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Living in the Realm of Miracles
By Claudine Nicholas I was born a creative, curious type with a daredevil streak. Naturally I’ve always loved sports.
I became an excellent swimmer at an early age, played several team sports, medaled in downhill snow skiing, backpacked 80 miles across the Continental Divide, went parasailing, skydiving, and jumped off the top of a moving cargo train while taking a burger break from writing a paper at Texas A&M University. Even at an early age, I had a long bucket list of adventures planned.
Pain Sets In
By age 23 however; I could no longer ignore the severe pain in all my joints, the draining fatigue and near constant low-grade fever.
I went for countless tests and even had my left lymph gland in my neck biopsied. It was swollen but luckily not cancer.
Claudine Nicholas & Diesel After the surgeon suggested running an ANA blood test, I learned I had Lupus SLE, an auto-immune disease, which can be life-threatening. With Lupus, there are no anti-fatigue drugs as there are with diseases like MS. This meant that in my twenties, I was constantly canceling plans and having trouble with work. My body simply could not keep up.
Some days the simple act of washing my hair would land me in bed, as any increase in activity often meant feeling even more ill. My social life became near non-existent, and my entire outlook on life took a complete 180.
Within several years, the pain became so bad that it hurt to walk. I couldn’t sleep with any joint bent or I would wake up in throbbing pain. After seeing a combination of seven doctors and more testing, I was also diagnosed with fibromyalgia, another chronic inflammatory condition, which often goes hand-in-hand with Lupus.
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Car Crashes Cause Additional Problems
Later two car accidents left me with five damaged discs in my neck and back. I had two steroid shots in my neck and was put on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxers. Finding no real relief, I stopped the pills and shots. I opted for physical therapy instead. Unable to work a full-time job, the bills piled up. I was faced with the possibility of being on disability, and this thought was not only terrifying but completely depressing.
I turned to alternative health care next. I tried gobs of vitamins but felt no change. Then when I began to study nutrition, I began to take control of my health. I learned that food can either strengthen your immune system or weaken it. This meant I had choices; I could choose to feel a little better or a little worse every day. I read constantly about whole food nutrition.
Then in May of 1998, I began taking a whole food supplement backed by science called Juice Plus+, which has aided my immune system and helped to reduce inflammation in my body. Whole food nutrition is not a quick fix but slowly helps the body heal itself. The added nutrition in my diet enabled me to take on more activities. Feeling significant improvement, my attitude became more hopeful that I could return to an active lifestyle.
The next blessing I received was the gift of a nine-year-old Australian Shepherd/Border Collie mix, named Diesel. Now I had a winning combo – a superb nutritional tool and a loving and faithful walking companion. My favorite part of the day became my walk with Diesel.
Every day in all kinds of weather, we walked. He became the angel by my side, encouraging me every day with his head butts on my leg, which meant that it was time for me to get up and go. Thanks to the added nutritional support, walking no longer caused me pain or felt fatiguing; it just felt great.
Two Questions Change Everything
Now, I’ve heard it said that a good question can change your life. In my case, there were two. My friend, Diane Marbut, asked me to participate in the Walk for the Whisper 5K fundraiser for ovarian cancer in September 2004. Since I had begun a daily walking routine with Diesel five months earlier in May, I thought this was another step toward returning to sports. My time was terrible, but I was glad to complete my first 3.1 mile race.
The second question came five years later in 2009. Diane asked me if I would like to run the eight-mile Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day in Dallas. Being passed by 60- and 70-year-olds was humbling to say the least, but this became fuel for me to do better and try harder next time. As I approached the finish line, my friend, Diane was there waiting with flowers for me. She ran the last 30 seconds of the race with me, encouraging me to finish strong.
The feeling of joy and accomplishment crossing the finish line far outweighed my soreness and exhaustion. I loved being a part of such a positive event and knew this race was not going to be my last.
I never expected my dreams to include running. I thought there was more chance of my landing on the moon than for this to happen to me. Still, it only took two races for me to be hooked.
I decided that my first timed race was going to be the 2010 White Rock Half Marathon a little more than a year later. On June 9, 2010, I registered for the half. Daring this big helped to remind me of the adventurous person I used to be before I got sick. I wanted to be that person again.
Top of Page Overheating a Problem
The hot sun can trigger Lupus symptoms, so for months I trained indoors on a treadmill. I worked on increasing my speed as a walker and runner, since I knew I would have to walk/run the 13.1 miles. About ten days before the race, I pulled my back carrying Diesel upstairs. I thought I had also pulled my right hamstring but wasn’t entirely sure.
Since I had trained for months and didn’t want to miss the race, I decided to have a steroid shot in my back the Tuesday before the Sunday half marathon. It was my first steroid shot in over ten years. I told my back doctor of my plans to run the half and then asked him to go ahead and give me the shot without anesthesia, since I could take the pain and needed to drive myself home. My doctor explained to me that it would take four or five days for the shot to take full effect. This was going to be close.
Before I knew it, it was Friday. I was relieved to notice improvement with my back. Diane and I decided to drive the half course before picking up our race packs at the White Rock Expo. We found the halfway mark, and I thought, “What have I gotten myself into?” It seemed so far, but still I was excited and committed. Once inside the expo, Diane had me walk over to see the White Rock half medal. This was smart on her part, as from that moment, obtaining that medal became my focus.
