Following a fat, unfit 50 year old to fitness!: The Perfect Man

Following a fat, unfit 50 year old to fitness!: The Perfect Man: Saturday 1 st September Distance:9:61miles Time:2:13:45 Avg Speed:4:31mph Avg Pace:13:55min/mile Calories burned:1712 Run Well...

The Perfect Man

Saturday 1^st September

Distance:9:61miles

Time:2:13:45
Avg Speed:4:31mph
Avg Pace:13:55min/mile
Calories burned:1712
Run

Well folks this was probably my last big run before the big day. I may not be able to fit another long run in before 16^th September – the day of the Great North Run. Having done the Otley run last week and had problems with the GPS I decided (3 miles in) that I would continue on and repeat the run of last week in order to get a more accurate reading. My legs started a little sluggish and the second mile was hard but once I got going, I kept going. The weather was a lot more giving than last week where I was running in heavy morning smog. Today the air was clear, in fact it was quite windy and this served to blow away any early smog. No vicious dogs to attack me today just me and the road.

I am struck by how many groups of men are up cycling between Headingley and Otley every week and since the Olympics I am sure there are more! These Lycra clad chaps pedal on chatting as they do and I generally get cheery ‘G’Mornings’ from most of them. I feel as if I am part of some special Saturday early morning risers club and some regulars I now recognise and they me, although I am quite noticeable with my day-glow orange jacket! I feel a small camaraderie with these fellow athletes (ooo get me ‘athletes!) yet in some small way I feel I am now an athlete. I did my run to Otley and I ran most of it I walk very little now especially as the run goes on and I find my rhythm. When I think back to the me who started this endeavour back in January. Back then I would have to stop for a rest every mile or so. Now I do not stop at all I slow down to a walk pace every so often but I do not stop and this gives me hope that on the 16^th I know I will finish. I am in the 3+hours starting group- the last group to start! I think it may take me about 3hours 20mins but I have set myself the target of trying to finish in less than 3 hours. I hope this will be doable. I am all set. My head, heart and legs are finally in unison. I am filled with trepidation but I know what I have to do. More importantly I know why I have to do it.

I have one and one only reason for doing this. I have never been a distance runner I was always a sprinter, a short body built with the power for short, fast bursts not a lean, long distance machine. However I have a body that although aging and overweight, with a few little niggles creeping in here and there, is still a body that if treated with respect is in full working order and will remain so hopefully for many years to come. I suffer from few ailments; I am incredibly healthy and strong both physically and emotionally. Both of the latter factors are vitally important as I know that in the coming years these reserves will be called upon. My Raison D’etre of course is my inspiration and it is for him that I am doing this.

Who is this man who I dedicate my all to? In life we meet many people some of them good some of them bad, some of them ordinary some of them exceptional. Some we carry with us for ever others are instantly forgettable. Our lives are a revolving door of relationships. Every now and then into our lives comes a person, a person who implants themselves in our heart and resides there in perpetuity.

Such is my Raison D’etre. I call him my Raison D’etre as he is my reason for being. He came into my life 22 years ago and from the first minute I set my eyes on him I knew that he was sent for me. At that time my life was just beginning to recover from a deep well of sadness and into that dark time of my life came this beacon of light. A man so wonderful his smile can light up a room. His heart is so tender that he warms the very core of my being. He is gentle, witty, giving and handsome; he would do anything for anyone, he is good through and through. He is a kind and generous man whose presence in my life not only surrounds me with love but gives a reason to my life.

We met 22 years ago and married 18½ years ago. I can say with heartfelt honesty that there has never been one single moment of those years that this man has not filled my life with joy and love. In all those years I cannot remember more than a couple of occasions where we have argued. Don’t get me wrong we occasionally disagree but never for long (he normally gives in and sees things my way!!!) He is my very best friend, my confidant and he can finish my sentences and I his. We know each other’s thoughts and frequently do not need to speak to know what the other is thinking. We laugh together; he laughs a lot and will do so heartily when something amuses him, his laughter twinkles through my soul and lightens me. When I look at him I see this warm, open, beautiful face, a face upon which I never tire of gazing. When I first saw him, the very first time, which was in church I nudged my mum who was sitting next to me, and said ‘He has nice eyes’ to which she replied ‘he has lovely teeth too!’ the die was cast from that point he was always going to be mine. My heart knew from that very first moment and in the words of the song ‘it only took a moment to be loved a whole life long.’

Into every life a little rain must fall and for us the clouds started gathering 6 years ago, although with hindsight it had started long before that but we just did not string the incidences together. He started falling and had always been prone to falls over the years. As a child he was clumsy and although he could move around well enough he could never run fast or really keep up. Yet six years ago the falls became more frequent, they were for no reason, he didn’t trip or slip he just fell because his legs would simply fold beneath him for no apparent reason. This came to a head when we were doing some work in the garden and whilst building a patio we were moving concrete slabs down the garden and he had a fall which resulted in him crushing his fingers. So she who must be obeyed packed him off to the doctors expecting them to say that he had a bit of arthritis in his knees and that at the worst he would need his knees fixing. We were not ready for the doctor’s prognosis and to his credit he diagnosed quickly and correctly that my beloved had Muscular Dystrophy. There was no toing and froing and no procrastination, the diagnosis was confirmed and the strain of Becker MD was established. Effectively the muscles in his upper legs and buttocks have wasted away and walking is a huge physical effort.

We have been lucky with the medical profession we see an excellent specialist and have been helped by Occupational Therapists although the Physiotherapist was not very helpful. We do ok. We have each other and so long as I have strength I will be there for him to lean upon. He still has his falls but walking with a walking stick frequently two sticks, does help. The main consequence of this condition is his limited ability to do things we all take for granted coupled with fatigue, which he finds frustrating. Ultimately he will need a wheelchair but we will cross that bridge when we come to it. Today he can still walk and I can run and for him I will run. He may not have fully functional legs but he is perfect and I adore him.

He does not deserve this condition (no one does) but have it he has and for him I will run. For him I will run. For him I will run. For him I beg of you please sponsor me and help raise money for the charity that works so tirelessly to raise awareness, to raise funds, to sponsor research, to support sufferers, to be there for people like my Raison D’etre. Just log on to www.muscular-dystrophy.org and see why I am doing this. If you feel you want to support me with a donation then please log onto my ‘Just Giving’ account and give as much as you can.  www.justgiving.com/Team-LewisMDC. A huge thank you to all of you who have donated already and to those of you who have not sponsored me yet …. WHY NOT???? Come on guys I –we-they need your support.

Thank you for your support