The coronavirus has disrupted the Marine Corps Marathon this year, forcing the annual race to go virtual. But that鈥檚 not the only adjustment some of this year鈥檚 runners have had to make.
What happens when you get the virus in the middle of your training?
It鈥檚 something Melissa Sullivan, who lives in Dupont Circle, is finding out.
The 35-year-old is running this race for the third year in a row and had high hopes of setting a personal record this year. Then, in August, she tested positive for COVID-19. She still has no idea how she got it.
鈥淚t was an experience,鈥� said Sullivan, who described her case as mild. Even so, 鈥淚t was not pleasant,” she added. “It was probably the most pain that I鈥檝e ever been in, in my entire life.鈥�
She spent a night in the ER, calling it 鈥渙ne of those moments that really rock you,鈥� and also admitted 鈥渋t was scary going through that experience alone. Thankfully it was not as bad as it could have been.鈥�
Sullivan had to miss a month of work and her marathon training was put on hold.
鈥淚 was not able to get out of bed for almost a month without immediately feeling dizzy,鈥� said Sullivan. 鈥淰ertigo, nausea and it really caused me to take a step back.”
Even though she considers herself young and active, running on average 20 miles a week, 鈥渋t really knocked me on my butt,鈥� said Sullivan.
Now, even two months later, she鈥檚 still feeling the after-effects of the virus, on top of the difficulty caused by running with a mask.
She鈥檚 thankful she can even notice.
鈥淚t could have been so much worse,鈥� she concedes. 鈥淚 am grateful that it wasn鈥檛.鈥�
As someone who wore a mask and paid heed to precautions before she got sick, Sullivan hopes her tale will be a cautionary one to other millennials who feel they鈥檙e invincible, or at least not vulnerable to the virus.
鈥淚 took every precaution,鈥� said Sullivan, who said she didn鈥檛 go out in public needlessly, and when she ran outside, she did so wearing a mask. 鈥淪omehow I contracted it.鈥�
This Sunday, the original date for the marathon before it shifted to a virtual event, Sullivan plans to run her 26.2 miles. She said she hopes to stick to the normal course as much as she can, but she knows it won鈥檛 be the same.
鈥淲hen you鈥檙e out there, yes you鈥檙e alone 鈥� it鈥檚 the Marines and the community members who really come out in droves and support you, and they鈥檙e high-fiving and they鈥檙e cheering and they鈥檙e handing out candy because it鈥檚 right around the corner from Halloween,鈥� said Sullivan, 鈥渁nd it鈥檚 really beautiful. And so, unfortunately, that鈥檚 not going to be a part of the race experience this year.”
She added, 鈥淚n those moments where you鈥檙e fatigued and your body starts to give out or your mind starts to psyche yourself out, it鈥檚 those community members and the Marines and everyone that鈥檚 there on the street cheering you on that really make you push through to the finish. So this will be a bit of a challenge. I鈥檓 going to have to dig deep emotionally and remember why I鈥檓 doing this.鈥�
The first time Sullivan ran the marathon, she did so in memory of Sgt. Bill Cahir. She worked on his 2008 congressional campaign in Pennsylvania, and when he fell short in his election bid, he reenlisted in the Marines.
In 2009, he was killed while serving in Afghanistan. Sullivan used her first marathon run in 2018 to help raise money for the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, also known as TAPS.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just an amazing race,鈥� she said, and one she鈥檚 glad she鈥檒l still be able to run this year. She said she looks forward to running again in the years ahead, too.
But this time, Sullivan also hopes to help encourage anyone else who suffered through the disease to fight through it too.
鈥淛ust keep moving forward,鈥� she said, and don鈥檛 鈥渓et this be detrimental鈥� to accomplishing your goals.
