Exercise and Narcolepsy
Up/Lifted Podcast Featuring Narcolepsy
I’m honored to be the first female guest on the Up/Lifted Podcast this week! Up/Lifted is a cool new podcast hosted by Arin Gragossian about “personal history, pivotal moments, & honest stories. And sometimes lifting massive amounts of weight.” On this show, Arin and I did NOT lift weights, but talked living with invisible chronic health conditions, narcolepsy, Project…
Read MoreCNN Article on My Marathon with Narcolepsy
I’m thrilled to share CNN Health’s feature article Runner: Having narcolepsy is harder than a marathon. This Sleep Awareness Week, please share with your friends and family to raise critical narcolepsy awareness. Working with CNN on this piece was particularly meaningful. I first spoke with the reporter, Maria, in January two months before the race after she’d read…
Read MoreLifting Weights and Each Others’ Spirits While Living with Narcolepsy and Cataplexy
One of the best parts of the Griffith Park Trial Marathon took place about 10 days BEFORE the race. Arriving home from work one night around 8:00 p.m., I was totally drained and wanted to call it a night, but I had to go running. Ugh. I’d run over 270 miles in four months, and only had…
Read More24 hours til my Mountain Marathon with Narcolepsy… No Clue How This Story Ends
Four months ago, I had the “crazy idea” of signing up for the Griffith Park Trail Marathon. When I signed up, I actually thought I had five months to prepare, when I only had four… What can I say, math isn’t my strong suit. Maybe I should’ve quit then, but if you know me, I’m pretty determined/stubborn.…
Read MoreFollow My Marathon Training as a Person with Narcolepsy
Two weeks ago, I set out for my longest steepest training run yet to prepare for Griffith Park Trail Marathon on March 4th. I documented my 17.4 mile marathon training experience via Instagram Story and it was so fun, I had to share here: I hope you enjoyed coming along my training run with me!…
Read MoreWhat does cataplexy look like? GIF by Eleanor of www.Falling-Asleep.com
Check out this amazing depiction of terrifying symptom of #narcolepsy called CATAPLEXY – created by Eleanor of Falling Asleep: A Narcolepsy Guidebook. Please note: this character is fully conscious and awake yet crumbling to the ground paralyzed. It’s terrifying. For more infographics, blogs and resources: www.falling-asleep.com Commentary by Julie Flygare: I was 22 when my knees fight buckled while…
Read MoreYOU CAN AND YOU WILL (Marathon Part II)
As I crossed the start line of the San Diego Rock n Roll Marathon, runners started passing me. I laughed when a pack of Elvis(s) passed me. Typical. “Slow and steady. No one to beat. Nothing to prove,” I told myself. My shirt was drenched with sweat within 3 miles. Soon my hands raisined and…
Read MoreWake, Julie. It’s Late and We’ve Miles to Go Together. (Marathon Part I)
The week of the marathon, I forgot I was running a marathon. “Have you booked your hotel yet?” my co-worker, Betsy asked me on Wednesday. “Uh, no, but I will…” My mind was preoccupied with other efforts, the Jack & Julie Narcolepsy Scholarship and Sleep Walk Dallas. So, I was last minute about everything –…
Read MoreNARCOLEPSY: NOT ALONE Runs Great Ocean Road Marathon in Australia
Just 9 days until my marathon and I’m super inspired by Louise, Jacob and their crew of 20 people who sported NARCOLEPSY: NOT ALONE for the Great Ocean Road Marathon in Australia last weekend. 12 runners wore the shirts (including 3 young doctors who have promised to spread the word amongst their peers!), and 8…
Read MoreNarcolepsy – Am I Sick or Healthy?
If sickness and health are two opposite ends of the spectrum, then where do I fit in? The other day, I battled excruciating eye-burning sleepiness that felt like pure torture/hell. That same day, I also ran 3 beautiful miles in the golden California sunshine. Am I the sickest healthy person you know or the healthiest…
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