblog on Instagram or Facebook, or email me at Anniekrollblog@gmail.com. I hope to see you next week!