André runs the Easter race for his lung donor

- I can remember from my youth that I often became short of breath and spent a long time to catch my breath. Many around me often pointed out how bad my condition was considering that I was very active and exercised often. I even thought it was because I no longer played football and dedicated all my training time to strength training.

But that was not the case. André's lung disease had developed very slowly over time, and therefore it was difficult for him to notice that something was wrong.

-The fact that I have been very physically active since I was little, has probably camouflaged the symptoms. The lung disease was to catch up with me when I started working full time, studying for a master's degree in the evenings and refurbishing our apartment. Then the training slowed down, and the disease gradually became more visible.

It could take André several minutes to catch his breath after a few floors. One night when he was going to bed, he took a deep breath just to take off his socks. Then he decided to visit the GP.

The GP immediately confiscated my car keys and sent me directly to the hospital. That was when I was diagnosed with a rare lung disease, which I am now getting rid of, thanks to organ donation.

A long way back

After the transplant, the job of getting back in shape started again. In addition to physiotherapy, he began by walking around the hospital. First from the bed to the door, then out into the hallway. Before the operation, he decided to push himself.

-The first days after the operation, the physiotherapist wanted us to walk 10 meters, I insisted on 20. With long days in the hospital, I also used the evenings when I was alone to sneak out into the hallway to walk even more. Eventually we started climbing stairs, my former worst enemy, and got to visit the gym for some light strength and walk on a treadmill. After such a large operation, the amount you are allowed to lift is limited. The body has been beaten and one should have time to heal and adapt to the new organ. Thus, strength training was out of the picture during this period. So then I rather laid the foundation by spending the time on a lot of cycling and long walks in nature.

And the view of physical activity, yes it changed a lot for André:

The feeling of being able to hold on almost indefinitely without suffocation was fantastic. When you welcome the rain out on a trip, where others pull the hood over their heads, then you are in a good place and appreciate what others may take for granted.

One thing that helped build me up both physically and mentally was to set goals to work towards. After the operation I was very thin, and wanted to both look and feel different. When I was able to start lifting weights again, it was a blessing. I knew a lot about strength training and diet from before, and therefore started making exercise programs and diet plans. Coming back required a lot of food and discipline, but again led to results. I had also always wanted to visit various mountain peaks in Norway, and now that I had the opportunity to do so, I set the goal of climbing, among other things. Trolltunga and Prekestolen. Six months after the operation, I had climbed both.

What does running mean to you after the operation?
Well, this is one of my first organized races I participate in after the transplant. I have never been a runner, as previous illness has probably deprived me of that opportunity unfortunately. Now, on the other hand, I appreciate the opportunity that I can actually run, and endure without suffocation. Being able to keep up with others, and participate in many different activities with others are opportunities that running makes possible for me now.

What is your goal?
The goal of the Easter race is to carry out, for those who can not, for my donor, Organ donation and to see for yourself what the body can do. And the time you set this year is used as motivation and goal to beat in the next race.

HERE YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR THE EASTER RACE AND AT THE SAME TIME BUY A T-SHIRT FROM ORGAN DONATION:

What do you want to say to others as a motivational boost to sign up for their first race?

Set a small goal for the race, if only to sign up and complete! Give the bluff in time and choose the distance that best suits your requirements. You are only competing against yourself. On Tuesday, I will take over the Oslo Marathon's Instagram story , and then the followers will have to choose the distance I will participate in! If they choose a longer distance I will "run", then the goal is to complete. And I run for something meaningful, for those who can not and for my donor! The motivation is the feeling of mastery of having completed. That's the reward this year!

REGISTRATION FOR THE EASTER RACE FOR ORGAN DONATION

MONICA
GUTUEN

AMBASSADOR

Age: 45

Residence: Bærum

Distance during the BMW Oslo Marathon 2020:
I run half, and of course aim to have the widest smile all the way.

Previous participation in the Oslo Marathon:
«10 for Grete» 2013, Half Marathon 2014 and 2015, 2017 and 2018 and marathon in 2019.

Three words that describe me:
Outgoing, Smiling, Energetic

Instagram: @muddylicious