On 6 April, my husband Geert will be at the starting line of the Milan Marathon. This is not his first running experience, Geert has already completed ten marathons, and he is incredibly proud of that. When Alzheimer's enters your life, everything is turned upside down. Your future suddenly becomes very uncertain. You have no idea what is happening to you. The diagnosis has a significant impact on your life, especially when your partner is only 53 years old. Young-onset dementia sneaks into your life far too soon and never leaves. Incurable, no chance of improvement. Those are the words you hear as a caregiver. Suddenly, there are a thousand and one questions about what comes next. Fortunately, Geert is not someone who dwells in negativity. He quickly managed, together with me, to shift his focus to everything he can still do. Every good day, every moment that we can create new memories together, is a gift. Time is running out, and we are making the most of what we still have.
Geert’s biggest passion is running. And despite Alzheimer’s, he is still doing remarkably well. Ten years ago, we both joined our local athletics club and began a ‘Start to Run’ programme. Since then, running has become like a drug for Geert. It makes him happy, brings peace to his mind, and, most importantly, provides positive feedback and a sense of accomplishment. We know that what’s good for the heart is also good for the brain, more than ever this is an extra motivation. A combination of exercise, a healthy diet, good cardiovascular health management, and memory training can help slow cognitive decline. That’s why I continue to support Geert as much as possible in everything he still can and wants to do, for as long as he is able. Geert dreams of completing the Six Marathon Majors. So far, he is well on his way: he ran New York before the COVID-19 pandemic, Chicago in 2022, just one week before his diagnosis, Berlin in 2023 and London in 2024. That leaves Tokyo and Boston. However, getting an entry for these races is challenging.
These marathons are highly sought-after, and the only way to get a bib is through a lottery system. Because time is running out for Geert, I tried to secure a spot through alternative methods, including a call for help in Running.be magazine, our local Newspaper and on national radio (Klara) during World Dementia Day, but without success. As an alternative, I suggested the Milan Marathon. For me as a caregiver, this is a much easier option: not too far, not in a huge city, and not as crowded. I have to manage everything alone, and at major events, that is challenging. There are massive crowds, and as a caregiver, you are not allowed to accompany your partner to the starting area. The organisation assigns numbers and letters for start zones, lockers, etc., but for Geert, this is not easy to navigate. Hopefully, the weather will be dry and not too cold, and I will be able to keep his spare clothes until he crosses the finish line after 42.195 kilometres. We will arrive well in advance to make a lot of arrangements to ensure we find each other easily, such as identifying the location where Geert has to start and where I will wait for him after the marathon. In case of an emergency, I can always track him using his tracker. Now, we just hope his training goes smoothly, that there are no injuries, and that he can complete the marathon without any issues. These are all the worries I, as a caregiver, carry from the moment we leave home until the entire trip is over.
For Geert, this is a challenge, but for me, it is a stress from start to finish. There will come a time when Geert will no longer be able to run. Every step he takes is controlled by his brain, and unfortunately, his brain is deteriorating. But today is not that day. That is why Geert wants to run marathons while he still can, and we want to make the most of every single day. Geert remains incredibly positive, and that means everything. If there is one message we want to share, it is this: Don’t postpone what you love doing until tomorrow, do it today. And it doesn’t have to be a marathon!
Pictured: Geert at the Berlin marathon in 2023
