Fast forward to 2010... I decided to attempt a tri-sprint, which includes about a 400 yard swim, a 13 miles bike ride and a 5k run. So obviously I started swimming again to train. I will say, the first time actually swimming laps in more than 10 years was a little rough. But eventually I got back into the swing of things and became pretty decent at it. I never imaged when I was 8 or even in 2010 how important swimming would become to me.
My boyfriend Spencer is a runner. When we met in April 2010, I was just getting into running. I did a couple of horrible 5ks, but with his help I really improved. Spencer pushed me and made me become obsessed with competing. He helped me train for a half marathon that I completed in Dallas in December 2011. I finished in 2 hours 4 min, which I think is pretty good. Shortly after running the half marathon, my body starting to basically break down. My right wrist became so painful that just barely brushing my thumb would bring me to my knees. Then my feet started to go. Waking up in the morning became the worst part of my day. I dreaded going to sleep at night because of how I would feel in the morning. Walking became so painful and every joint in my body became stiff.
I finally went to the doctor and long story short, on April 13, 2011 at the age of 23 I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. The day I was diagnosed I think I was able to stop crying for about 10 minutes. It was such a blow. I had been active my entire life and now I could barely walk, I couldn't use my right hand and I was in constant pain. Everything I had been able to do just less than 5 months earlier... A HALF MARATHON.... I could not longer do. It still makes me sad today when I see people running. I miss running. I miss that freedom.
For about 6 or 7 months, I really didn't do anything in the way of exercise. It hurt to move and I really had no motivation. Everyone kept telling me, "you have to keep moving or you will lose it." My problem was I couldn't really move. But after getting on meds, they finally starting to work enough where I could go for walks, take a couple of yoga classes and that was about it.
Then one day I thought, why not try swimming again. Why not... I have nothing better to do. So I started swimming again and, oh my gosh. That freedom that I have been craving, that feeling of not being held back, it was back. It didn't occur to me until just recently how God used my past experience to prepare and give me hope for my future. I say that because most of my friends today hate swimming. They aren't good and they would prefer to run, cycle or do something else. Swimming in my mind is almost like a foreign language. It is much easier to pick up when you are young. And because of being on the swim team as a child, I have so much more pleasure in swimming now... and I'm actually pretty good at it.
On a side note, I have tried to get into the senior arthritis pool classes at the gym... but the seniors have yet to accept me. I am this new fresh meat and I have to earn... or hobble... my way in. And believe me, I can do both!
So thank you Jesus for caring so much about me. You knew I had to face this battle in my future, so you prepared me at such a young age with the tools I would need to fight, to keep moving and to be an example that just because you're down, doesn't mean you're out.
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