Hi Anne,
I can appreciate the challenge you face of trying NOT to run! I don’t know your age or what stage adrenal fatigue with which you were diagnosed. If, however, you are being told to walk for 6 months to 2 years, I suspect you have an advanced stage of adrenal fatigue (Stage 3 or 4). If this is the case, I would advise you to stick to the walking protocol. Yes, I stopped doing long runs and switched to easy walking (not power walking). I’ve been a runner since age 13, and, for me, this was an incredibly difficult transition to make…but absolutely necessary. Having late-stage adrenal fatigue means that your body is running on very low energy reserves and in a state of chronic fatigue; the body perceives any kind of high-intensity exercise, like running, as a stressor that can trigger adrenal crashes. Also, running—when you have advanced adrenal fatigue—can cause (or exacerbate) electrolyte imbalances and manifest as heart palpitations, night sweats, etc. Stick with walking for now.