Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 99, October 2017 | Page 22

Ma Feature
Another change to her daily routine was doing more strenuous
exercise as soon as she was physically able – a big change
from her previous lifestyle, where she used to love socialising
with friends and not even thinking of a healthy approach. “I
had started walking with my Mom because I thought I was a
little overweight,” says Lisa, adding that evolving from a walker
to a runner was less of an effort than she thought it would
be. “I always dreamt of being a long distance runner when I
was a little girl and now I am finally able to live that dream.
It is amazing and I don’t take it for granted. I am happy. I’m
healthy and I can run. I have my husband, my family and God,
that is all I need.”
Some people see running and being active as a chore, but Lisa Ogilvie is
not one of them. She sees it as a way of showing gratitude for the second
chance at life that she feels she has been given. – BY PJ MOSES
Ready for her
second marathon
22
if she had recently travelled, but by then the illness
was well advanced. The doctors tried everything,
but began losing hope that she would pull through.
“My Mom had to make the toughest call of her
life by letting my husband know that he had to
come home, because it didn’t look good,” recalls
Lisa. When he arrived, the doctors told the family
there was nothing more they could do for Lisa, and
it seemed only a miracle could save her now. “I
believe this is where God intervened and made me
well again. Many people prayed for my recovery,
even when all hope seemed lost, and God heard
their prayers and spared me. The doctors gave up
on me and thought I would not survive. But I am
still here, I am still alive. That’s why I am a
miracle. I was part of his plan and my time
was not finished yet.”
Running for a Cause
However, Lisa was not content with just changing her own
life