I feel I ought to say something profound and offer some insight into how and why I suddenly decided after a lifetime of inactivity that running would be my new hobby.
The “how” was – badly – running was not at all easy to begin with and it did not feel natural to me. My previously acceptable reasons to run only stretched as far as to;
1) Evade death,
2) Bathroom emergencies and
3) Get first in line to a free buffet.
I used to spend my early runs gasping hopelessly for breath with lead legs and wishing the sessions were over. Even when I graduated to longer runs (once I had completed a 5 K and wanted a new challenge) I would spend the first half mentally chiding and belittling myself wondering what the hell I was trying to achieve. I would always get a stitch about 15-20 minutes into a run and my legs would ache all the next day. Once I swear I even had an allergic reaction to running. The only excuse I have for sticking with it (at first) was that I had started the NHS couch to 5 K podcasts (a 9-week programme designed to get almost anybody running for 30 continuous minutes) and I was determined to finish it. It turns out I can be quite stubborn. I should point out here that I did not finish the first podcast – I had to stop partway through and go home and nap. However somewhere along the line, the road, the ParkRun, Didcot Ladygrove Healthy Living Loop or Hackney Marshes I actually started to enjoy the way running made me feel. I gave my body a purpose and it actually met the challenge. I stopped getting stitches and muscle aches and could run further and faster with much less effort. It wasn’t always plain sailing, I got my first injury from overtraining and I was absolutely devastated when I couldn’t run for 2 weeks in February – right before my first 10 K race. So it is an enormous sense of accomplishment to say I have run my first half marathon when 10 months ago I couldn’t run for even a full minute. Running has a truly measurable, addictive progress, where the only competition is yourself and the community is so mixed and welcoming (GO TO A PARKRUN to see what I mean). Anyone could be a runner (barring obvious medical complications)!
The “why” is harder to define, perhaps it was just a combination of the right time, right place, good support and encouragement along the way (you know who you are) and a Race booked as a goal – and those things certainly helped but I think it really just boils down to the fact that I had decided I would do it and so I did. I know it seems like I have joined some kind of running cult, as I have all the zeal and enthusiasm of a recent convert, but genuinely if you are curious and want a new challenge then why not try it too? You might just surprise yourself!
KerryRUN 