Why I Run

No, it isn’t to stop me from karate chopping people in the throat, although I’m pretty sure it’s helpful on that front.

I’d always been fairly active - the usual sports at school, did some cycling in my early 20s for a bit. (Well, I cycled across Cuba), and then I went to uni where all fitness other than rocking out at Jilly’s Rock World came to a halt.

So there I was, in my mid-20’s feeling a little bit rounded about the edges.

My daily routine was leaving my house, getting in my car, driving to work, walking to my desk, sitting at my desk, going to my car, driving home, sitting in my house.

And we are not meant to be sedentary creatures.

I mean, sure, it’s nice and it’s easy but it isn’t what we are built for.

Then an email came round for the Manchester 10km BUPA run and I asked my friend if she fancied doing it with me. She said yes, and that’s where it started.

I remember our first run.

In my head, we’d just, well, start running and that would be that.

The reality of that first run? My legs didn’t feel like they worked, my lungs were screaming, I had to stop after a few paces - everything in my body felt completely out of synch and I was horrified if anyone should be witness to this absolute mess on the pavement.

Still, my friend and I persevered and it wasn’t long before we were running non-stop and increasing our distances slowly. Each week, we’d go a little further and a little further until we were ready for our 10k.

I can’t remember how long we were training for, but I remember that 10k and how we wore our medals in the pub that night feeling like we’d won the Olympics.

That was it for me. From that moment on, I was a runner.

I’m not fast. I’m not good for my age. I’ll never win anything. But running has become more than just exercise.

It’s a part of me and I am sad for the days that will come when I can no longer do it. It’s inevitable.

And so in the meantime, I’m making the most of it.

I’ve run 10ks, half marathons, full marathons, even a couple of ultras and every run is it’s own challenge, every race a different story.

So I run for my head and my heart. I run for when I can’t run any more. I run for sadness and joy and company and solitude and for freedom and of being a creature on this planet simply enjoying the earth.

🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️
Next year I am running for a purpose. Wyre Forest and South Worcestershire Nightstop and Mediation are a local charity doing incredible work preventing youth homelessness. I’m running for them. Keep me going! Buy me a coffee and bung the money here to support the cause!