Oh Hey MS, I Left Your Clumsy Ass in Bed This Morning and Ran 12km. How Do You Like Them Apples?

Five years ago this month, I was diagnosed with MS in Kamloops, BC, my hometown. I’m back here for a wedding (happy wedding weekend Amy!), and I slid out the door this morning for a run. When I make the decision to train, I suddenly become very eager to get dressed, get my shoes on, put my headphones in, and hit the pavement. It’s almost like I’m trying to beat someone… or something. I become anxious to finish the run before I’ve barely started, and I have to talk myself in to slowing down and remember that this is a marathon (I’ve never been able to say that not metaphorically speaking). As soon as I fall into a pace I begin to run steadily, with only momentary lapses into this “being chased” mentality that likes to nip at my heels.

This morning I jogged along Westsyde Rd, and as the sun began to warm my face, I felt my mystery opponent reveal itself: fatigue. So that’s what I was running from. I guess I left it sleeping in bed this morning; it was awake now and not happy about being left behind. It put up a merciless fight, trying to trip me and gnaw at my hips and shins. It may play dirty, but the thing is, I’m just a little faster and a little stronger. It gained a lot of ground in the last kilometer or so, but I just kept thinking about today’s date: August 9th. In one month exactly, I’ll be back in this city, back on Westsyde Rd, kicking off the beginning of our journey in the 12km Rona MS Bike Tour.

Westsyde Rd, Kamloops, BC

The Finity Project begins in 30 days. Here’s to staying a little faster and a little stronger.