Running beyond limits with a stoma | by Kevin
At the time of writing, I had recently completed the Ibiza Marathon a goal that had taken months of dedicated training while living with a stoma and years of desire to complete. The journey wasn’t straightforward, but it never is living with a stoma. Balancing hydration, nutrition, recovery energy levels and injuries all presented challenges that many runners don’t have to consider. There were days when training felt difficult, but sticking to a structured plan, building consistency and learning to listen to my body something I’ve always found hard to do helped me reach the start line and ultimately cross the finish line.
I wanted to share this story because I know how easy it can be to doubt yourself when living with a long-term health condition. Running has given me confidence, purpose and a way to prove to myself that a stoma does not define what I can achieve. I hope my experience resonates with anyone facing health challenges, recovering from surgery or simply working towards a goal that feels out of reach. Progress isn’t always linear, but amazing things can happen when you keep showing up.
My Experience, learning to run again
Running wasn’t always part of my life, and there was certainly a time when completing a marathon felt impossible. Living with a stoma changed many aspects of my daily routine and exercise became something I had to approach differently. What many people see as a simple run often involved careful planning, managing hydration, monitoring energy levels and understanding how my body was responding.
As confidence grew so did my goals. I had done a marathon before in 2023, I ran walked and shuffled my way round London completely on pride and a desire just to get round. This was different though, I wanted to really try and push myself. What started as short runs gradually turned into longer distances and before long, I found myself setting my sights on the Ibiza marathon. It was an exciting goal but also one that comes with plenty of uncertainty.
The Challenge of Marathon Training
Training for a marathon is demanding for anyone but adding a stoma into the mix created additional challenges. Staying hydrated became one of the biggest priorities throughout my training. There were days when I felt strong and capable and others when fatigue hit harder than expected.
The Ibiza marathon itself presented another challenge with the heat and the elevation. Training in the UK and racing in much warmer conditions required careful preparation and a willingness to adapt considering all my training had been done in gloomy winter conditions of ice, snow and lots of rain. There were times when recovery took longer than planned and moments, I questioned what I was doing.
What Helped Me
Having a structured training plan was one of the biggest factors in my success. Knowing exactly what session I had each day gave me purpose and helped me stay consistent, even when motivation wasn’t particularly high.
I also learned the importance of listening to my body. Some days required pushing harder, while others required rest and recovery. Learning balance was one of the most valuable lessons of the entire process
The support from family and friends and the running community made a huge difference too. Sharing the journey with others helped me stay accountable and reminded me that I wasn’t doing it alone.
Small Wins Matter
One thing marathon training taught me is that success isn’t built on one big day. Its built-on hundreds of small decisions. Getting out for a run when the weather is poor, completing a session when you’d rather stay on the sofa, choosing consistency over perfection. Each small win helped build confidence and bought me closer to the marathon start line.
Race Day in Ibiza
Standing on the start line in Ibiza was emotional, all the work and all the challenges with injuries and health, I had made it. It nearly didn’t happen two weeks before, I was in hospital with an acute kidney injury and I had doctors telling me it was wise to reconsider my decision of running the marathon. But I decided I hadn’t come this far to give up I was thinking about everything it had taken to get there.
The training miles, the setbacks, the doubts and the lessons learned along the way. Crossing the finish line wasn’t just the end of the race. It was proof that living with a stoma didn’t have to stop me pursuing my ambitious goals.
What I Wish I’d Known
Living with a stoma can sometimes make you feel different or limited, especially when taking on physical challenges. What I’ve learned is that progress looks different for everyone, comparing yourself to others rarely helps.
The most important thing is to focus on your own journey; celebrate you own milestones and trust that improvement comes with time.
Why I’m Sharing My Story
I wanted to share my experience because I know there are people living with stomas who may wonder whether goals like running events, races or even marathons are still possible.
My experience won’t be the same as everyone else’s, but I hope it offers reassurance that challenges don’t automatically mean limitations.
This global running day I’m grateful for every mile, every lesson and every setback that taught me something valuable. Running has given me confidence, resilience and belief that I’m capable of more than I once thought possible.
And perhaps most importantly, it has shown me that having a stoma doesn’t define what you can achieve.
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