One of her biggest hobbies was running, but Hillary Wool of Brooklyn, NY, had to make adjustments after her diagnosis with ankylosing spondylitis. Getting a puppy has helped to keep her active.
Hillary Wool: Running on concrete is like, generally, kind of a no go for me. Since getting a puppy, I've kind of been forced to do it. I always feel it intensely after.
Interviewer: What is one of your most difficult movements Since the diagnosis?
Hillary Wool: Difficult movements. Running is the one thing that is really tough for me. I've had this long-standing battle with treadmill-based bootcamp classes. With a really good rubber-based treadmill, it's relatively low-impact. That's definitely positive. I picked up wheelchair racing this past year, so that kind of replaced running for me, generally. Just knowing, if my dog wants to, drag me around, like I can do it a little bit, but not a good idea to do it for that long because I'm really going to pay for it after.
I also try to stay positive. I have tools and adaptations that enable me to go hiking and be as active as I want to be. It definitely hasn't been the total end of the world for me, either.
