Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 135, November 2020 Nov 2020 | Page 16

ROAD RUNNING

Year of the Big C

In July 2019 I turned 60 and decided that I would tackle six big things in my 60 th year : Renew my wedding vows with Clive for our 40 th anniversary , have a big birthday party , run six 21km races as a 60-year-old , swim the Midmar mile , run the Comrades Marathon for the 31st and last time , and do a tandem parachute jump . I didn ’ t know it at the time , but a seventh big thing lay in wait for me … fighting the ‘ Big C ,’ cancer , in the year of Corona . – BY TILDA TEARLE

Between July last year and February this

year , I accomplished the first four , and my Comrades training was going well , although I was leaving qualifying a bit late . I entered the Bergville to Ladysmith , which was scheduled for 4 April , and I was confident that I would qualify there . However , at the beginning of March we started hearing rumours about a virus that originated in China , and was killing people all over the world . People were scared and unsure of what was going to happen in South Africa .
Tilda and Clive tie the knot 40 years ago
At the same time , I became aware of a small peasized lump protruding from just above my left breast . I thought , maybe it is just a cyst and will go away . I also decided I will ignore it until after I had at least run the Bergville . The weeks went by , and suddenly we were told that we would be “ locked up ” for 21 days . Road races were being cancelled , and Comrades suddenly became a big question mark . I quickly made an appointment to go for a mammogram , as my suspected cyst had not disappeared . On the 23rd of March , I had the mammogram and was told that I
Tilda and Clive renew their vows
needed a needle biopsy , but they could only do it after lockdown . The doctor didn ’ t think I was an urgent case …
Topsy Turvy Days
During lockdown I ran around our yard and driveway for a minimum of 45 minutes a day . I tanned in the yard , and in between I cleaned and cleaned , washing curtains and emptying every cupboard . Then on 20 April I got a call to say I can come in for the needle biopsy . After a few days of waiting , the doctor phoned to say it seemed the area around the lump was clear – they did not pierce the actual lump – but at some later stage , when COVID was gone and hospitals were safer , I should have the lump removed . It was a relief , but my gut feeling told me the lump must come out , so I asked for a few recommendations regarding surgeons , and eventually decided who I would see .
Going into health care facilities during COVID times is no joke . Temperatures are taken , questions are asked , and before surgery , Covid tests are required . When I went to see the surgeon , he said “ it doesn ’ t seem like a sinister lump , but you never know ,” and he scheduled surgery for 17 June . I opted for a local anaesthetic , as the recovery would be quick and I could go home that same day . At the end of the surgery , the doctor said he didn ’ t need to see me again , as the stitches were the dissolving type . Two days later he phoned me to say I must come and
Images : Action Photo SA & Courtesy Tilda Tearle
16 ISSUE 135 NOVEMBER 2020 / www . modernathlete . co . za