CHALLENGER STORY be accepted into the challenge. I thought if I can run, and run for charity, why not? These two passions are so close to my heart. Then I learned all about CHOC, the childhood cancer foundation and I wanted to be a part of the SBBU experience even more. If it happened only once in my life, I would be satisfied.
To support a charity that helps cancer patients is something I wanted to be a part of as in 2019 I watched my soulmate, my best friend, my lover, the father of our children, my very heartbeat, close his eyes for the last time because of cancer. In my lifetime this world has yet to produce a giant such as him. He left a legacy and I felt with every fibre of my being that I wanted to give something of myself, in a personal way as a tribute to him. A tribute to his pain and suffering which he bravely endured. The SBBU 2023 was very personal for me.
When the original date of 26 April 2023 was set for the dinner get-together I was blown away. My sweetheart’ s birthday. The date then moved but it was still an incredible sign for me. I eventually found out that I had made it, and no words could express how elated and honoured I felt. I chose to wear the Pikorua pendant during the challenge, a gift given to me by my youngest son, who was unable to be there with me during the challenge. The pendant is a Māori symbol that represents the path of life and the strong bond between loved ones.
As the months ticked by, I entered the Alan Ferguson 21km in Kibler Park. Brutal hills and inclines. I trained hard, with hills in mind, and when the day came and I ran the race, I felt I had sliced it. However, somewhere between that race and our next Callies club run a week or two later, my right hip, glutes, lower back, and surrounding area decided to turn on me. I struggled through this excruciating pain, trying different treatments but the pain would not relent. I could barely walk, let alone run. To surrender is never an option. Not doing the SBBU was not an option. I needed a plan.
I went through the SBBU rules again and was satisfied that if I could not run then at least I could walk. As long as I made it within the hour and stood back at the start line on the hour, I could do this. So, I focused on trying to speed up my walking and averaged 40 minutes for the 4.167, which would give me 20 minutes of rest. In my head, this was possible.
D-Day arrived. Whether through bravery or stupidity, there was never a doubt in my mind that I could not do this. Remember do or die, we never surrender. I had so much passion in my heart, and this would be enough to carry me through. I never for a moment, considered the flame would wane and my body would beg to be left in the ashes. I understood in the challenge and through the months of struggling with the pain, exactly how demoralising the pain day in and day out had been for my late husband. There was such a mental battle trying to live past the physical agony he endured, and I had never stopped to process that until this challenge. I had a new respect for him and even more determination to see this through.
Mistake number one was staying on my feet for almost 24 hours. Sitting only after loop 21. I believed that if I sat down at any point, I would not get up again. If I rested, I would fall asleep and not make it. I brought a chair, but it stood empty. I was slugging down painkillers because of my hip. I was mentally still winning the challenge up to around loop 19.
My initial breakdown was not physical, although I was hurting. My breakdown was mental. I endured loop after loop, watching my fellow challengers receive much-needed support from family and friends. Doing loops with them, sharing meals, sharing laughter. I arrived alone. Loop in and out I had no supporters or family, what many take for granted, and that started chipping away at my façade. Being surrounded by all these champions, their families and friends and yet feeling so alone in the world.
I linked in with Rosh and Ilana, and they were my company during many of the loops. Ilana was a great support during the night hours. I must add that the spirit during the challenge was amazing. The challengers were
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