Forced to sit this one out

Posted on January 5, 2014 by Bo

New Year’s resolutions look differently when you’ve had the rough December I’ve had…

On the 17^th December, I lay in a hospital bed with a drip in my hand in the Sandton Medical emergency room feeling absolutely miserable. Just a week away from celebrating Christmas, I realised that the last three months have been the worst I have ever felt battling a disease I have tried desperately to hide from majority of those around me. Managing the actual disease has been fine but the extra-intestinal manifestations of Ulcerative Colitis have really taken its toll.

Excruciating arthritis attacks on the joints of my hands and shoulders; painful eye infections due to the arthritis which caused my whole cheek to seize up; a revolting rash (and another late night hospital visit) which turned out to be Urticaria; constant mouth ulcers and now something new… Crippling pain in the right hand side of my abdomen shooting up into my shoulder.

I’ve spent quite a lot of time reflecting on my health during December. Being an utter control freak it’s difficult accepting that there is absolutely nothing I can do to control an auto-immune disease which at the moment seems to be attacking me on all fronts. Ironically, the worst part is that I’ve not been able to run.

I had planned to do so much running while I was on leave during this time, especially training for the Dischem half marathon which would kick-off my 2014 running year. But with the pain and no energy, all I managed was a 5km run at the gym.

My blog has always been focused on my running speed. My slow pace and my insecurities about my running. But sitting on that hospital bed, all I wished for was that I was healthy and able to put on my running shoes and head out for a run. I thought, who the hell cares how slow I run. I don’t even give a damn if those walkers come past me. I just want to be healthy and fit enough to run.

Running means I’m strong. Running means I am healthy. Running means I am able to conquer my fears. Running means I am in control of my body. I’m sure I’ll be fit soon but for now, my New Year’s ~~resolution~~ wish is for a healthy body.

The trip counter

Posted on October 3, 2013 by Bo

Ever since I started running, there’s a habit I’ve picked up when I drive my car. I re-set the trip counter to “0” to see how far certain distances are if I were to run them. For example, it’s 3.4 kms to the gym from my house; 4.7 kms to the highway on ramp and 14.8 kms to get to my office. In the run up to any half marathon races, I typically use this exercise to prepare myself mentally. Passing that 21.1 km mark in the trip feels amazing.

So when KK entered the Bonitas City 2 City ultra marathon I started checking exactly how far 50 kms was and discovered that it’s a hell of a way! It’s pretty much the same as driving to my offices, then back home and then half the way back to the office again! *gasp*

In his 22 years of running, he’s never attempted such a far distance before, having previously stuck to half marathon distances. I don’t know who was more nervous, me or him? From the time I wished him well at the start of the race, to seeing him coming up to the finish 5 hours and 22 minutes later, I was shattered!

Well done on a fantastic run babes! I’m so proud of you. Comrades, here we come! (well, you…but you know what I mean.)

Focusing on the negative. (Expert level)

Posted on August 25, 2013 by Bo

The first kilometer of the running route from my house starts on a ~~very~~ semi-steep uphill. Because of this, I usually use the first kilometer to ‘warm up’ and walk. But my running has been getting stronger and one afternoon, I found myself managing to run the entire kilometer without stopping. I was thrilled! When I reached the top at the swimming school, my heart felt like it would jump out of my chest, more from happiness than exertion. I could not stop smiling. My inner voice was saying, “Well done Bron!” Best . Feeling. Ever!

Two minutes later, another runner caught up to me and we started making conversation. We exchanged pleasant neighborhood chatter and discussed some of our road races. A few minutes had passed and I was enjoying running with her when out of the blue, she said, “Well, nice to have met you. Enjoy the rest of your run, I need to get going and run a little faster. I need to get home before the sun sets.” And off she ran…

That’s when all the negative thoughts flooded my head:

Before the sun sets? What the…? Yes, because I’m so slow, right? No one wants to run with you Bron. No one! You’re too slow!

When she was out of sight, I slowed down (even more) and was still grumbling to myself when I suddenly thought back to how my run had started. I had managed to run up to the swimming school without walking. That was a great moment and it was brilliant! So then how the hell did I manage to allow my run to dip into such a negative mood. Why did it become all about my speed? How did I go so quickly from celebrating reaching a goal to focus on one of my biggest running insecurities?

Lesson learnt: It’s an area I need to work on. Breaking myself down happens so quickly and so easily. It’s destructive. I need to focus on my achievements and stop obsessing on the negative. I’m proud of myself. I ran the first kilometer from home all the way up the hill, to the swimming school, for the first time, without walking. Yeah! That’s what I want to take out of that run. Because that’s what counts!

(Image from Google)

Runners, do you recognize this face?

Posted on August 18, 2013 by Bo

He’s a familiar face at pretty much all the road races in Jo’burg as well as Pretoria. He arrives at the race long before majority of the runners and sets out all his goodies. It’s mostly running shorts, carbo loading sweets, cool drinks from the back of his bakkie and running gloves (which have saved me before on an icy Winter morning). His name is Mens Moosa and he’s been a friendly face at the races for the last 25 years!

Mens says his love is mainly for ultra marathons and boasts 25 Comrades medals to his name. I did not realize that 5 minutes before the start of the races, he quickly packs up all his goods and manages to get to the start line to run the race with everyone else.

When you do see him next time, say hi! No race is the same without seeing his face! Thanks Mens!