From Start to Finish

Well it is my last post.  Over all I have to say that the experience of training and running the race was fantastic.  The training was easy to start.  It wasn’t until we got into running over 10 miles that I really started to feel it.  I started to notice my hip flexor muscles among others were getting sore and I started having problems with hydration.   But after awhile my body got used to it and those pains went away.  I also was able to find the best solution to my hydration issues.

The day of the race.

They had buses that transported us from the hotels to the race start.  They had multiple busses to transport us all, but only one road for us all to travel on.  Our bus got caught in traffic and got to the start area with only 15 minutes to go before the start.  With 4000 runners all trying to get warmed up, use the restroom and do any last minute prep, this was not enough time.

Many people, not just the Crohn’s patients, needed to use the restroom.   Even though they had tons of port-a-johns the lines were all so long I had to step out of line so I could start the race with my team.  This left me starting the race with the urge to “go”.  Talk about starting off on the wrong foot.  I found it hard to concentrate on anything but the need to go and they didn’t have another bathroom break until mile 4.  Frequent bathroom stops are a must for a person with Crohn’s or Short bowel, then add running a race and all that stress and it becomes an even bigger issue.  I ended up stopping a total of 3 times during the race.

The course itself was a beast.  It was a total of 13.1 miles, which I was ready for.  But when they warned us that it was a very hilly course, I wish they would have elaborated more.  I’m not sure anyone on my team was ready for all those hills.  You would tackle one large hill get a tiny break and realize that you had 5 more to go.  Going up wasn’t so bad, but running back down the hills was very hard on my joints.  I really started to feel it in my knees when we were about 2/3 of the way through.

I started to feel like a wimp but then after the race I heard even the most hardened runners complaining about the hills.  This made me feel much better.

Hydration was something that I was sure I was going to have issues with during the race.  But all in all I think I did pretty well.  Actually due to my camel back full of hydration fluids I was in better shape then many of the other runners.  This is because the water stations ran out of Gatorade after the 3^rd mile.  So, all the other runners were offered only water from there on out.  Water is good, but it does not replace any of the salts or sugars you lose while running.

Oddly because of my short bowel that necessitated I sip hydration fluids throughout the whole race, I was able to keep my hydration and sugar levels at a better level than most of everyone else.  I also ate some shock blocks to keep my sugars up too.

I have found that individuals with Short gut need to be ready for situations like this so we are not scrambling to keep our hydration levels at base levels.  We have to take control. If not for the camel back I would have been in a lot of trouble.  Those of us with short gut have to be prepared, take control and take things in stride as best as we can.

Overall the experience was unbelievable.  The best part was the crush at the start of the race.  Imagine 4000 people all lined up, pumped up and ready to go.  It was very cool experience and one I will not soon forget.

All my teammates and other runners were very supportive.  There were hundreds of people there watching and cheering us on too.  Even if they didn’t know you they were helpful and supportive.  Often times I saw the spectators supplying water and Gatorade to the runners too.

I am so thankful to ThriveRx for all the support they gave me before, during and after the race.  They supplied me with the knowledge and the tools to make this dream happen.  Not only that, but they were there at the race to cheer me on and hook me up for hydration after the race.  One of the nurses was also able to give me a quick check up after the race to make sure my CVL were doing well the race.  It was so reassuring knowing that I had pros looking out for me. I think that gave peace of mind to not only me but to my wife Stacey too.

Having Stacey and Bailey there to run with was fantastic.   We all started the race together and then split up.  Then about 2/3 of the way through, Bailey and I found each other again.  We both had different aches and pains that were slowing us down.  We were even forced to walk up a few of the hills.  Stacey finished a head of us but and Bailey and I were able to finish the race together.  We were both hurting but we would allow ourselves to walk across the finish line, so we pushed each other to run to the finish line.  It was a great father daughter experience.

Even though I finished the race but I am not personally satisfied with how I ran the race.  So I plan on running another race.  I am looking into a relay race that is 26.2 miles next summer.  You run complete with 4 runners on your team, each runner runs 6.5 miles.  There is also another Crohn’s race in Las Vegas that I am looking at for the fall of 2011.  What ever race I try, it will be a flat one.

One thing is certain; this experience has definitely brought back the running bug that I used to have before I lost my bowel.  It is good to have it back.

Thanks for following my story and cheering me on.

-Dave

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