Running through Recovery
With Long Covid now behind her, Rachel is ready for the AJ Bell Great Bristol Run
Rachel Whitfield was training for a marathon when she caught Covid in December 2020 and her life changed dramatically.
After her initial illness, Rachel came down with Long Covid, which left her so exhausted she was barely able to walk to the end of her street. Two years later, Rachel is fully recovered and excited to be taking part in the Half-Marathon event at the AJ Bell Great Bristol Run on Sunday 14 May.
“I had a fairly mild case of Covid that was no worse than a bad ‘flu at the time,” explains Rachel. “I was well again in time for Christmas and quickly went back to work and my exercise routine. But at the start of January, I just crashed.”
Rachel describes feeling so tired she could “hardly think or function” and found herself in a cycle of similar periods of exhaustion and incapacity, then followed by short recovery periods where she felt more normal.
“Each time the crashes were worse and the periods of feeling OK were shorter. This is what’s known in Long Covid and other post viral syndromes as ‘boom and bust’ cycles.
“It was the scariest illness I’ve ever experienced. I just wanted my old life back, but against the background of the winter lockdown and all the fear that was circulating at the time, it was hard to imagine getting back to normal and I was housebound for much of March and April 2021.”
A holistic approach
These apparently random cycles made Rachel scared and anxious. She realised these thoughts and the uncertainty was impacting on her physical health and decided to take action.
“Looking back, I was juggling a lot with running my own business and being a single parent to my daughter, including home schooling her throughout the lockdowns. I expected a lot of myself. I think catching Covid was the final trigger for a body and mind burnt-out by exhaustion and stress.”
“I realised I needed to stop and take some time off work. I rested like I’ve never rested before. Not just physical rest but mental and emotional rest as well. I started doing breathing exercises and meditation and read positive stories about others who’d recovered from illnesses like mine. Soon I felt I was in control of my recovery and able to let go of so much of my anxiety.”
Slowly, Rachel reintroduced more activity as she started to feel better.
“I got my bloods checked by my GP and they couldn’t see anything wrong, so I gradually started running again. Every time I felt worried about a relapse, I’d talk myself down from that fear. I would be alright. This helped me keep going by remaining calm about things.”
These days, Rachel tries not to fit too much into her daily life and makes time to relax mentally, while remaining physically active.
“In some ways, my experience has been a gift because it forced me to stop and re-evaluate things. It’s shifted my thinking.”
Hope for others
Following her illness, Rachel is on a mission to try and help others.
“The narrative around Long Covid is awful,” she explains. “There’s so much focus on how it can permanently affect people’s lives, but everyone’s different.
“I know there are many others who, like me, have experienced this because of what their lifestyle was like before they were ill. Factors such as stress and anxiety can have a big impact on our health and contribute to symptoms persisting. By looking at the mind and body together as one system, people with Long Covid can find a way out.”
Rachel started running just a few years before she first caught Covid and has taken part in a number of races around the country. Based in Horfield, she always enjoys the AJ Bell Great Bristol Run.
“Having done the race a couple of times, I’m now familiar with the route and I really appreciate all the crowds who come out to cheer us on every time. It really makes a big difference.”
Her goal for the Half-Marathon is to keep running and to cross the finish line at around the two-hour mark.
“At one point when I had Long Covid symptoms I was told by the GP that I’d probably never run again. Some days I look back and almost cry from the thought about where I might be if I’d held on to that belief. For me it was possible to reset my wonky “fatigue alarms” and build on the positive belief that I could recover and get my life back. And for others to know that there are people like me who have recovered might give them hope that there could be a way for them to do the same.”
You can read Rachel’s blog about her experience of recovering from Long Covid at: https://mylongcovidjourney.wordpress.com/
An inclusive celebration of running – and of Bristol itself – the AJ Bell Great Bristol Run takes place on Sunday 14 May and includes a 10k, Half Marathon and Family Run. Entries are now open at greatrun.org/great-bristol-run
Related Articles
1/11
Reigning team champions return to Birmingham
As winners of last year’s Business Challenge, Solihull School returns to the start line for the AJ Bell Great Birmingham Run.
Groundbreaking Joint Venture for Future of Athletics in the UK
UK Athletics (UKA), The Great Run Company (GRC) and London Marathon Events (LME) today announced the creation of a new joint venture, Athletic Ventures.
Doting Brothers Set to Race in Memory of Baby Sister
Two loving brothers from Newcastle-Under-Lyme are limbering up to take on the AJ Bell Junior and Mini Great Birmingham Run in memory of their little sister.
Great Birmingham Run scores a hat-trick!
With a month to go before the AJ Bell Great Birmingham Run, the three football clubs are encouraging fans to run for their community foundations.
Arup are up for the challenge on Sunday 5 May
39 runners from engineering giant Arup are taking on the AJ Bell Great Birmingham Run Business Challenge.
Taking it in Their Stride in Memory of a Friend
One team of Great Birmingham Run runners is gearing up for a challenge that goes beyond the miles they'll pound on the pavement.
10 Reasons you should run the AJ Bell Great Birmingham Run
As we countdown to event day on 5 May, we spell out 10 reasons why you should get involved and (if you haven’t already!) sign up.
Emon’s expert tips for training during Ramadan
A reality TV star who ran back to back marathons while fasting during Ramadan is now aiming to inspire his fellow Muslim runners.
Power of Running: Andrew Porter
Andrew Porter, 47, has ran every Great Manchester Run 10k since it started in 2003. Read Andrew's story.
Power of Running: Halee Robinson
After falling out of love with running Halee signed up for the Great Birmingham Run and hasn't looked back. Read Halee's story.
Power of Running: Helen Ryvar
Helen Ryvar is the Guinness World Record Holder for running the most consecutive half marathons, hitting 111 back in 2021. Read Helen's story.
