Thursday, April 29, 2010

Pronouncing The Death of NJM: Sidelined by the Flu

So maybe taunting the marathon gods with a pseudonym for an imaginary illness at the start of race week wasn't the smartest move. I suspect that some supernatural being noticed my sarcasm and decided to unleash vengeance on me. Within 24 hours after publishing my last post, I was humbled and humiliated by a real viral infection: A superbug that has left me with fever, chills, malaise and exhaustion for the past two days. I've lost my appetite, I've lost weight, and almost fainted on the subway coming home from work last night. And in case you are still wondering, running has been out of the question since just walking down the block to the grocery store and back feels like a marathon in and of itself. Sad, I know.

As I've been spending a lot of time in bed the past few days, holding on to a pipe dream that I'll recover in time to run the marathon this weekend, I've been thinking about how it came to be that I've been transformed overnight from a healthy and active marathon runner to a giant puddle of glob stuck in the fetal position underneath two layers of heavy blankets unable to move. It'd be easy to blame this latest travesty on a stroke of bad luck. After all, everyone gets sick (just like everyone poops) at one time or another, right? But what if I told you I voluntarily got up at 4am on Sunday to volunteer at the More Half Marathon which required me to stand in the cold and rain for 4 hours while handing out cups of water and Gatorade? What if I told you that after some lunch that same day, I was so inspired by all the women runners braving the terrible weather for 13.1 miles that I ran the same distance in a constant drizzle as a tribute to the ladies? (BTW, someone commented on FB that running 13.1 in 1:33 that day after handing out water for 4 hrs wasn't enough of a tribute. I needed to run for 2:20. Seriously?)

Yeah, I realize in retrospect what a dumb decision that was. I forgot that I have the innate immunity of a SCID baby and I get sick easy, early, and often (and not the kind of sick that can be used to describe Lebron James on the basketball court either!) The funniest thing was that I was just talking to my mom Sunday night and telling her how proud I was that I haven't been sick in 4 or 5 months. Boy, was I way off the mark.

So there you have it. Although I doubted I'd be ever seeing the light of day again after hunkering in bed for 3 days, I am actually feeling a little better today, at least enough to let you all know that I'm still alive. As for my prospects for the New Jersey Marathon...sigh...I think it's safe to say that it is beyond resuscitation at this point. Besides, is there any reason for me to hurt and struggle just to complete another 26.2? I'll just be risking further damage to my body to try for a goal that is no longer attainable. So as much as it saddens, disappoints and pains me to say...

Time of (NJ Marathon) Death - 12:18PM. (Actually, Ms.V did the honors for me last night on twitter, but I'm re-creating it here just in case no one else heard...)

The wake will take place on Sunday, May 2nd. Details of funeral arrangements will be distributed to interested party members at a later date.

R.I.P. my friend.

33 comments:

Linna said...

Hey Lam,

GRRRR about the flu getting in the way with your plans and goals! I am so sorry to hear about you being sick- having the fever, chills, no appetite is the worst thing in the world! I hope you get better soon!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

wow that sucks so much! for being sick, for NJM dying, everything. hope you have a very speedy recovery. but i commend you for not risking further damage by running it. i can't even imagine how hard that must have been

Jocelyn said...

Well NOW who is going to carry me!? Sorry you are so sick! No fun at all :( Focus on getting well and rocking out your next run. Oh and stop staying outside in the cold rain! Now back to bed and drink lots of fluid!

Running and living said...

So sorry, Lam. Even if you recover, I agree a PR would not be realistic or wise. Such a bummer! Do you think you may be looking at a marathon in May? The Vermont marathon is in May, and I heard great things about it! Get well!

Michelle said...

I'm sorry Lam, but your health is more important.

Good decision and please get well!!!

kevin f forde said...

Lam,
that really sucks,so sorry to hear that,but glass half full at least it happened a few days b4 and not during the marathon which would've sucked far worse.
I know you'll bounce back

Matt said...

Tough decision, but a smart one. Get better soon-

Jen Feeny said...

Sh*t. I just gave you a shout out and everything. (J/K I'm soooooooooooooooooo sorry!!!!)

You are doing the right thing by taking care of yourself, you are a doctor and you know this to be true...

and yet...

and yet...

why do I have this nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach you might still run it?

Lisa said...

I'm so sorry you won't be running, but it definitely sounds like the right decision. It must have been a really difficult one to make. I hope you're feeling much better soon!

Aron said...

uggg SUCH a bummer :( i hope you are feeling better soon and are able to find a replacement so you can take all that training you just put in and leave it on the race course!

Jamie said...

How frustrating Lam! I hope you feel better soon. Take care of yourself and hopefully you will find a replacement marathon soon!

Anonymous said...

