The other day, my husband referred to my 12 mile training run, saying, "Remember how 12 miles used to be really hard, and now it's easy for you!" I quickly responded, "No, it's never easy." Every mile that I run is work, hard work. I'm not a natural runner, no long gazelle legs here. Each mile presents its own challenges, and sometimes a 4 mile run can be harder than a 10 miler.
As I wrap up my training with less than two weeks until the big day, I realize that a big difference (among many quite obvious ones) between the pain and effort of distance running and the struggle with Devic's is that I choose to run, it's good for me even when it hurts, and I can stop at any time. I get to have control over the toll taken on my body, and I get to have rest days. Part of the reason that I run so much is that it helps me in a tiny way understand what my mom is suffering, but of course I know that I can never do that. What I can do, however, is continue to appreciate the work that my body can do each time I push through a stubbornly difficult mile. I can enjoy the feeling of muscles working and heart beating. I can be grateful that I have the choice and the freedom to run. And these thoughts can propel me forward.
We are within $300 of our $1500 goal. Please consider donating to Guthy Jackson, either by a direct donation to them (http://www.guthyjacksonfoundation.org/) or by purchasing notecards at Tulaloo (http://tulaloo.blogspot.com/2011/02/world-we-live-in-devics-disease.html).
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