By John Ball, Team Parkinson
Hi everyone! John Ball here with Team Parkinson and I’m getting ready to run in the 2016 Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon Race Weekend, which is just around the corner. If you’re a person living with Parkinson’s disease and prepping to run a race, like me, check out these timeless tips to help you get ready for your race.
Keep Your Goal In Sight:
With less than a month to go, I know that it’s time for me to shift up into the next gear and get ready for the 2-Person Charity Relay I’ll be running. Whether it is your first or 20th race; and regardless how far you plan to go, keep your goal front and center to help you stay motivated. As soon as one is accomplished—set the next one.
Establish a Routine:
The alarm clock goes off at 6am. I roll reluctantly out of bed and shuffle downstairs to take my first dose of Parkinson’s disease meds so I can get to the gym for my hour workout and then run the two miles home. This is my routine on Tuesdays. Then on Thursdays, after the gym session, I head over to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena for another 3 or more mile run with our Team Parkinson training group. This group is training for the upcoming LA Big5K. This terrific group is testament to everything Team Parkinson has tried to accomplish over the years. On Sundays I wake just as early to meet my running buddies, Mark, Doug and Mimi to stretch out those miles. This weekend I’m aiming for 10 miles, so that I’m pretty close to the 13.1 I’ll have to run on Sunday, February 14th for my half of the Charity Relay Marathon.
Keep Remembering the Benefits of Running:
Yes, the race is on Valentine’s Day. So “love” is the theme. I’ll be honest and say that I no longer “love” long-distance running, but I do love that it has kept me in pretty good shape for a 71-year old who has had Parkinson’s disease for over 40 years. Exercise is an important part of daily life for everyone. And for people with Parkinson’s, it is even more important to managing Parkinson’s symptoms.
Run With Friends:
I love my running buddies. They keep me honest and won’t let me quit this good thing I’ve got going.
Be a Cheerleader to Others:
I love my family for continuing to encourage me and cheer me on. And I love that I can set a good example for others with Parkinson’s to embrace exercise as a way to help their quality of life.
You too can lace up those running shoes and join Team Parkinson on race weekend: February 13 & 14. Register with us!
John Ball has been a runner all his life. He has completed 25 solo marathons, one ultra-marathon, and several team efforts. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1983 at age thirty-nine. He has also authored his memoir “Living Well, Running Hard,” in which he narrates his story of how he has lived with Parkinson’s disease and how he has worked to create a better life for others struggling with difficult diagnoses and debilitating diseases.
