Last night we ran the first of 5 races in the summer trail series. Those of us involved are all from Thembalitsha and doing this challenge as a personal challenge to ourselves, but also as a fundraiser for Bosom Buddies. Anthony Geard is treasurer on the board of Thembalitsha, Jan Scholtz a board member as well, Ben van Rensburg my husband and I. Apart from the 4 of us who have committed to do at least 4 of the races (Ben and I will do all 5), we have other volunteers who will be running 1 or 2 races with us.
I won’t be overreacting when I say that last night’s race at Silvermine high above Muizenberg counts as my worst ever running experience. I got sick on the mountain, severely dehydrated and what should have taken about 1 hr 30 minutes, took me over 2 and a half hours. On the way home I was so sick, we had to stop 3 times. Aching body, vomiting and headache.
I have some trail running experience and thoroughly enjoyed the winter runs in the Helderberg mountain and Jonkershoek. I know it is not a fitness issue, as I am very fit, celebrating my 3-year anniversary attending Adventure Bootcamp for Women this month. This past holiday, Ben and I ran 20km in a comfortable 2 hours. I am not a natural runner, but I have been training a lot and really enjoy the trails. I am not shy to walk the uphills and extreme downhills, but always at a steady pace followed by a relative fast run on the flat stretches. I think my problem last night has to do with hydration and illness. I have had a bit of a sore tummy since Sunday so I know I haven’t had enough to eat. On Monday I had bootcamp in the morning, a netball match in the evening and I ate a smoothie for breakfast, 2 boiled eggs and salad for lunch and one slice of toast for dinner. Tuesday after bootcamp I had a smoothie and since I had such cramps, no lunch and for dinner a chicken breast and 1 potato and salad. Wednesday started with a banana, a sandwich with cheese at lunch and another banana at 3pm. The race started at 6pm. I am writing this as I am hoping that one of my readers is a more experienced athlete and can advise me on what diet I should follow leading up to the next races. Our next race is this coming Sunday and I admit that I am terrified.
A lot of the time on the mountain last night I was by myself with not another person in sight. I wasn’t scared of getting lost or hurt; I was just in pain and praying for it to end. I started feeling faint very early on and had to sit down for a while. For about 2 hours I had a conversation with God. I asked Him to help me with this race, to please let me find the strength to finish it (and it would be nice to do well!). I clearly heard God say to me that He knows that I am doing this for selfish reasons and attaching Bosom Buddies’ name to it, that I am doing it for personal recognition and because I enjoy the limelight. I have been so humbled by this first race! I do enjoy running and of course I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t, I love Bosom Buddies and all we do. I do get recognized for what is essentially God’s project, His work, and I have been basking in this recognition instead of directing it towards Him, where all the glory lies. I vow not to make that mistake again.
I have had to take most of today off to stay in bed and recover from my trailrun at Silvermine last night. I am embarrassed to have such a terrible time and that I placed second last. Is it worth it? I think it is, I felt close to God in those hours, the views were breathtaking, and I KNOW that we will achieve what we aim for: to raise R60 000 for Bosom Buddies.
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