The 5K Battle Run

Battling My Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) with Extreme Fog And Nightfall Conditions !

Rustington 5K Night Run Extreme Fog Mist Experience

Point O KM

Here we go it was 1745 and the Mist and Fog had not cleared all day in Rustington. I had been monitoring the weather all day at the Blind Veteran Center of Wellbeing, where I was staying for further fitness training for the Worthing 10K. This was a pre-planned night run with prior planned preparation. The aim was to challenge my RP and its it degeneration of my sight to its limits and push the boundaries of my Sight Loss, with the aid of my Guided Coach. One aspect I did not consider was the Weather Environment and extreme Fog and Mist of the day.

There was no looking back head torch on for Safety myself and my Guided Coach set off into the next 5K of unexplored realms.

1KM In The Beginning

I set off one foot in front the other , Yellow Tinted Glasses On which enhance the residual tunnel vision I have remaining. Instantly I was hit with the damp cold air circulating into my lungs and now jogging into the mist and fog, visibility was somewhat none existence and only the shadow and voice of my guided coach kept me alert to my direction I was jogging. It was rush hour traffic with lots of noise from the cars along the Sea Front of Rustington, the tide slowly hitting the shoreline of the pebbled beach crashing with each wave hit. It was ghostly and eerie as I heard other runners running past us as the Seafront route opened up ,

2KM Marker

As my breathing regulated I began to get into my pace and stride however the fog and mist began to thicken creating even more less visibility. Nightfall was approaching as planned but the weather conditions made this more and more challenging with my own sense of direction, my coach guiding me with each metre we ran. My Coach was my lifeline to the run expertly monitoring me and all the conditions we were running in. Her guidance giving me confidence with each stride however inside my mind I was fighting against the panic of my sight loss and the symptoms of RP. Preparing for the Run I expected this to happen being I chose to complete in a night setting but I wasn’t expecting the weather conditions which entailed.

3KM Just Over Midway

As I ran with my coach the mist and fog began to form droplets of water on my eye brows and eye lashes which I would feel occasionally roll down my cheeks. I could now sense condensation now forming onto my glasses but I was now completely Night Blind !!! Verbal communication my coach was giving to me had been vital but now even more vital to safety !! The glasses had become a distraction with the condensation build up and I made a split decision to take them off and hand them to my coach. The residual sight was now none existent and I was now relying on my senses, my coach and my mental determination to fight all the damage that RP has contributed to all my sight loss. I adapted to using my left arm against the right shoulder of my coach because I had lost all sense of direction with the Nights darkness and extreme fog and mist. All I could feel was the cold air into my lungs as I inhaled and exhaled out with each stride.

4-5KM The Final Kilometre

The Final KM was the hardest I had ever endured in my running experience and training. My Coach calmly directing my sense of direction with her voice my left arm tethering with her right shoulder . The fog and mist completely engulfing my direction of travel, all I could hear was the pace of our running foot steps pacing along the final stages of this 5KM route. Complete Darkness and a complete loss to where I was , I could of been anywhere in the Wilderness of the mist and fog. Occasionally I would ver to the right closer to the pebbles of the beach but my coach my safety net, keeping me in check encouraging me to finish this. Inside my mind I was in a sense of panic with all the elements being thrown at me. No Hollywood multi million pound studio could create these running conditions and elements. My Coach told me that “visibility was now down to 1 Metre and to stay close to her” , with each stride which felt like a stride into the oblivion of the unknown. I was feeling panicked with the elements, with a fear of high anxiety as I battled the RP and complete sight-loss. Cold misty air with each breath , sweat , condensation dripping down my face, fear, anxiety. My legs running with pace maxing out everything I had never experienced before, I was battling my diagnosis of Retinitis Pigmentosa and not letting it change the person I am, I am still the same Wayne “Failing was Not A Option”.

My Coach Guiding the Run calming my fears and anxiety levels with verbal communication of positivity and guidance . The end was near we were nearly there “Last 200 Metres Wayne give it Everything” As I used the reserved energy I had left I stretched my legs out to the best of my ability and hit the 5KM in the most extreme condition and elements that I had ever ran In !!!!!!

I had battled against all the extreme weather conditions, the environment, my fears , my anxiety , my panic. The run had strengthened my mindset and mental health and showed me despite my diagnosis of Retinitis Pigmentosa I was not going to let it stop me achieving the finish line. I would like also to thank My Coach and Staff member of Blind Veterans UK because without her this extreme run would not of been possible Bravo Zulu. I had completed the 5KM in a awesome time of 36 minutes and 19 Seconds to which I feel very Proud of.