How Can You Enjoy Running?

“How can you ENJOY running?” It’s a question I’ve been faced with many times. While out in the wind and rain this week, wondering whether I had lost the plot, I took the opportunity to contemplate what the real answer was. Was it the exhilaration felt when pounding the concrete; that freedom of being free and feeling thankful for having the health to be able to run? That spurs me on. It brings a smile to my face. It fills me with a sense of achievement. The only person I have to beat is me; I get to set my own standards and goals, and for a short while in my manic day to day life, I’m not trying to hit someone else’s unrealistic targets.

Coupled with this is the determination to set an example for my children. My life centres around trying to inspire the most important people in my life. Maintaining my weight, like most people, is something I struggled with since my teenage years. After being such an active child and a proper tomboy, putting on weight seemed like an alien prospect. But when it happened, boy did it knock my confidence and sent my self-esteem spiralling. With it came a terrible anxiety. So, when I’d had enough, I did what I knew best: I ran. Not metaphorically, like it was so much easier to do. I ran. It wasn’t easy at first, after a few health neglecting years in Uni and the birth of my first child. I knew I had to get serious. I had a child to consider now; a life I had brought in to the world. My health and wellbeing would directly impact on them. Any selfish thoughts I’d had dissipated and my aim was clear: to change my mindset completely. No faddy diets or short-lived health plans; this had to be me, for the rest of my life.

So I did it. I changed my mindset, my diet and my relationship with food completely. I no longer wanted feed my emotions; I wanted to eat to live, to feel good about my body knowing that it was being filled with natural goodness. I started running for real. Every night after work, on the weekends, even when my lungs burnt so badly I wanted to stop; I ran. And then I realised the lie I had sold myself before, about not being built to run; it had been a simple, ridiculous excuse to be lazy and hide behind my weight. The true understanding of what I could achieve came in my first ‘Race for Life’. The aim was to raise money in memory of a very dear friend, who had inspired me in so many ways, but, sadly had lost her battle just months before. With the start of the 10k race, it was the chance to prove something to myself and to inspire my children to be the best versions of themselves. I ran like I never had before. With the realisation that I was setting the pace and leading the race I felt amazing; an addictive feeling coursing through my veins. I could run. I WAS built for it – mentally. That switch flicked in my brain once more and I knew that from that point on, I could do anything I put my mind to. It was my choice; my goals; my life and I was going to do it my way. I didn’t win the race, but I finished in the top ten and finished the race in 42 minutes with two very proud, happy little boys to meet me as I crossed the finish line.

So… I run, not because it exhilarates me, but I run for them. I run to show them that they control their destinies. I run to show my beautiful little boys that we all have our challenges, I face many every day, but every day is a NEW day; a fresh start; a chance to face your fears and anxieties and just give it a go. So today I leave you with these inspirational words from one of my children’s favourite authors: You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own, and you know what you know. And you are the guy who’ll decide where to go. – Dr. Seuss

Jo

Friend and Client of Power of One Fitness