Its April 14th which means I've been recovering from Bronchitis for about 3 weeks now, hence my radio silence. I'll back track to the marathon.
A friend and runner gave me some sage advice about races which I've pulled out of my memory in times when I needed to be philosophical. Dave said: "Just remember, that no matter how hard you train or if you've done everything right, on Race Day sometimes it will be a PR (personal record) day and sometimes it won't be. If it's not your day it's not your day."
I got sick the day before my race. And like Dave says, that's the way it goes. The day was rainy, wet and slippery. The course was challenging as I expected. I completed the race on the slower scale of my guestimate of 4hrs57min so I can't complain - much. ;-)
On a better note my friend Maddy did exceptionally well. I am always amazed at how strong she can run given that she is often busy with life and work and she fits in training when she can. I've never met someone who can train about 2 days a week, can stay relatively injury free and continues to improve her time. Wholly Doodle.
Our other fried Margot was perhaps the most heroic of us all. She was in the Half Marathon and around the 10km mark she tripped and twisted her ankle badly. She stopped for a bit to decide if she wanted to keep going and found that she wanted to keep going. I'm not sure how she finished the race in that condition but she did. After the race her ankle was swelling up 3 times its size and a bruise was starting to form from the tips of her toes to just above her ankle. By end of the race us three amigos were Maddy-the-wonder-woman, Lise-the-sicky and Margot-the cripple. We made a fine post race trio!
My biggest regret of the trip is that I got my friend Michele sick. She recently had back surgery which was beset by complications and only had recently been back to work. The plan was for me to stay at her place after the marathon. But the plan was definitely NOT for me to bring sickness with me. As much as I tried to contain my coughing and not spread germs it didn't work. I felt awful about it and I do hope she eventually forgives me. :-(
It was fun to be in the big city and hanging out with my friends but by the end of my trip I was more than ready to get home. Being a tourist when you're not feeling well isn't that great. The last couple days I was on my own and I did the best I could taking in museums and walking around Berkley campus but mostly I wanted to be heavily medicated and not having embarrassing coughing fits in public.
I got home on Monday and once mom saw my wretched condition she moved into nurse-alert mode. I didn't help matters that I had one of my coughing fits shortly after I got home. They suck and apparently are alarming to watch. She made me a hot ginger and lemon drink and then proceeded to start giving me medicines. First there was the throat lozenges, then Buckleys cough syrup, then the Advil and Vicks Vapo Rub and then Ray suggested Camfor oil on a kleenex to clear my sinuses. I took everything they handed me with nary a complaint. What I was really appreciating was the mothering. After living for almost 10 years by myself it is a wondrous feeling to feel cared for. Not long after being home I was snug as a bug in my bed and nodding off in a pharmaceutical induced haze.
The next day I did get to the local clinic to get checked out. The nurse's diagnosis was Viral Bronchitis which is something that I've dealt with before. There isn't much that can be done for a viral infection, it must run its course. The best a person can do is support the healing process by getting a ridiculous amount of rest, drink plenty of fluids, boost the immune system as best one can and have patience. I can appreciate why it's called a virtue, as I find it exceptionally difficult to do!
At times like these I think about the central teaching of Eckhart Tolle which is basically: "It just is." What he means is that rather than try to analysis (my personal favourite) or resist life's current circumstance, one is better served to simply allow it to be. (not my personal favourite)
While I've been convalescing I've been reading lots, sleeping plenty and sitting outside when the weather allows me to. I've gone for a few walks but they haven't been helpful yet. It's difficult to feel so weak after months of hard training but wait... what does Eckhart say again? Oh ya, quit complaining and accept it.
The ice is slow to leave the lake this year, it's not walkable nor skiable anymore but as always it's interesting to watch the goings on of the animals that live on or near the lake. I haven't seen the otters in the past 3 weeks but the ducks have begun to arrive.
The central point of interest for us right now are the geese - they're returning to this area. We usually hear the honking first and then I start scanning the sky. Soon one can see the V formations of the birds tracking above. They aren't landing here yet as there isn't enough open water. Once the ice is gone they'll land. It's a wondrous sight to see them. What I find most interesting is when they seem to reorganize themselves in mid flight. The V's aren't exactly uniform and seem to be a series of organized trails overlapping each other in flight like a beautiful dance.
Perhaps one of the more interesting developments out here has been my decision to stay longer. My intent had always been to head to the Nelson area in June. However the longer I stay here with my parent the more it feels right to stay. My parents and I have developed an easy-going living arrangement. My parents like the company and so do I. I'm useful here and I like being closer to my family.
I'm starting to consider buying property out if the right opportunity presents itself. I'm putting out a few feelers with the locals. Out here the grapevine is more efficient than looking for something in the local newspaper. The locals can tell you about a potential property, its pluses, minus, the history, the relative worth of the property and salient details (aka: gossip) of the sellers. I'm not in any hurry though and would most likely try to rent a place on the lake first.
I'm definitely keeping my options open and my decisions will be based on how things go with Mom and Ray, how long they feel they can live on the lake and where they want to live once they decide to leave here.
It's funny how things change. Before coming out here I wouldn't have dreamed that I would consider calling this area home. But once out here, I came to realize that I like it and there are activities I'm really enjoying like cross-country skiing and soon kayaking. I'm quite keen to join the biathlon club in Burns Lake. I've found running trails to challenge me and I'm starting to make friends.
Spending time and living with my parents is a deep and gratifying experience. It's reminded me about what is truly important to me - my relationships. And I'm closer to my brothers who live in Prince George. The quiet life here appeals to me. Sure it gets boring at times and when I feel a sense of cabin fever I know its time to go visiting other places. I was fortunate enough to have my friend Maddy take me to California for the running race. Walking in San Francisco and spending time with familiar friends filled my need for excitement. Soon I will drive to Calgary to reconnect with friends, climb, hike and run. That is if my bronchitis releases its hold on me!
Being here is cultivating my ability to be fluid to change and to allow new thoughts and new dreams.
Life is good.
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