No Shame

Running at 1pm in the afternoon, in the middle of July is not the smartest idea. Running in the heat NOT hydrated is even more of a nut job move.

Andy had 15 miles to run today.
I had 11 miles in HOPES to run today!

I jumped in with Andy after he had completed a little over 4 miles. We both took water and we dumped one water bottle on the path to have coming home.

My It band was irritating me basically the whole time.
Today, was a different run for me.
My husbands, Aunt Lois from Chicago was recently diagnosed with NON Hodgkin's Lymphoma. The news has been devastating. She is going through a barrage of emotions. From sadness, to fear, to acceptance to being hopeful, Aunt Lo is trying to grasp this terrible diagnosis.

Aunt Lois is right next to me~

No matter how much pain I was going to have, I was determined to RUN for HER. I was going to ask God to give me Strength, the same Strength I was going to ask HIM to give her on her  difficult journey.
I thought of the different things I wanted God to supply me with. They were identical to the things I was praying He would supply HER with also.

• Strength
• Endurance
• Healing
• Courage
• Determination

I Dedicated my 11 mile Run to Aunt Lois.
HOWEVER, I almost didn't make it.

But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”    John 4:14

 

Andy hit HIS wall at HIS mile 11. I think the whole building and the wall fell on him. He ran out of water, was running like a drunkard and was grunting unfamiliar sounds. He had taken his shirt off which is something he would NEVER do. I knew that for him to run half naked he was hot.

We were running 5:1 intervals. We were running a beautiful route in the back roads. A route I had never taken before. It is hard to grasp the beauty when you are in pain. We came out of the dirt road into full sun and heat. The paved road had no shoulder. This is where I began to notice Andy was struggling. He was coming really close to oncoming traffic. He was running on the white line as though he didn't see the cars inches away from him. I yelled at him a couple times as we were coming up place a of elevation. He grumbled something and collapsed in the shade. I looked at him and he looked blazed. He was out of water, his breathing was erratic and his eyes were bloodshot.
I quickly gave him the rest of my water. "DRINK, drink as much as you need."
My mind was racing. How was I going to get him to our water drop over 2 miles away?
I coaxed him back up. I gave him places to focus on. "Just get down the hill, Andy."  Then I would add "Relax and breath"

We managed to make it to our water dump stop. Andy ran in front of a car. I apologized to the driver and went to find the bottle of water.
I found the bottle and gave it all to Andy but managed a swig for myself.  I had hydrated throughout the morning, Andy had not. I had even asked him if he was going to drink some water. "No, I am fine." He replied
He didn't look so FINE now!
That water was gone within a mile.

As we finished up our last 2 miles, we were running through town. Mrs, Melero, one of the teachers at my kids school was coming out of her car. She looked at us and said "HI!'
She must have sensed something was not right. She asked Andy if she could get him some water. Without hesitation Andy yells "OH YES, Yes, You are such an ANGEL."
He walked right into her house as she filled up his bottle. I laughed at his half naked heat stroked body desperate for water. Mrs. Melero asked if she could fill mine up too. "No, thank you, we are almost home." Quickly Andy intervenes, "Yes, that would be great!"
I Thought I would DIE! Andy is normally so reserved was not at all shy now.

We thanked her repeatedly.
A couple feet away from her house Andy says "Anita, I think she was a ANGEL sent from God! Just for me and you know I don't think like that!" Then he added several times "An Angel.."

We made it home. Andy just about had a heat stroke but I don't think he will ever run in the heat without planning better hydration again.
I was DONE. The route we did had several hills. Hills and IT band friction are not a good combination.

RUNDOWN;
Distance:11 miles
Intervals: 5:1
Pace: 10:27
Headed to Gym after taking care of Andy and making him a recovery drink.
Iced for 15 minutes
Stretch and roll.

I dedicate todays RUN to Aunt LOIS, and many more. One step at a time, day by day, with courage and strength.

Anita