{"id":886,"date":"2026-04-18T07:33:04","date_gmt":"2026-04-18T05:33:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/18\/falling-hard-rising-stronger\/"},"modified":"2026-04-18T07:39:49","modified_gmt":"2026-04-18T05:39:49","slug":"falling-hard-rising-stronger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/18\/falling-hard-rising-stronger\/","title":{"rendered":"Falling Hard, Rising Stronger"},"content":{"rendered":"\n


Last Sunday reminded me just how quickly things can change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


I headed out for a 15km trail run with my GSP, chasing the usual sense of freedom that comes with the open trail. About 7km in, the ground had other plans. Loose rocks beneath my feet sent me slipping, and before I knew it, I was down\u2014hard. I bounced on my butt a few times, legs scraped and bleeding, pain setting in almost instantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


But I\u2019m stubborn. I don\u2019t quit easily. So I got up and kept going, finishing the run\u2014slower than usual, but determined as ever.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A few hours later, my body started telling a different story. Nausea crept in. A pounding headache followed. My hand began to shake more than usual. A year ago, I was diagnosed with a Functional Tremor, and I\u2019ve learned to live with it\u2014but this felt different. By the next day, I was completely drained\u2014fatigued, foggy, unable to think clearly or even drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It felt like my body had hit a wall I couldn\u2019t push through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n


After a visit to my GP and a Voltaren injection that barely touched the surface, I knew something wasn\u2019t right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My neurologist confirmed it: a mild concussion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


This past week forced me to stop. To rest. To listen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


And today, I took my first step back\u2014a slow, light session at the gym. Nothing intense, just movement. But it felt incredible. Because for me, exercise isn\u2019t just physical\u2014it\u2019s mental, emotional. It\u2019s part of how I stay grounded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n


A little insight for those who may not know: A Functional Tremor is a type of neurological condition where the body experiences involuntary shaking, but not due to structural damage in the brain. It falls under Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), meaning the nervous system isn\u2019t functioning correctly, even though scans often appear normal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tremor can come and go, and is often influenced by stress, fatigue, or physical strain. It\u2019s very real, sometimes unpredictable, and can be incredibly frustrating\u2014but it is manageable with the right support and awareness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


This experience was a reminder I didn\u2019t ask for, but probably needed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n


Listen to your body.
Rest when it asks.
You only get one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Last Sunday reminded me just how quickly things can change. I headed out for a 15km trail run with my GSP, chasing the usual sense of freedom that comes with the open trail. About 7km in, the ground had other plans. Loose rocks beneath my feet sent me slipping, and before I knew it, I […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":885,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[43,6,25,47],"tags":[165],"class_list":["post-886","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-a-week-at-the-gym","category-body-transformation","category-fitness","category-keeping-rhythm","tag-listentoyourbody-recoveryjourney-functionaltremor-mentalhealthmatters-keepgoing"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG-20260417-WA0009.jpeg?fit=1231%2C2188&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":897,"url":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/27\/my-body-pauses-my-spirit-doesnt\/","url_meta":{"origin":886,"position":0},"title":"My Body Pauses, My Spirit Doesn\u2019t","author":"Rey De Bruyn-Walters","date":"27 April 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"This morning I woke up with my legs paralysed again. That familiar fear crept in\u2014but so did something stronger: determination. As the feeling slowly returned, I stretched, breathed through it, and made a decision\u2026 I was going to run.Connor, my usual partner in crime, is recovering after surgery, and my\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"#FNDWarrior #ChooseLife #StrengthInStruggle #InvisibleIllness #KeepGoing\"","block_context":{"text":"#FNDWarrior #ChooseLife #StrengthInStruggle #InvisibleIllness #KeepGoing","link":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/tag\/fndwarrior-chooselife-strengthinstruggle-invisibleillness-keepgoing\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_20260426_161105_284.webp?fit=675%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_20260426_161105_284.webp?fit=675%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_20260426_161105_284.webp?fit=675%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":167,"url":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/01\/10km-trail-run-the-big-red-barn\/","url_meta":{"origin":886,"position":1},"title":"10km Trail Run @ The Big Red Barn","author":"Rey De Bruyn-Walters","date":"1 February 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Had a beautiful 10km Trail Race today at The Big Red Barn. I pushed as much as I could to break my own personal record of 26 min and 2 seconds for 5km. My legs just didn't want to move as fast as I wanted to. 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As fun as it was, we arrived around 07h40 and started running at 08h00. About 3km in, my stomach felt a bit weird, but I didn't think much of it.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Trail"","block_context":{"text":"Trail","link":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/category\/trails\/trail-running\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/dji_mimo_20260125_105150_0_1769333713290_photo2466727397470817124.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/dji_mimo_20260125_105150_0_1769333713290_photo2466727397470817124.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/dji_mimo_20260125_105150_0_1769333713290_photo2466727397470817124.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/dji_mimo_20260125_105150_0_1769333713290_photo2466727397470817124.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/dji_mimo_20260125_105150_0_1769333713290_photo2466727397470817124.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":240,"url":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/08\/dancing-with-heat-and-rivers-my-trail-marathon-story\/","url_meta":{"origin":886,"position":3},"title":"Dancing with Heat and Rivers: My Trail Half Marathon Story","author":"Rey De Bruyn-Walters","date":"8 February 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The sun was already fierce when Connor and I lined up at the start. At 29 degrees, the air shimmered, heavy with promise and challenge. My German Shorthaired Pointer wagged his tail, eyes bright, already scanning for the rivers he knew would be waiting.\u00a0 We set off at a steady\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Trail"","block_context":{"text":"Trail","link":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/category\/trails\/trail-running\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/dji_export_photo_20260208180309554.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/dji_export_photo_20260208180309554.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/dji_export_photo_20260208180309554.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/dji_export_photo_20260208180309554.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/dji_export_photo_20260208180309554.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":210,"url":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/07\/arc-irene-10km-race-recap\/","url_meta":{"origin":886,"position":4},"title":"ARC Irene 10km Race Recap","author":"Rey De Bruyn-Walters","date":"7 February 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Today I took on the ARC Irene 10km race \u2014 and what a challenge it turned out to be! With 121m of elevation gain, an average cadence of 157 spm, and my heart rate sitting between 156\u2013172 bpm for 92% of the race, it was a true test of endurance.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Road"","block_context":{"text":"Road","link":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/category\/trails\/10km-arc-road-race\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/dji_export_photo_20260207124610546.jpg?fit=675%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/dji_export_photo_20260207124610546.jpg?fit=675%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/dji_export_photo_20260207124610546.jpg?fit=675%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":339,"url":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/14\/breaking-barriers-my-valentines-day-half-marathon-triumph\/","url_meta":{"origin":886,"position":5},"title":"Breaking Barriers: My Valentine\u2019s Day Half Marathon Triumph","author":"Rey De Bruyn-Walters","date":"14 February 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"\"Run with love, and every step becomes lighter.\" Valentine\u2019s Day 2026 will forever be etched in my memory\u2014not for roses or chocolates, but for the pounding rhythm of my shoes on the ARC Irene road, the cool breeze on my face, and the moment I shattered my personal record in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Road"","block_context":{"text":"Road","link":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/category\/trails\/10km-arc-road-race\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/dji_export_photo_20260214210127384.jpg?fit=675%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/dji_export_photo_20260214210127384.jpg?fit=675%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/debruyn-walters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/dji_export_photo_20260214210127384.jpg?fit=675%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/ph3bPZ-ei","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/886","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=886"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/886\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":888,"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/886\/revisions\/888"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/885"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=886"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=886"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debruyn-walters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=886"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}