5 Reasons Why a Living Kidney Donor Is Doing a 1 Mile Run Challenge for 90 Days

I’m a Kidney Donor, Not a Runner …

Are you a runner? Well, I’m not. I don’t enjoy running. I don’t self identify as a runner. I cannot run a mile without walking part of the way. But I was intrigued by Darren Hardy’s challenge to walk/run at least 1 mile every day for 90 days. https://dd.darrenhardy.com/90-day-darrendaily-challenge

To a REAL runner, that is nothing. To a non-runner, running every day for 90 days seems impossible.

Why am I running for 90 days?

1. Inactivity. It has been over 2 years since I donated my kidney in April 2017. Last year Amanda and I started the nonprofit Kidney Donor Conversations and I was spending a LOT of time at my computer. I was slowly putting on more weight.

2. Ankles. I didn’t like how my body was looking. I noticed a layer of fat accumulating on my legs. My ankles were starting to disappear.

3. Belly. Since the doctors removed my left kidney, my belly was not the same. I noticed the fat bulge becoming larger and my clothes were feeling tighter and tighter. I couldn’t bend over as easy.

4. Challenge. Maybe I needed a new stretch goal since donating my kidney and this was within reason. According to the rules, I could just walk a mile every day if I wanted to. A part of me really did want to be able to run a mile without walking. 90 days seemed like a reasonable time to make this happen, even though doing anything for 90 days is a challenge for me.

5. Heart. I had been doing yoga and meditation regularly but I was not getting my heart rate up and I knew I was not in good aerobic condition. Running even a little bit would be good for my overall health and might help my long term goal to keep my right kidney healthy and live to be over 100!

6. Bonus Reason. I found this after starting the 90-day challenge.
I love being outside in nature every day. There was one day so far that I stayed inside on my very old treadmill when it rained. It was not nearly as much fun or enjoyable. I hate watching the numbers on the treadmill. I would rather watch the scenery outside.

So, here I am at week five. I do some combination of walking/running every day. I am walking less and running more. I am always going farther than 1 mile. I am enjoying this challenge and feeling healthier!

What is your current challenge?
How are you staying as healthy as possible?

Glenna Frey, APRN-CNS, is a nephrology nurse who donated her left kidney in April 2017 (nondirected). She and daughter Amanda Frey co-founded Kidney Donor Conversations in 2018 to increase awareness of Living Kidney Donation.