As a running coach if a client reported having slight muscle aches around their belt line, a high fever the night before their big race, being constipated for a few days, and just generally achy and sluggish, then in all probability I would advise them not to run their race, regardless of how important the race was to them! They should be seeking the advise of a doctor not a coach.
But I guess runners have a blind spot in their head when it comes to toeing the starting line of any race, especially one of their favorites. I was guilty of such a blind spot for the 12th annual running of The Brooksie Way Half Marathon last September. I had all of those symptoms and I also had a streak of competing in each and every Brooksie Way Half Marathon since it’s inception in 2008, there was no way I was going to break this streak!
My fever was actually down the morning of the race but I still felt very sluggish and the last thing I wanted to do was run, let alone a race, especially a 13.1 mile race along a challenging route! But I did. I had previously convinced several people from my office to join the 501 Running Club team entry for the half marathon and several others were competing in the 10K and 5K events. I felt an obligation to at least show up and compete. There was also another part of me that recalled having high fevers the night prior to other races in the past and the races somehow seemed to cure whatever ailed me way back when. This was quickly proven to be wishful thinking, in fact I remember standing in the starting corral wishing I was back home!
As a runner who has finished at least 10 prior Brooksies I was allowed to line up in the first wave of runners. There were a handful of other waves, each timed to start about 2 minutes or so after one another. The wave start is now common in many races as a measure to help assure the safety of all runners. The fastest runners are in the first group, followed by the next fastest and so on, with the last wave consisting of the slowest runners and walkers. My guess is the between my start and the final wave, at least 10 or maybe 15 minutes had lapsed.
The first wave of The Brooksie Way Half Marathon
Well, I started. My strategy was to simply run very slow and to finish the race so I could keep my streak alive! Slow I did run. In recent years I would start the race somewhere at a pace of 7:30 per mile. At the half mile mark I was doing just fine at about 12 minute pace and was happy to let those in the first wave who had not already pass me, to simply go ahead and pass me. So they did. So also did the faster runners from the second wave! Nonetheless, I felt no pain (yet) and my troublesome hamstring from a week or two prior was fine too. So slow it was going to be.
Well, all that did not last long. Before I knew it one of those old stomach cramps caught me! So, slow down even more, the cramp resided and I maintained a 14 minute pace. I was determined not to walk. I could do this and still finish somewhat respectable? But shortly after making another turn on the course, that ole belly cramp and my hamstrings both cramped. I was not even going to make it to the 5K (3.1 mile) mark of the course without walking. I walked a hundred yards or so but was determined to jog thru the aid station, I mean I had to try to look like I needed a drink of water right? But as soon as I passed the aid station I began to walk again. My walking pace of 16 minutes per mile was only a bit slower than my race pace that morning.
No need to bore you with a mile by mile story of my death march to the finish except to say that I ended up walking nearly most of the final 10 miles of the half marathon route and gained a whole new respect for the so called “back of the pack” runners. Many runners and later in the race even many walkers were passing me. It was only due to the wave start that so many runners and walkers were still behind me. I was also very tempted to cut the course short and still be able to finish without anyone else the wiser. Except for me of course and I would no longer be able to claim I competed in all Brooksies from start to finish.
During the final few miles the field of over 1400 runners was down to a very sparse group of walkers. Still, most of these walkers were passing me. My pace had slowed to 20 minutes per mile and it was the best I could do. Every so often a medical team cart would pass by and offer assistance and a lift if I wanted it. While I wanted to take them up on their tempting offer I knew I had to finish the entire distance on my own two feet!
Then the final turn and the finish line came into view. A young lady run up to my side and offered encouragement, I think she might have been my guardian angel in disguise. I really appreciated her thoughtful effort. Then she passed me onto another very familiar and welcoming running friend, Coach Suzi was there at the final turn to run me to the finish line. Only you guessed it, she didn’t need to run, she walked me to the finish!
Finally finished, even if only walking! Finished 1,398 of 1,399 runners overall.
As I crossed the finish line alone, I was very grateful for the finish line announcer and race photographers for waiting nearly 4 hours for me to finish my 12th Brooksie Half Marathon. I have run many marathons in far less time then 4 hours and now I can proudly claim I had a sub-4 hour (3:56) half marathon too!.
I basically felt fine, well as fine as one could expect to feel after walking for 4 hours and still feeling fatigued. I was glad to see that there still was plenty of good food left in the team post race celebration tent and I took full advantage of a great meal. Although I did want to get home and get some rest. Thanks to the very thoughtful gesture from Al and Deb Johnson, Deb drove me home in my car and Al followed. I probably could have driven myself, but it was certainly not worth the risk. After arriving home I looked up the results and learned that I had finished 1,398 out of 1,399 runners! I beat some guy!! With that in mind I crashed on my bed, still in my race clothes and slept for the next 5 hours!
Clearly something was wrong here. Monday morning came and I felt not as bad as Sunday, so went into work. Same thing Tuesday and Wednesday. The one constant was my constipation. I have never had any such issues with my digestive system in my life. So after leaving the office Wednesday evening, I went to an urgent care center. I assumed they would prescribe some sort of pill or other remedy. Instead I was ordered to get to the emergency room ASAP!!
I hurried home, explained the situation to my wife and off we were to the ER! Shortly after walking into the ER I was examined by a doctor and diagnosed with diverticulitis. I sort of knew what this was. I did know that it was extremely serious and that I had two friends a number of years ago who had died from complications of this condition! So I was very attentive when the doctor explained my condition, which was not good but also not extremely dangerous. I learned that this is a condition in the large intestine that nearly 50% of people over the age of 50 probably have. However, less than 5% of those people ever experience any sort of complication. The medical world also does not know the cause. I had a situation where there was a small perforation in my intestine and poisonous waste product was escaping through this puncture. Fortunately, the infected waste was confined.
I spent the next four days in Ascension Providence Novi Hospital. The doctors had placed a tube in me to drain the infection. Within a week my infection had drained, the tube was removed, and I was back running again, I had even lost 10 pounds! However, I do not recommend losing weight this way!
While in the hospital I had been told various scenarios about my recovery. At first I was told I would simply have to watch my diet and I would likely not require any form of corrective or preventative surgery. Then I was told I should have surgery but they would most likely be able to do it via two small puncture holes and maybe a small cut. Well, neither of those scenarios occurred.
I welcome you to return in the very near future for Part 2 of my adventure to learn more about my condition and how it has affected my running and more.
Thank you for taking the time to read my post.
Run Happy !
Coach Lee
PS: I debated with myself whether or not to share this story, I will reveal my reason to post this series at the end of the series. Check back soon!