The night before the half I hardly slept. It was an incredibly emotional and exciting time. I thought of the many people who had helped me. I knew that God’s hand had been on every step of my journey, and I felt profoundly grateful. The next morning it was in the low 30s outside with strong winds. I had never run in weather like this but knew I would get through it somehow.
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Gun Signals New Start to Life
When the start whistle sounded and the handicapped racers were released; I became teary-eyed as I realized that I was living my dream. This was it. This marked day one of my new life, a day in which my health no longer placed limits on me. I was 42, and it had been 19 years since I was first diagnosed with Lupus. This day meant everything. It was my comeback.
When my corral was released, it was like an order to go full out, to not look back and to live every minute to the fullest. As I took my first running steps, the cold felt like needles in my lungs. When I finally found my rhythm and picked up my pace, I realized my right hamstring was indeed injured. Still, I kept going and kept focused.
Having been through so much pain in the past, the mental aspect of running was the easiest part for me. I ran around the pond in Highland Park, and then up and around the hill. At Beverly Drive, I knew I was just past the halfway mark. So far, so good.
I crossed Central Expressway, stopped at a water station, and then came to the nine-mile marker around Greenville, where I had my last Gu energy gel for fuel. Soon came the 10 mile marker. Every step from this point meant I was going beyond my previous limits. I thought again of all the encouraging words and of all the walks with Diesel, which helped bring me to this point. About a mile from the finish, Beethoven’s Ode to Joy played on my iPod. It was perfect motivation to finish strong.
 Right before I came to my last turn, Diane was there again with her constant support and encouraging words. When the finish line came into view, I picked up speed and gave my final push.
With the crowd cheering, I crossed with hands held high. What a feeling to finish, to achieve such a goal, and when that medal placed over my neck, it was complete joy to the highest degree.
I knew that I was no longer the same person that I was at the starting line that morning. I had officially defeated doubt, fear, and pain and had replaced those emotions with belief, faith, and joy.
Claudine Nicholas at White Rock I picked up my finisher tech shirt, had my first finisher’s picture taken, and then met up again with Diane to return home. Knowing that ultimately I wanted to complete a marathon, I knew this day was just the beginning for me. A week after White Rock, I began to dream big and put plans on paper.
Taking the Next Step
In 2010, I had done three races total – two 5Ks and a half marathon. I thought, “Why not go all out and do 30 races in 15 consecutive months?” I had already done consecutive races in November 2010 and December 2010. Why not continue? I had once heard an expression from Ray Bradbury, American author, “You’ve got to jump off cliffs all the time and build your wings on the way down.”
I wanted to grow into the person that could do such a thing, so on January 29, 2011, I ran my second half, the Texas Half Marathon as part of the Four Seasons Challenge. In February, I did the Ft. Worth Cowtown Challenge by doing the 5K on Saturday, and the half on Sunday.
In March, I did the Dallas Rock ‘n’ Roll Half. In April, I did the 5K Walk for Lupus Now fundraiser followed by the Big D Half the next day. On May 1, I did the Oklahoma City Run to Remember Half and then six days later did the DRC White Rock Centennial Half.
I’ve run in the rain at Big D and in sleeting rain in Oklahoma City. I’ve run in the cold at White Rock and OKC, and I’ve run in heat and high humidity at the Big D and Wounded Warrior Half Marathons. I’ve run half marathons two weeks apart and a week apart. I’ve learned that you don’t race every run; some you simply complete to build strength and endurance. It’s all part of the process of building experience and becoming an endurance athlete.
Nearing the End of the Challenge
My nearly 350 mile “Consecutive Race Challenge” will close with the Houston Chevron Marathon in January 2012. I’m registered to run as part of the “Run for a Reason” program. I’ll be raising money again for the Lupus Foundation.
It’s a mammoth goal to complete 18 half marathons, two full marathons and at least 10 5Ks in 15 consecutive months. The races cover east and west coasts, 17 cities, and four states. I just take it one race at a time, all the while moving forward in faith. I want to live in the realm of miracles and without faith, this is impossible to do.
Few people today realize just how much faith in oneself (that part of oneself which is spiritual, perfect) has to do with achievement, because the great majority of people never seem to conceive of faith as being a genuine creative force. Yet the truth is that not only is Faith a bona fide power, but it is the greatest one we will ever encounter,” according to motivational speaker and author, Bob Proctor.
My last walk with Diesel was on July 4, 2011. I wish there has been a thousand people there to cheer for him his very last time. He passed at age 16½. Diesel and I walked over 3,000 miles during the last seven years. To have had him in my life for so long has been an incredible blessing.
As a tribute to Diesel, I put his paw print on all my running shorts, and I’ll be wearing his Santa hat Christmas picture on the back of my half zip during my first full marathon at White Rock. As certain as I know that God is with me every step of the way, I know Diesel will be with me as well. He will always be my very own personal angel.
As I plan goals and create a life for myself, I continuously ask, “Who do I want to become? How well do I want to live? What’s next on my list?” I’ll go zip-lining this summer. Already a quarter of the way through my flying lessons, I’m planning on finishing my private pilot’s license in 2012.
And then there’s Boston…
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WoW!
What a wonderful story! Thanks for sharing and making an impact!
Go Claudine!
I'm sitting here with a huge lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. You are a true inspiration in so many ways. First your faith to press on despite the ...
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