Smirnoff the key to marathon turnaround!
WHEN Raisa Kolesnikova left Dubbo 10 days ago she was planning to run back to back marathons on two continents. That would be a challenge for any athlete, but when you’ve only been competing seriously for four years, it is an enormous mountain to climb.
If you are 61 years of age, it takes on even more imposing obstacles, not the least, rehydration and muscular restoration.
Not a problem for Raisa, Dubbo’s always cheerful traditional herbal medicine practitioner and acupuncturist.
“I have Chinese and Russian parents. I grew up in the north west of China and speak both languages, so when I finish in Berlin, my husband and I are flying to Moscow on our way to Chicago for the second marathon,” Raisa said. “How will you recover?” I asked. “Simple. I’ll drink vodka and do lots of Russian dancing. That should keep my muscles warm and flexible,” she laughed.
Raisa and husband Adam Carter, a local chiropractor, had a setback that led to a change of plans, especially in regards to the planned Smirnoff based recovery.
I received an early morning text message: “I have bad news. Moscow trip is cancelled. My husband collapsed in our hotel on the first night. We spent the night at Berlin hospital in A&E. He is a healthy 55-year-old man, never been sick. Scary!” Raisa’s message said.
“Vodka and Russian dance is on hold at the moment.”
That startled me at 1.30am just after she had completed the fourth leg of her Abbott’s Big Six world marathons.
“It was a very tuff (sic) emotional race. I did for Adam!”
Thankfully Adam was in excellent medical hands and has been able to travel on with Raisa to Chicago for the 42km race number five.
“We are going via St Petersburg, but the extra activities will have to wait,” a relieved Raisa communicated in a weekend message.
Our local running mum set some lofty goals after only completing her first marathon in Canberra in 2016.
“I am a very positive person so when I set goals I know I will overcome every obstacle to reach them.”
Raisa races this weekend in Chicago. “Then we will come home, give thanks for our good health and begin preparing for the final leg of our long distance running journey in London next year.”
There is no reason to think Raisa and her best friend and husband of nearly 30
INSET:
years will not stand on the finishing line clutching her Abbott’s trophy.
“I cannot wait to hold up my globe with the six major cities in the world highlighted and ‘Raisa Kolesnikova, Abbott World Marathon’, inscribed.”
By the way, Raisa clocked her fastest time of 3:39:57 over 8 seconds faster than her previous best and nearly an hour quicker than her first effort three years ago.