David Lyons: When and how were you diagnosed with MS?
Sean Wingrave: I was diagnosed in 2007, with my last major attack hitting me on Nov. 11, 2006.
DL: What would you tell others with MS to help them reach their fitness goals?
SW: I think the biggest advice I could give a fellow MSer is that if you walk one block today, walk two the next time. Each time you get out make the effort to make a small improvement on the last time. Don't be discouraged. It doesn't matter how far you went, what matters is [...]
DL: What are your future goals your sport and fitness in general?
SW: I'm a true Canadian male, so of course ice hockey is my favorite sport. I still play a little and participate yearly in one of the larger pond hockey tournaments in Canada. I'm also an avid cyclist and participate in the Leduc, AB to Canmore, AB (just over 180kms) MS Bike Tour every year [...]
DL: Why did you get involved in supporting the MS Fitness Challenge?
SW: I strongly believe, given the unpredictable nature of the disease and how little is known about what causes it, that the only way to truly fight it is by becoming as physically strong as possible. I don't believe people with MS should act like patients. They should empower themselves to take control over their [...]
DL: What do your friends and family think about you running marathons with MS?
SW: I think (you'd have to ask them, to be sure) they find it inspirational and, I hope, comforting. The reason I say comforting is that I hope it demonstrates that my diagnosis of MS was not a prediction of my early demise or a quick onset of handicap, but rather more of a life-changing [...]
DL: What type of nutritional program do you follow?
SW: I don't consume any gluten, soy, dairy, or legumes. My nutritional strategies are similar to those made popular by Doctor Terry Wahls and Direct-Ms.org (the pages focused on nutrition). I have been following "paleo-like" nutritional strategies since months after my diagnosis, and my exact diet can be found at www.ownmultiplesclerosis.com.
DL: What is your daily training like?
SW: I'm not currently following my marathon training program, but I will start again in the spring. Right now I lift weights, stretch, and do cardio before work Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings for about an hour. For example, on Monday I did the following routine: Bench Press (175 lbs) 3 sets, 10-12 reps (60 [...]
DL: What is your next race and when?
SW: I hope this summer. My wife and I (who I met shortly after I ran my first half marathon), and I have two very small children, and it has substantially cut into my regular training time. However, early this past summer I was regularly running distances of 12-17 kilometers, so I think a half [...]
DL: How difficult is it to train for a marathon with MS?
SW: Training for anything is difficult, so it is hard to say. The one issue I had was with my energy levels as sometimes I just didn't feel like training. It became a mind game where I really had to push myself to train, even when I didn't feel like it.
DL: Why did you decide to enter a marathon?
SW: I had to stop working for about seven months. Boredom set in, and I started walking. At the time, I was fairly out of shape. The walks progressed to short runs of about a kilometer. I noticed when my blood started pumping the symptoms (numbness) seemed to become milder. The short distances started rolling [...]
