Lungs

More than ten years ago, I punctured a lung in a car accident -- just a tiny little hole, but enough to create havoc with lungs already coping with asthma and allergies. Since then I've had bronchitis every year -- four years ago I had it for six months, to the point of coughing up blood. That was the reason for starting the running program. I figured I was going to die anyway ... .
It all started this way. I remember cycling hard one evening and stopping at my daughter's house. I coughed up blood, scared her a bit, drank a lot of water, used my inhaler and survived. Actually I felt a bit better the next day.
That was my inspiration. If it worked once ...
So initially I alternated running and walking, and when I reached a quarter mile, a runner said he'd coach me. Was I thrilled when I ran three miles. Under his coaching, I ran hard. I'd run till I couldn't breathe. Once I sat on the floor of my shower, drinking coffee between coughing spells, soaking up the steam, waiting for my lungs to quit spasing. But that year's episode with bronchitis lasted just three weeks.
Last winter was a one-week season. Then came the fall of 2005 and I was frustrated because it just didn't seem like I had enough air to run. Combined with a couple injuries, my running has just been lousy. And I whined, not realizing the truth of the matter until the other day. Yes, my lungs were sore, and that isn't fun. But November ... December ... January have gone by without bronchitis. I can't believe I didn't catch on until now. I should have been grateful. I'll take the sore lungs over bronchitis any day. And I'm going to keep running ...
I'm also thankful for encouraging friends who hold me accountable and for Nelson, who reminds me to use my inhaler sooner rather than later, who hikes and cycles with me till it hurts (but not too much). That's hard, real hard. Nobody wants a friend to suffer, but sometimes a little pain really does lead to a lot of gain. Sometimes our friends need us to suffer with them and to cheer them on.