Staff Writer

Angela Coulombe’s life changed forever after crossing the finish line of the 2007 Beach to Beacon 10K road race in Cape Elizabeth.

“Right as I crossed the finish line, my right knee was bothering me,” said the 45-year-old Saco resident.

She first thought she had aggravated an old injury and headed to physical therapy. As weeks passed she began to ache all over and her joints “felt a bit funky.” The aches led to intense pain that prevented her from getting out of bed led to a bull’s-eye on her arm and a diagnosis of Lyme disease.

Three years later, after struggling to get out of bed and regaining her strength, Coulombe is training to run the New York City Marathon in November, documenting her journey as the “Lyme Runner” on her blog, www.lymerunner.com.

Coulombe, who has always been active, said she decided to run the marathon to raise awareness about chronic Lyme disease, raise money for research and “to give people hope they can get well, too.” Training for the race also allows her to see how far she’s come since the days when her husband, Andrew Woznica, had to help her get dressed.

After her Lyme disease diagnosis in 2007, Coulombe took a three-week course of strong antibiotics prescribed by an infectious-disease doctor.

“At the end of the three weeks I was even worse off,” she said. “I couldn’t do anything. It was excruciating to do anything.”

The doctor told her the pain was from “old age and arthritis” and she’d just have to deal with it, she said.

“How could I have gone in two months from being so active to an invalid?” she said. “I felt utter despair and horror. I couldn’t accept I could be in this position for the rest of my life. I became very accepting of the fact that small progress was what it was going to be.”

Coulombe kept a diary of her progress over the past three years and documented how she felt and what she did. She said she likely will always have Lyme disease and manages her symptoms with diet and by eliminating stress.

By April 2009, Coulombe said felt she could get back to the gym. She stepped on the treadmill in her basement to run a mile. It took her 45 minutes. A couple days later, she ran a mile in 35 minutes. Now, off all medications, she runs a mile in 7 minutes and trains with runs nearly every day.

Coulombe said she has the support of her husband and sons, 12-year-old Oliver and 7-year-old Elliot. All three stood by her during periods of excruciating pain and cheer on her accomplishments, she said.

Elliot, who is looking forward to going to the Statue of Liberty in November, said it made him sad to see his mom sick. It is good she can run again, he said.

Coulombe said she is looking forward to November, when friends and family will crowd the race route to cheer her on.

“I imagine I’ll probably cry when I finish,” she said. “It feels hugely emotional.”

Despite her training schedule and her work as a Web designer and photographer, Coulombe makes time for Lyme Buddies, a program she started with a friend to provide people with Lyme disease a “buddy” to talk to about the disease. She said talking to someone who understands what you’re going through is a lifeline during a time that can lead to depression. 

Coulombe said she tries to spread information about prevention of Lyme disease. Before her diagnosis, she rarely did tick checks – a habit she called “naïve.” She now does checks that include running her hands over her skin to feel for tiny ticks that carry the disease. Developing these habits is essential to ensure both adults and children are protected from the disease, she said.

“I can’t imagine this happening to kids because it is so painful and devastating,” she said. “It takes every ounce of every thing you’ve got to fight it. To come through the other side takes a real fighting spirit.”

Staff Writer Gillian Graham can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 213.