What happens when a marathoner faces cancer? For Liz Krznarich, running had been her constant companion for 27 years before a breast cancer diagnosis at age 40 threatened to take away this core piece of her identity.
The parallels between marathon training and enduring cancer treatment emerged in unexpected ways throughout Liz's journey. "Having that marathon training perspective and being really familiar with discomfort was extremely helpful," she explains, "because there's a whole lot of discomfort during chemo." Yet the experience also humbled her, revealing the limitations of the "mind over matter" approach that had served her through countless long runs. As her treatment reduced her red blood cell count and compromised her digestive system's ability to absorb water, Liz discovered that some physiological challenges couldn't be overcome through mental fortitude alone.
Rather than abandoning physical activity entirely, Liz adapted. She replaced runs with long walks, discovered yoga to combat muscle tightness, and used stationary biking to maintain cardiovascular fitness when running wasn't possible. When treatment left her feeling disconnected from her runner identity, she creatively scheduled half marathons to coincide with her final treatments – giving herself something to look forward to beyond the medical appointments that dominated her calendar.
Perhaps most profound is how this journey transformed Liz's relationship with her body. The runner who once "had a history of driving my body into the ground" now approaches training with newfound respect for the complex physiological processes that make running possible. "Our bodies are amazing and they deserve to be treated nicely," she reflects. "All the tiny cellular processes going on are pretty miraculous." This wisdom extends to her approach to nutrition, hydration, and recovery – aspects she previously neglected but now embraces as essential components of running longevity.
Whether you're facing health challenges or simply seeking to become a more balanced athlete, Liz's story offers powerful perspective on resilience, adaptation, and gratitude for what our bodies can do. Share your thoughts about this episode and subscribe to hear more inspiring stories from runners overcoming obstacles on their journey over the next hill.
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