‘You will never run again.’ ‘It’s all in your head.’ ‘You will live like this for the rest of your life.’ ‘Your condition is chronic.’ ‘You need to accept that you are disabled and always will be.’ ‘There is no cure.’
An avid runner, surfer, and standup paddler, my life turned on a dime in 2015 when I became suddenly and mysteriously ill. I went from having a blossoming career, an active social life, and being an endurance athlete to being bedridden within a matter of months. I was 23 years old.
It Began Slowly at First
Some fatigue. Skipping a run here and there. Feeling emotional. But my symptoms quickly worsened and soon I was unable to work, had extreme fatigue 24/7, couldn’t sleep, and struggled with brain fog. Completing daily tasks like showering and eating became increasingly difficult.
![Jonathan Kemnitz](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/01/Jonathan-Kemnitz.jpg)
![(photo/Beth Parsons) (photo/Beth Parsons)](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/01/2-1.jpg)
As the Years Passed, I Began to Lose Hope
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/01/2-2.jpg)
The Turning Point: Cereset
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/01/3-1.jpg)
I’m Going for the Marathon
![running a marathon running a marathon](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/01/running-a-marathon.jpg)
![Celebrating the result of the marathon Celebrating the result of the marathon](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2022/01/Celebrating-the-result-of-the-marathon.jpg)