One of the many obstacles runners face during training is illness. What do you do when you get sick? I found out. A couple of weeks ago I was hit with dizziness and overall fatigue. I'm going to call it a flu, although I didn't have any respiratory symptoms and no fevers and no body aches. Just really dizzy, and a dull ache developed in my right lower abdomen. The ache progressively worsened over a week, so I called the nurse line at my doctor's office. I was instructed to go to the emergency room. Long story short, it was nothing serious (thank God!). The pain was from a cyst on my ovary which went away on its own. However, the dizziness persisted, and it was the night before my scheduled 7 mile long run. I debated with myself about whether or not I should go or not. I asked my husband what he thought, and he refused to tell me what to do. Well, after some wrestling with God in prayer, I decided to go for it. I was tired of always having reasons for postponing training. Everything I read online about running while sick stated that it was safe as long as the symptoms were above the neck and no fever...which I qualified for. So, with a pounding headache and scratchy throat I set off on my 7 mile run the next morning. The good news was that the temperatures were a balmy70+ degrees (in March!); however there were 30-45mph winds to contend with. I trudged through the first two miles pretty well, but when I reached mile 3 I really got discouraged. I wasn't feeling well, and I doubted my ability to make it through 4 more miles. My husband, who ran with me that day, said, "The aid station is coming up." I thought, "Yeah, if it's still there." The last time I ran the aid station was packed up and gone by the time I got there. Thankfully, we made it just in time. The volunteer had just shut the door to his truck and was about to leave. I drank some Gatorade and felt better. I couldn't help but thinking about Jonathan being revived after having a taste of honey...sometimes sugar is good!
My husband and I set out for the rest of our run. He had the map, so I leaned on him for directions through the labyrinth of trails in the middle of our course. We went around a bend and came to a dead end. We turned around and came to another obstacle. After a bit my husband started to laugh as he realized he was holding the map upside down. It's funny now...it wasn't then. In any case we found our way back on course, and through the wind we made it to the end, and our 7 mile run ended up being 8.5!!
It was definitely challenging. The scripture that came to mind as we were running through the fierce winds was
Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
(1 Co 13:7)
My husband, who absolutely enjoyed the run, said to me, "I'm so glad you hear from God." I answered that the only reason I'm running at all is because He asked me to. I also know that it doesn't matter how long it takes to make it to the finish. This is all about the journey, and I am convinced that if I could make it through this challenge I do have what it takes to complete the half marathon.
