A few years ago, in my early thirties I realised that I needed to lose a bit of weight and get fit. I wanted to do something for ME. I had a young ish son, a marriage that was very much on the rocks, two dogs and I work from home. Time and money poor! So I needed something that fitted in with all of that.
Why running? Well, I saw the 5k training plan on Netmums.com and I decided that instead of walking the dogs I could run with them – that meant that I didn’t have to find any extra time in an already busy day. But there was a problem. I had never been a runner. I’ve done various physical activities such as horse riding and I’ve always done quite a lot of walking, but I’d never been able to run – even at school.
Well the first session (run 1 min, walk 3 min and repeat) wow, that was hard! But I did it. The plan took me a bit longer than the weeks it should have done but I was in no rush. But then I found a point where running helped me – not just physically, but emotionally.
The last few years has seen:
- Being forced to move house when my ex had an affair and wouldn’t move out and then the following divorce.
- The death from cancer of two close family members and now the fight my dad is having against this cruel disease.
- My son being bitten by a dog and having surgery on his ear.
- Moving house again!
And I don’t know where I’d be without my running – I’ve cried and run, I’ve laughed and run, but it has helped me deal with all of this **** that is going on in my life.
So here I am, a few years down the line, hopefully in a better place, and still running and I own more running gear than ‘going out’ clothes. Running means that hopefully I can drink the wine and eat the chocolate I like so much, whilst trying to keep healthy. I’m lucky to not really have any health complaints apart from an under active thyroid which I’m on medication for.
I run four times a week normally – three times from home with my two cocker spaniels for company, and then Parkrun on a Saturday morning (Sewerby is my home run).
Some stats for those that like them:
5k PB: 25:07 – Parkrun 2015
10k PB: 51:28 – Yorkshire Coast 10k 2017
Furthest I’ve run is 13.39 miles – on my own because I felt like pushing myself! Edit: I’ve now run 15.5miles – with Ben Smith as part of the 401 Challenge.
Read my story (ramblings…) using the list on the right of the page.
a mile run 