-
Happily in Pain
- Aug 10, 2009 at 8:19 PM
- By
- Comments (4) Total Views (93) Everyone can see this journal post.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vh6KlOW1J8Q
One of my favorite movies is St Ralph. A story of a boy that thinks if he wins the Boston Marathon he would (illogically) create a miracle and his mother would wake up from a coma. The story is compelling and comical to me because of my love for fitness, running, and my roots in Catholicism.
I decided after my stint of bedrest with my first child (I will spare you the details) that I would do anything to prevent it from happened with our second child. Or at least if I was put on bedrest again for high blood pressure, I knew I did everything in my will power to prevent it and I would have to carry out my duty of bedrest without guilty.
So I got this idea in me that if I could run a half marathon, that I would be healthy enough to add to our family. So Sunday was my D Day, for the half marathon that is.
Full of nerves and jitters, I started on the path on a early morning following the hottest days this summer. I was wearing my husband PT shorts and tight white tank top. The humidity from the day before hung in the air as I breathed. My camelback was full and sticking to my back within the first mile. And I prayed God was on my side and the strength and determination I had in me was not false. Let music play in my ears.
I hanged my head watching the pavement pass. As I came across a curve in the first mile, I looked up to see a female deer staring directly at me on the path. I admired her beauty and new God was near. As I continued to jog towards her I notice she was taller than me and larger than expected and she stood her ground. I was starting to wonder if I might become a deer attack statistic as I continue my path. Finally I reached her, within 5 feet as she stood at me looking in my eyes and bounced off into the tall Nebraska grass. A half a mile later I saw her again, watching me in a field.
The first three miles were hot, stickie and challenging. I was starting to second guess myself. I was annoyed I brought my camelback and plotted taking it off and dropping it some where for pick up, but I had identification in there. But as I reached to a more open area the air felt good and I felt reassured I was here to accomplish my goal. I refused to look at my new pedometer, even out of my curiousity. I didn't want to be discouraged at an point.
After mile six I decide to reach for a new running product: Gu! My body was hungry and I was starting to feel empty on energy. As I tore open the foil container, I eagerly put the substance in my mouth excited for a freshing citrus quencher, to only be startled with a orange peel taste of glue. I nearly gagged and spit it out, but as it went down my body greeted it so I continued until it was gone.
As I finished I noticed the clouds darkening and a cool breeze coming off the lake, I knew He was on my side! I thanked God and was accepting rain drops any minute. The lake started to white cap and fisherman tried to anchor their boats. I was gitty, knowing it was a fast moving storm with no lightening strikes yet. I was greeting the wind in my face. A few drops fell from the sky and I realized my white tank would soon become a white Tshirt contest. But the weather pasted quickly.
And my gu kicked in! I hit the runner high and was bouncing off that pavement like I had just started, it was fantastic. Still resisting the urge to check the pedometer until the end. I kept thinking 'the Gu worked! It really worked!' I managed to get down to the last three miles and than it sunk in again. The heat. Surprisely I found myself without water. I didn't even think I need the water, I was just using the camelback as a place to put my keys, Id, phone (just in case I had a heart attack or attacked my a deer), and gu.
I would continuely try and suck my camelback with just a slurping sound. So this is what is like? My muscles were starting to hurt and I was certain that if I stopped I would never be able to start again. My toe nails where aching and I wore my toes were trying to curl under. My knees were angery with me, but I ignored them. The last two miles, I couldn't remember my turns and curves, where I was if the next one was up or dow, if I had .5 miles or a mile left. Distance was difficult to measure.
At this point I decided to look at the pedometer. What the hell? I know I am in striking distance of the car and one mile away. I just want to see if it works. I grabbed it to see '10 miles'. I grabbed it, looked to the left in the lake, looked to the right at the tall grass and fantasized which one would be more fun to toss it in and get statisifaction knowing I would never see it again. There was no way I had another complete lap around the small end of the lake. (I confirmed that with the park site when I got home on distances).
When I finally saw the the ball park diamond around the curve, I knew I did it. I ran with aches to my finish line where the path meets the parking lot. Once I stopped it was the feeling I have only seen runners collapse on. My legs were confused, I stopped. I literally I had to concentrate on walking to the car where I threw myself on the hood.
The pain settled in and my knees were shooting with pain. Epidural! I need an Epidural! I sat nausated wanting to throw up. I convinced myself the 30 minute drive will be quick and painless. But I spent it talking myself on how to use the pedals: up, down. I was sweating from the sick feeling in my stomach and all I wanted was to lay on my living room floor. I sped towards the end. Once, home I spent an hour recooping from the pain in my legs and the sickness in the stomach. It was the closest thing I had experience to labor.
I was happily in pain. Surprisely my husband treated me with greatness and offered a reward of a full body massage after (still need to claim that). He was proud of me, but like any Man's man (John Wayne) he gave me a good punch (love tap) to the leg.
So my question to my self this week is, what next? Ben & Jerry's ice cream? Cycling? kid? marathon? live happily ever after?
Comments:
Wow, I am impressed!!! And I've never heard of the St. Ralph movie, but the trailer looked good.
Thank you for sharing your experience, what a great story! I am glad that I did not lose my favorite "running buddy" to a deer attack =) Congrats on meeting your goal-I can't wait until you figure out your next one. And yes, you will have happily ever after~you deserve it!
I've so missed your journals :) Great story! very inspiring :)
Already a member? Click here to log in
I have goosebumps! I think you'll be able to live happily ever after if you do a marathon and have another baby. In that order. I think you will do the half and then want more. But that's just my perception of you. You are a great inspiration! Keep up the great work!
- Christina7407
Message Friend Invite