From Breathless to Breaking Barriers: Lindsay’s Marathon Journey with PAH
At just 23 years old, Lindsay knew something wasn’t right. Shortness of breath. Fatigue. And then, frighteningly, episodes of passing out. In 2008, tests revealed the cause: primary pulmonary hypertension (now called pulmonary arterial hypertension, or PAH) with a pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) of 65 mmHg — more than double the threshold for a PH diagnosis (25 mmHg).
Her doctor referred her to a specialist for further testing. But after weeks without news, Lindsay called the office herself. The woman who answered told her everything was fine — she could “go live a normal life.” Relieved, she did just that… for a while.
By 2012, Lindsay began passing out again. She returned to the same specialist, only to learn the truth: the phone message she’d received years earlier had been a mistake. Her PAP had climbed to 95. This time, there was no ignoring the diagnosis. She began treatment with three PH medications — Adcirca, Opsumit, and Uptravi — none of which had been available when she was first diagnosed. Side effects were frustrating, but her health improved. She committed to healthy eating, daily walks, regular sleep, and consistent follow-ups with her PH specialist.
In 2020, during a routine appointment, Lindsay learned her PAP had risen to 70. Fearing the worst, she braced herself for what her doctor might say. He suggested starting IV therapy. Tears came quickly — she knew this was often a last resort. Seeing her distress, her doctor offered another option: Adempas.
From the very first pill, Lindsay felt something she hadn’t in years — the ability to take a deep, easy breath. “I thought something was wrong at first,” she recalls. “But then I realized this is what normal breathing feels like.”
She kept walking daily — sometimes up to 11 miles — but now she could try something new: running. One afternoon, she decided to jog slowly through her neighborhood. Before she knew it, she had run half a mile! The next day, she jogged 2.5 miles. Within weeks, she was running six.
Soon, Lindsay was entering 5Ks, then the Louisville Triple Crown — a 5K, 10K, and 15K spread over several weeks. After crossing those finish lines, she set her sights higher: a half marathon… and then a full marathon.
Her friends and family were nervous. They’d seen her struggle to breathe for most of her adult life. But Lindsay trusted her body — and her instincts. In 2021, she registered for the Louisville Marathon and joined Team PHenomenal Hope, determined to turn her run into a mission by raising awareness and funds for PAH research.
After months of grueling training, race day came. Her goal: 26.2 miles in 5.5 hours. The early miles felt almost effortless. But by mile 18, she “hit the wall.” Her body ached, her energy drained — but her mind took over. She thought about the years since she’d faced the possibility of IV therapy. Less than two years earlier, her future had seemed uncertain. Now, she was running a marathon.
In the final stretch, Lindsay spotted encouraging signs — they were for her! Friends and family lined the course, cheering and waving. She crossed the finish line in 5 hours and 28 minutes, beating her goal time and becoming the first known PAH patient to finish a marathon!
Lindsay knows her victory wouldn’t have been possible without advances in research. The medications that transformed her life didn’t even exist when she was first diagnosed. Grateful and determined, she continues to share her story — through writing, advocacy, and collaborations with the American Lung Association and PH organizations — to offer hope and encouragement to others facing PAH and other serious challenges.
“I want people to know,” she says, “that no matter the obstacles, it’s possible to live fully — and even chase dreams you never thought possible.”
I had recently been diagnosed with with PAH. I knew something had been very wrong when I would walk a few feet and run out of breath and have a panic attack. I went to my PCP. She ran tests but said everything looked great. I went home and the next morning I was still having these symptoms. So I made myself go to the ER. The Dr on call had finally ran a test that he knew something was. Wrong. He had me taken by ambulance to Queens. They immediately figured out the issues. They got me settled in ICU and started a bunch of tests. I thank them for catching this when they did.