MY LIFE, MY WAY
thinking“ I’ m actually doing it”. I did a Stompy pitstop and off we went. I knew I’ d see them again at 35km so it was just about breaking the race up even more.
My dad had set a game plan, that we would break it up into 8km segments and honestly, mentally, this helped so much because 42.2km sounded so daunting. At around 24km the pain really hit. Stompy was aching and my hamstring felt very fatigued on the left leg but I had made a promise to my dad not to lose my sense of humour.
Even though I knew I would get sore, I didn’ t expect that kind of pain. But I was also very aware of still enjoying every moment, feeling blessed and so proud of doing it with my dad. He told me something I’ ll never forget. He said,“ This section is where you need to dig deep, remember why you’ re doing this, and take it in.”
He kept reminding me that I’ ve already been through hard things and I know I can mentally push through, this is just another one of those moments. I have even more respect for my dad after doing a marathon because wow the places you go to mentally are crazy.
At no point did I think of quitting. I knew we would get to the end even if it meant walking. He put no pressure on me whatsoever to get a certain time or to run instead of walk. He just reminded me of what I am capable of and it made me so emotional. From 28-34km, I couldn’ t stop crying. I kept thinking“ I get to run”. I looked around at all the runners, each running for their own reason, their own story of struggle, survival, and strength.
I looked at my dad running a marathon, remembering his health issues. The crowds. Everything hit me during these miles and I kept repeating“ I get to run”,“ I get to run”. I was receiving notifications on my watch and could see the amazing messages coming through from everyone at home and the support truly got me moving forward.
From 34km, I knew I had 1km to push until I could have a proper sit down with my family. All I wanted was a massive hug from my mommy and boyfriend. I knew my sister would make me laugh and that’ s all I focused on for the next kilometer. I messaged Reade and said,“ I’ m doing it. I’ m actually doing it”. I just couldn’ t believe I was finally running a marathon.
Finally, at 35km, I got my family, my people. The tears just flowed and I had a massive sob. Emotionally, without my mom, I’ d be so lost. She is my rock. Her hug fixed everything and that hug I got at 35km, pulled all my pieces back together just like it did in the hospital, three years ago, lying there knowing my whole life had changed.
Reade held me and told me how proud he was of me, reminding me to do this for the little girl in hospital three years ago. He is my logic when I feel overwhelmed and after that, my mind felt so calm and I was ready to smash the rest of the race. A nice sip of Coke, a wine gum, a joke from my sister, and a change of shoe— power combo! Now all I could think of was a massive plate of oily hot chips.
“ Eri,” my dad said,“ We’ re in single digits now.” And just like that, the legs returned. We took it one kilometer at a time. And then, a sharp pain in my right calf. Like electrocution. But I told myself“ If I get injured now, it’ s okay … because this was the end goal”. Wild, right? We stopped, stretched, reset. And then the crowd lifted me again.
“ Go, Erin!”“ You can do it!”
“ Go Erin and Mark!”“ You go, girl!”
I was so busy watching the massive smile on my dad’ s face and taking in the vibe that the next second I knew, Buckingham Palace was on our left and I saw my family again. 300 meters to go and we flew over the finish line, holding hands. A feeling I’ ll never forget.
I hugged my dad and said,“ We did it, Daddy, we fulfilled our promise.” I have never felt more proud. Not just of myself, but of all of us. Because I didn’ t do this alone.
I ran a marathon three years after losing my leg.
That took an entire army.
The truth is, we ran a marathon. Because everyone who held me up during the hardest time of my life carried me to that finish line. We faced trauma together. We rebuilt together. And we crossed that finish line together.
After the best day of my life: what’ s next?
I’ ll be back to marathon running at the Cape Town marathon in October. It seems the bug has truly bitten.
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