'I feel fine,' I told her as I wrapped the cuff around my arm. Sure, I was stressed; I'd raised my 27-year-old daughter on my own while running a New York City restaurant and sake bar. But aside from the few extra pounds I'd gradually put on, I felt healthy for my 64 years. Seconds later, the reading appeared on the screen, and my heart sank: At 192/120, my blood pressure was a ticking time bomb.
Photo by Beth Dixson
A visit to my doctor confirmed hypertension, but when she prescribed medication, I balked. I didn't want to be dependent on drugs, so I told her I'd find a way to lower my blood pressure naturally. I'd start by getting back to running, the one activity I'd done regularly before work and family responsibilities got in the way.
I had always loved the idea of completing a marathon—I find the commitment of a sea of people striving to achieve the same goal inspiring. So, to motivate myself, I set a goal to run my first 26.2-mile race by age 65. Once I made workouts a priority, new healthy choices spilled over to my diet. Cutting back on sodium is tough when you're a restaurateur who is used to tossing soy sauce into almost every dish, but I started cooking for myself at home and indulging in treats—and sake—more sparingly.
Photo by Beth Dixson
It's been more than a year since my sister's visit, and I'm proud to say that I recently completed my dream by running the New York City Marathon. Each morning, as I race along the East River promenade or through Central Park, my face drips with sweat and my hair sticks to my face. Running is still tough, but I end each workout feeling stronger and more confident, and I have more energy to tackle the rest of my day. I know I'm worth it. And so is my current blood pressure reading: 137/87."
