I was diagnosed with ADHD in my 20s. I used my condition to train for a 10K race in 10 weeks.

• I was diagnosed with ADHD in my late 20s.
• I used my ADHD to help me train for a 10K race.
• I tricked myself into hyperfocusing on running, and it worked.

As a woman with ADHD, I have a closet filled with remnants of past hobbies, like boxing gloves, ballet shoes, and climbing chalk.

I've found that fitness can have a positive impact on me by producing increased dopamine levels to improve attention and focus, and the endorphin release can act as a natural antidepressant.

But exercise can also present challenges. Too many instructions can cause confusion. Crowded events can cause sensory overload. And activities can be difficult to maintain beyond the initial bout of enthusiasm, leading to more sporting relics in the closet.

During the last lockdown, my gym was closed, so I decided to try running. The only problem was that I was terrible at it. As soon as I began, my breath was out of sync, and my body felt like it was on fire.

But with limited other fitness options, I resolved to not let running defeat me.

So I challenged myself to enter a 10K race.

I tricked myself into running

I've always found that the anxiety caused by an impending deadline can force me to do things that my ADHD might otherwise have prevented me from doing. I reached out to runner friends for advice and began researching the do's and don'ts. Before I knew it, I had tricked myself into hyperfocusing on running.

I analyzed my running gait, found the right shoes for support, and consumed as much running content on social media as my non-neurotypical brain could handle. I was ready to try again.

With my headphones on, I set off down a quiet road with a playlist of upbeat songs and an app to track progress. The first few minutes were painful, but I refused to give in.

After five minutes of agony, my running app announced the time, distance, and pace of my run. Five minutes down — let's see if I can get to 10.

Eventually, my breath and body found their rhythm, the pain began to subside, and I entered into a meditative state. I was running!

I had to overcome challenges

The executive-function challenges that come with ADHD can make it difficult for me to stick to regular fitness routines, and I struggle with object permanence, meaning I can forget something exists if it's out of sight.

I needed to overcome these challenges to arrive at the start line. So I kept my running shoes by the front door as a threatening reminder of the race and switched up my routes so that no two runs were the same.

The novelty of finding new places to run kept my attention, and being outside in nature helped create a sense of calm. Once I found a meditative running state, I was able to drift into my own thoughts, enabling me to gradually build up my running time.

After 10 weeks of training, race day finally arrived. I set off at a good pace, and the excitement of the crowd made the time fly by.

But just as I could see the finish line, dread took over, and the shooting pains returned. I took some deep nasal inhales and stretched to help relieve the tension. I really wanted to give up, but I really didn't want to be a quitter.

I decided I'd distract myself by counting to 100, and then I'd allow myself to stop. Before I could finish counting, I had completed the race.

I had achieved my goal of learning to run. But I wouldn't have made it this far without understanding my condition.