Deep in the mountains of south China, Buddhist monks have meticulously cultivated a rare melon prized for its health benefits. Also known as “Buddha fruit,” luo han guo sustained monks in long meditations in spartan living conditions. It was even used medicinally to treat infections, coughs, and other illnesses. It is so prized the Chinese government has banned the export of its genetic material.

“I feel like I’m constantly wading through mud. Like my brain is clogged up. My limbs are heavy and every little action requires a great deal of effort. My muscles are tired and shaky. It’s just like pushing through a bog all the time.”This is the essence of what it is like to have fibromyalgia. The body’s energy stores are perpetually on empty. Body aches and joint pain plague every movement. Even the small actions of daily life are a struggle.

As some of you know, I picked up running again in the spring of 2008 after almost twenty years away from it. After finishing Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All Night Runner by Dean Karnazes, I was ready to start training for a 100 miler! No sweat, right? I remember how humbled I was after running 6 miles for the first time. After that outing along a treacherous Ohio highway shoulder, I decided to tone down the “100 mile zeal” a bit by signing up for a 50k trail race and a road marathon.

My race season is complete and now it’s time to do some fun racing. But the fun comes to an abrupt end when, during an Olympic race, I violently meet a Sprint racer on the same bike course. I end my day in the ER with the diagnosis of four bone fractures: two in my pelvis and two in my hip socket. This can’t be good.