We had the opportunity to talk with Laurie R. about how Fluid Running helped her during and after her breast cancer diagnosis.
What is your age and where do you live?
I am 59 and live in St. Petersburg, Florida. I am an Occupational Therapist by training but have spent many years as a stay-at-home mom and professional volunteer. I am married with two adult children.
When were you diagnosed with breast cancer? What kind of treatments did you receive after diagnosis?
I was diagnosed in July 2018 following a routine mammogram. I had a lumpectomy followed by radiation. I then had some other complications and had to have my ovaries removed. Following that, I began Aromatase inhibitors (A1) medications. Over the course of about nine months, I had to try, stop, and then start all three medications offered to find which one gave me the least number of both emotional and physical side effects.
How did you discover Fluid Running?
In early 2020, I was meeting with a trainer, but each week I would walk in and tell him about more body parts and joints that hurt due to the A1 medication I was on to reduce my risk of recurrence. The trainer was trying to be creative to keep me active, but I was becoming more and more limited. When the COVID pandemic began and there was a lockdown, I stopped going to the gym, was doing very little, and was hurting a lot.
The low point for me was early during the lockdown in April 2020. I was trying to make Passover special for my husband and me, as we were planning to sit down at our table alone and have a Seder on Zoom with our kids. I thought I would get the china out to make our table look special. I got on the floor to get it out and thought my husband would come home from work to find me still sitting on the floor. I was not sure I could get myself up due to the joint pain I was having.
In May 2020, I saw an ad on Facebook and saw there was a money-back guarantee. The world was still locked down, and I had a pool in my backyard. I watched the video and emailed the staff with several questions like:
– I have a perforated eardrum and can’t get water in my ear, can this work for me?
– I have never run and have asthma, can this work for me?
– I am suffering from a lot of joint pain due to meds I am taking following a breast cancer diagnosis, can this work for me?
I received replies right away, even though I had not yet purchased the product, so that level of customer service impressed me. They also shared the money-back guarantee, so I had no reason not to try it.
How did you incorporate Fluid Running into your recovery routine?
I began by doing the introductory workout many times, as I could not get through it without taking breaks. With a pool in my backyard, it was easy access, but I had never been one to stay on track with exercise. I started with 3-4 times a week and soon started to notice decreased pain in my joints! That was all the motivation I needed to keep it up. I also want to mention that the customer service continued to be great when I sent emails with questions about form and other issues.
What benefits did you see from Fluid Running?
I began to have less and less joint pain. I also started to lose weight. Those two reasons were enough motivation to keep going.
Are you finished with your cancer treatments? Are you still Fluid Running today?
I was able to stop taking the A1 medications in January 2024 and had a negative mammogram in July, six years post-diagnosis. I continue to do Fluid Running as it has made an incredible difference in my life. I live in Florida, so even when I get in the pool most months of the year, it is refreshing to exercise there. I have told many friends about it, some with knee, hip, and back problems. Some have purchased it, but I am the one who has remained the most consistent user since the benefits it gives back to me are so great! Sometimes I do Fluid Running with friends, which is a lot of fun. I have even entered a virtual 5K and did that in the pool with a friend. I also bought a shorty wetsuit and continued Fluid Running in the “winter” months in Florida when my pool temperature can dip into the 70s.
Do you think Fluid Running can help other breast cancer patients/survivors? If yes, why?
For all the reasons I have stated above. It was the only exercise that helped my joint pain and made it manageable. I have shared it with others diagnosed with breast cancer on many websites and support groups I have been on. I am truly thankful for the difference it made in my life. I guess it was one of the silver linings of the pandemic for me. Who knows if I would have found it or tried it if I was still going to a gym with fewer benefits?
I could understand why someone may be hesitant to try Fluid Running, as it is not a traditional exercise people are familiar with. Since there is a money-back guarantee, there is no reason not to try it. If you try, you have to be prepared to feel a bit awkward at first. I think Jennifer says it takes about three workouts before you have that “aha” moment when you feel like you are running.
What are your favorite workouts?
I think my two favorite workouts are the 10K, which I avoided for a long time because I did not think I was capable of accomplishing it, yet I have done it several times. I also like the 10th-anniversary workout and love the cues to smile. I have many workouts and vary them, so I never feel bored. Living in Florida with a pool at home makes it easier for me than for others who need to seek out a pool. If you are in a public pool, you need so little space that you can just find a corner in the deep end and run. I happen to be a big sports fan, and we hung a TV on our pool deck, so now I can watch baseball, football, or basketball games while I run, which can make the time pass more quickly.
I have recently tried the shallow water workouts, and although I am not as comfortable with them, they had the added benefit of partial weight-bearing because the A1 meds can also cause bone density loss.