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Running
For My Life
It is hard to believe, now, how my whole body turned against me
and I could do nothing but yield to the medical profession. The illness
began with tingling sensations in my left hand. Other symptoms quickly
developed including chest pains, muscle twitching, dizziness, chronic
headaches and face pain. In fact, just about every muscle in my body
screamed at me in pain.
The doctor diagnosed “Anxiety Disorder” and sent me off to a
psychologist. The psychologist concluded that my only anxiety concerned
the unknown cause of my pain and suggested I see a pain management
specialist. I felt like a hypochondriac. Finally, a sports doctor helped
me to get to the bottom of the problem. I had Chronic Fatigue. I felt so
alone. It was hard to explain my suffering because on the outside, I
looked to be in perfect health.
It was clear there was no medical cure. It was up to me. So
here’s what I did. Dismissing advice that rest was the best remedy, I
went out and bought a pair of running shoes. I would run, run for my
life. The inspiration came from Dean who, for the past 25 years, has
made running a big part of his life.
At first, I could only run for one minute. After a few months, I
built up my stamina so that I could run for 20 minutes non-stop. Dean
knows all the good running spots in the MacDonnell Ranges. There is no
power like Nature. Plugged into that battery, I accumulated the energy
to enter the Masters Games.
On the starting line at 6.00 am, we heard that some competitors
had pulled out because they were nervous about the hot weather. Still,
there were plenty of competitors ready to go. The countdown began,
everyone set their watches, the start gun fired and we were off. I felt a mixture of emotions: excitement, fear of the unknown,
worry about the heat and the need to keep hydrated. But I paced myself
and I made it to the finishing line.
Once the last runner was home, the presentations began. To my
amazement, I came second and snared the silver medal in the 40-44
age-group. I felt so proud and I have not stopped smiling since. So now,
why not the full marathon in Sydney in 2003? In my mind, I am already
doing it. |
If you had seen the smile on my face as I crossed the finishing
line at the Masters Games in Alice Springs, you would never have known
that four years earlier, I could hardly walk, let alone run a
half-marathon. Here I was in 2002, winning a silver medal for covering
21.1 km in 44 degrees of heat while in 1998, I had been almost ready to
lay down and die. The love of my husband, Dean, and the energy of the
Central Australian environment not only renewed me but made me a
champion. The nightmare was over. I had no more need of doctors and
pills.