Running Through the Pain: Finding Strength in the Face of Polyneuropathy

by Dieter R.

Boston Marathon Tragedy: A Day That Changed Everything

The television flickered with images of the elite runners and the wheelchair athletes surging forward, the energy of the Boston Marathon palpable even through the screen. It was April 15, 2013, a day etched in my memory. I had watched the runners begin their journey in Hopkinton, soaking in the excitement of those first miles, and was about to head towards the finish line on Boylston Street to cheer them on, just like I had in years past. But then the phone rang. My nephew’s voice, tight with anxiety, all the way from Germany. “Something bad has happened – you better check the news!”

Disbelief turned to horror as I watched the unfolding tragedy. The joy of the marathon, a global celebration of human endurance and spirit, shattered by senseless violence. My heart ached for the victims, their families, and a city wounded. Why the marathon? Why Boston? This wasn’t just an attack on innocent people, it was an attack on everything I believed in – an attack on humanity, an attack on hope.

Running through the Pain as a Path to Healing and Resilience

In the face of such darkness, I felt a burning need to reclaim that hope. I would fight back the only way I knew how: by running. Since that day, I’ve crossed the finish line of the Boston Marathon, the New York City Marathon, and nine times at the Chicago Marathon. Each race was a testament to the enduring power of the human spirit.

Facing a New Challenge: Living with Idiopathic Polyneuropathy

But then, a new challenge arose. At the beginning of 2024, I was diagnosed with idiopathic polyneuropathy. This meant that the nerves in my feet were damaged for reasons unknown, leading to numbness, tingling, and often challenging pain. Suddenly, my ability to run, my way of defying the darkness, was threatened. I saw my dream of running the 2024 Chicago Marathon fading away. A journey of learning – the webinars offered by the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy have been a very helpful resource – and experimentation with equipment, supplements, and training routines began. Medications whose effect was not always clear came into play. 

But giving up wasn’t an option. With the help of physical therapy, carefully chosen footwear, nerve activating insoles, and a rigorous training plan, I was determined to overcome this new obstacle. It wasn’t easy. There were days when the pain and burning in my feet made long runs extremely difficult. Fueled by the memory of that tragic day in Boston and the unwavering belief in the power of resilience, I pushed through.

Crossing the Finish Line: Running the Chicago Marathon with Polyneuropathy

And then, I did it. 26.2 miles! I crossed the finish line in Chicago. My time was a few minutes slower than my last race in 2022, and incredibly, I never had to slow down and walk. It was perhaps my most consistent marathon ever, a testament to the strength we can find within ourselves even when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges.

My journey with polyneuropathy is far from over, but running the Chicago Marathon proved that this condition doesn’t define me. It may have slowed me down, but it hasn’t stopped me. And it certainly won’t silence my voice. To everyone battling polyneuropathy, never give up on your passions. Find what moves you, what inspires you, and hold onto it with all your might. We may face challenges, but we are not defined by them. We are stronger than we think.