Run Down

An Endurance Athlete's Race Against Chronic Fatigue

By: Michael Gallagher

Narrated by: Michael Gallagher

Run Down is the powerful new memoir by Dr. Michael Gallagher that details his shocking decline from fit triathlete and chief of surgery to bedbound patient searching for answers to a mysterious illness born out of a harrowing bike trip through North Dakota’s Badlands.

Gallagher’s life is built on his ability to endure, but this is one race he cannot finish. He struggles to find the cause of his illness as well as the courage to survive.

Misdiagnosed and misunderstood by his colleagues, Gallagher is forced to weather the worst of his illness alone, his isolation worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, which will, ironically, provide clues to his health.

Gallagher grapples to find meaning in a life that has been decimated by an invisible enemy.

Poignant and perceptive, Run Down explores the the power of positive thinking, and the potency of love, family, and perseverance to providing meaning and joy.

©2022 Michael Gallagher (P)2022 Michael Gallagher

Critic reviews

"Run Down is an incredible read whether you are an athlete, are someone struggling through tough times, or are just looking for meaning in life." (Kara Goucher, Olympian, author of Strong)

Great listen

I am more knowledgeable about ME and did not realize how devastating this condition is .

I Don’t Know Anyone Else With ME

I don’t know anyone else with M.E., so I had to buy this book and listen to it— especially because the author is an MD. His life is so much like my own; it’s interesting to hear how it progressed for him. I’m an RN, so my trajectory was similar, but mine started after Covid. I, too, am a patient at the Stanford Chronic Illness Clinic. I’m on LDN, Ketotifen, and midodrine. The most important thing I got out of this book was the idea of pacing and how Michael applied it to his daily activities.

Since this book was written, I believe there is research confirming that dysfunctional mitocondria contribute to ME, so progressive exercise doesn’t work. We can only pace.

Thank you, Michael, for putting this book out there.

A fellow former runner with cfs

I purchased this audiobook to see what a former fellow runner with chronic critique syndrome had to say. The book was very well written, and I would encourage anyone with chronic fatigue syndrome to read it or listen to it.

Great memoir

As someone else who is young, previously very active, and now struggling with activities of daily living following long COVID, I appreciated this memoir and the parallels to my current situation. Thank you for sharing your story and helping to shed some light on ME and some of the misconceptions surrounding it.

Thank you Micheal

Thanks , Michael. I have ME too. I have gotten some good tips on living with ME. Most importantly, to pushing the exercise. I have a very quiet life and I was hoping to do some exercise to add something active to my life. Great job on the writing, best wishes for your future.