Lam, I am so sorry to hear about the flu. I know how hard you've worked. Maybe you can find a replacement marathon sometime soon, I'd hate to see you waste that fitness and training.

Either way you are still a great runner with a lot more potential to come. The 7 years thing is fluid and I really don't think you've come even close to tapping your reservoir. A fellow Hurricane teammate of yours is going for 2:29 this weekend after 9 years of marathoning, he's PR'd in the half, 5k and 10k all along and will likely PR in the marathon this weekend. So don't give up so easily. Sometimes it just takes longer than we think. But you can do it.

Anonymous said...

It's called a flu shot, look into it

Midwest said...

Aw, poor Lam! I'm so sorry to hear that.

jb24 said...

NJM...RIP Feel better buddy and get some rest and fluids!

Brandon Wood said...

So anonymous, I mean steve23@yahoo.com, what's it like to never get the flu...ever? Man, if I were as awesome as you I don't know what I'd do. I'd probably sit around polishing all my awesome trophies and being awesome and not sick all day wondering what super cool and awesome stuff I was going to do next. On the other hand, if I were you, I could take a look in the mirror and see what a douche bag with arms and legs looks like.

The Laminator said...

Thanks B, but no need to fight my fights for me.

As for Anonymous suggestion, yes, I've heard of the flu shot and I've gotten both versions of it this year, both seasonal and the H1N1. But as anyone who knows, flu shots don't protect against all strains of disease. Furthermore, how does that even help now that we're no longer in flu season?

Perhaps you should read about it before leaving anonymous comments that have no basis for discussion and just reflects poorly on you.

EZEthan said...

Damn dude... I guess it just wasn't meant to be... if it's any consolation, I heard that Chicago has a particularly fast course.

As for the anonymous commenter... it seems like a badge of honor if your blog is popular enough to start attracting trolls!!!

Anonymous said...

Sorry to hear you are sick, but don't count yourself out yet. You have 2 full days to bounce back. Sometimes the bounceback is quick.

runner26 said...

i admire your decision lam! i know it takes a brave person to do the right thing. obviously, this one wasn't meant to be. and you're not gonna miss anything anyway--the temps are supposed to be outrageous!! better you rest up and plan for another day.

HS Matt said...

That sucks Lam. I was looking forward to hearing about a PR.

Kind of makes me want to disappear into my house until my marathon

(I lol'd at anon. Docs get flu shots every year)

carpeviam said...

Did anyone "call it" for you on facebook? I was too scared. I'm sure everyone else was too.

I didn't want to mess with your future!

Plenty of other marathons to run.

Julie said...

Hi Lam,
I am so sorry to hear that you are not feeling well! That just sucks! Take care of you:)

Questionably Texan said...

Sorry about the sickness, and the death of the race for you. I know this was an important one for you.

On the bright(ish) side, you seem to live in a part of the country that is filled with races. If I miss out on an important race here in the midwest, I'm either waiting 6 months for another opportunity or I'm travelling a couple hundred miles.

Samurai Running said...

Frankly Lam I'm glad your're not doing it. Save the body.

Giving this one a miss under the circumstances could mean 2 or 3 more solid marathons down the track.

Marty said...

Sorry to read this unfortunate news. If you don't mind an even smaller race, you could do the Bob Potts Marathon in York, PA on May 16th. Flat and cheap!

Or the Pocono Marathon also on May 16th. But it's significantly downhill and could give you a "false" PR.

Good luck.

Robert James Reese said...

Oh man, that sucks. Hope you feel better. Chicago will be here before you know it.

pen said...

Oh, Lam, I'm so sorry about this. It must be so incredibly frustrating. I hope you start to better, and as some others said, Chicago will be here before you know it.

B.o.B. said...

Aw Lam! I'm so sorry you are so sick. That sounds like a baddy too (and in the Michael Jackson way). Hope you feel better soon. Get lots of rest cause I suspect a bloggie meet up in June!

Felice Devine said...

Bummer!!! The flu sucks. I hope you feel better soon!!

Lindsay said...

the flu shot! lam, why didn't you think of that. i mean really... it's not like you are a doctor or anything. :-p

seriously though, this sucks. the wiser decision of course, but that doesn't make it feel any better/easier. hope you recover from your "flu" soon! going to try to find another one a few weeks out or just toss it til the fall?

Bill Carter said...

Hi LL

Sorry to hear you got shot down for NJM. You almost have to feel like there was just some reason that you weren't supposed to run there. I honestly think that given your great performances lately that the running gods are just watching out for you.

Take care, get healthy and there will be plenty of other opportunities to go 26.2.

Get well my friend!

J said...

I am so sorry to hear that you came down with the flu! It seems to be going around. Total bummer! Hopefully you are back on your feet soon!

 
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