Lauren's story
Discover how Lauren is overcoming Endometriosis to run a half marathon in 2024.
As a full-time primary school teacher and mum, Lauren leads a busy life. But before teaching and becoming a parent, it was a different kind of busy, Lauren was a keen dancer as a child and learnt ballet, jazz, and tap. She also used to get involved in yoga and exercise classes like Body Pump and spinning.
This was until Lauren developed Endometriosis, a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows in other areas of the body, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes. Endometriosis currently has no cure and can have a big impact on many women’s lives.
After 18 months of suffering from debilitating back and leg pain, Lauren had surgery to remove a significant amount of endometriosis from her pelvis. Since surgery, she has been relatively pain-free, and has been gradually able to go back to doing the things she loves.
“I am fully aware of how lucky I am. So many women suffer from endometriosis, particularly as so little is known about it. They often endure years of chronic pain before being diagnosed and then face long waiting lists for treatment. This is detrimental to mental health, family life, jobs, and fertility.” she says.
Exercise is something that Lauren is yearning to get back to, as having endometriosis made some forms of exercise challenging. There would be week where she would have to miss classes and sessions due to the pain, so she’s looking forward to getting back into a fitness environment and finding a programme that she can work around safely.
To give back, Lauren wants to enter a local half marathon this year! As a non-runner, she knows she’s going to need a lot of help and training from her local centre. “I need to build up my stamina. Running is something that I am nervous about but with the right support, am really looking forward to the challenge.” she says.
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