Today I have 49 days left to train for a 14km run.
Every time I click on this site it tells me how few days I have left to prepare for a 14km run. It’s great for motivation. Not. Did I mention this is a run that my parents are doing and have been diligently training for? Did I mention I’m seriously thinking of entering the race under a pseudonym, so that no one knows that my father who is recovering from a triple bypass last year will beat me to the finish line?
Interestingly the race is called HBF run for a reason. And what’s my reason? Well partly because it’s a family thing to support my dad who is a spokesperson for the event, but also to support the Heart Foundation.
I was warned last year before dad had his heart surgery that we would find it hard to watch him in ICU. It was. I also found the part where they told us they couldn’t control his bleeding and we were watching and waiting to see if he would survive pretty challenging too.
The strange thing is, I’d always had the perception that ICU’s were noisy places. They aren’t. Not really. There are lots of beeping machines and people moving around, but it’s white noise really. Your heart and soul are focused on willing the person you love, into continuing to breathe.
Every time a nurse or doctor approach, you gaze at them hopefully as if they can provide you with the answers to all the questions you have. Like: “How did we end up here?” In the end the questions became immaterial, meaningless. All I wanted was for my dad to be ok.
I cannot articulate how much it meant to be there with my mother and my brothers during the vigil. In equal part, returning home to my husband and children meant the world to me.
At the time I was training for a fun run and even though the days were jam packed it was the training that kept me sane.
My training for this upcoming event got a wee bit derailed by the Bronze Medallion and subsequent spraining of my ankle. But mother knows best. Before we left on our holiday she gave me that book I mentioned previously about the ultramarathoner.
A line that resonated from the book was that “pain was weakness leaving the body.” It was the exact same phrase the surgeon used with my dad when he queried his pain levels post-op. It was also the phrase dad used during his rugby coaching days.
And using the right, or is it left side of my brain? I decided holidays were the perfect time to get fit. I wasn’t having to cook or clean or any of the usual daily tasks I would normally do.
So each day Husband and I chanted to each other: “Hardcore!” and set off on a run. Every day. I also cut out alcohol (not a big chore for me anyway) and no carbs in the evening.
Running in the humidity was an interesting challenge as were the various cheers from fascinated onlookers as I staggered past them. Bringing a water bottle on a run was NOT an optional extra I discovered after the first run.
And the pain? Well lets just say there is a TRUCKLOAD of weakness leaving my body apparently J
But we’re in the swing of things now.
We’ve inspired Mr Large and he’ll be participating in the 4.5km run as well on the day.
And dad?
Come 23rd May, Team Jeffo will be running (jogging slowly) proudly. Husband at the front and in my case,
bringing up the rear.
