“RUNNING NEARLY MY LIFE”
OUR SPORT CAN BE A LIFELINE - BUT, TAKEN TOO FAR, IT CAN BE LIFE LIMITING. HERE, GEMMA BELL SHARES HER STORY OF RUNNING OUT OF CONTROL
RUN/LIFE BALANCE: EXPERIENCE
Christmas 2015 was a huge turning point in my life when I woke up in the A&E department of my local hospital. My worst nightmare had come true. I was going to spend the festive season alone and unable to celebrate this special time of year with my family and friends. I was bed-bound because I was too weak – physically and mentally. It had never occurred to me that my passion for running could lead to me nearly losing my life. However, there I was, lying numb and distraught in a ward full of seriously ill patients.
I was terrified as dozens of nurses and doctors attended to me, continuously injecting me with essential minerals and setting up a blood transfusion to strengthen me. I didn’t have the energy to sit up, let alone walk to the toilet. I was forced to use a commode – which was mortifying for me. I thought I was a healthy, vivacious 26-yearold but, during my time in hospital, I felt like a fragile 90-year-old. All my dignity had evaporated at once as I became dependent on those around me and it was all my fault; I had let my running training get out of control. So how and why did I end up there?