Wednesday 7th June 2023
On a sluggish day like today, where my only trip outside was to the washing line, I forget to take pictures for my blog. I also got my days mixed up and forgot an online appointment, argh! I was obviously more tired than I realised after all the excitement of yesterday's Arran trip.
Today I spent a lot of time thinking about the physical challenges we give ourselves. This weekend is South Africa's big ultramarathon of 89km long from Pietermaritsburg to Durban, the Comrades Marathon. This race dominated my life from the age of 42 when I ran my first one. But it had been part of my psyche since working on the TV transmission in 1986. I turned 20 that year and promised myself to run the race before I turned 30. ( I didn't, but that's another day's story)
When I turned 40, I realised that I was taking my health for granted so set myself a big scary goal, of walking 100miles. All my sisters and sister in law, and a friend decided to join me and we set out on the West Highland Way (WHW) in 2007.
My sister Debbie, was 35 at the time and had completed two successful Comrades marathons so she was super fit and eager to do the race of the WHW which was a newish event started at the time. I laughed, as we'd taken 7 days to walk the same route!
Fast forward a decade and Debbie was realising her dream. We all gathered in Milngavie at 1am to see her off. She was nervous, happy and wide eyed. We were her support crew. Her dear partner, Simon, was cheering for her the loudest. When around halfway, the 'weather' set in, it was into his arms she fell, exhausted and hungry.
After Simon's tragic death in 2020, my little sister broke. Her heart cracked open so wide, I was almost despairing her repair. Grief of a partner is something I don't know so I watched from the sidelines as she somehow breathed unwillingly through each day.
Lockdown changed me in so many ways and I became defiant at what life was about and at being told by foolish governments how to live. As the world locked down I felt defiantly free and as soon as I was able, I travelled. Firstly around my city, province, then country and then overseas. The fact that Simon's life was cut short when he still had so much to live and love, was my personal reminder to make every day count.
Debbie clawed her way through the seconds, hours and months to focus on something, for closure, for her determination to finish what she started. This time, the WHW without her love. A hard task that only she could face and she showed up and did it. Through the night she made her way on boulders and stones, up and down hills and valleys until she was stopped. She'd run out of time. She came back by car to the finish this time with a smile on her face, without the comfort Simon's arms to welcome her, her heart still very bruised, but somehow, it seemed, with a little patch on it.
She returned to Johannesburg today and bragged about getting a steak, chips and a drink for the equivalent of £6-. So I'm hoping that as her legs heal from the 115km continuous challenge, her spirit heals a little more too.
Physical challenges are a reminder that we're still here, we are still able. Whether it's my short steep 8km yesterday or Debbie's 115km, we can still find a reason to do things. Sometimes it's just knowing that we can, that's the reason.
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