How I found my love for Running
I never used to be a runner, and I believe my story is not dissimilar to other people who discovered the sport. There are many of us that seem to have fallen into it by happy accident, and in my case it was thanks to a friend of mine who introduced me to running ten years ago in my first job.
At 22 I was quite the gym bunny, having just graduated from university I was eager to keep my fitness levels up. My friend Kerry asked me if I wanted to join her on a 5K run along the river one lunchtime (our office was based near Waterloo at the time), and that was it — I was hooked! Those lunchtime runs became a regular thing and at the same time a great stress-reliever from the desk job, re-energising me for the afternoon workload. There were a few runners in the office and so when one colleague suggested that a group of us signed up to a 10K charity race, I thought to myself ‘why not’?
Back then 10K seemed like the longest distance ever and I had no idea how to train properly for such an event. But, with the help of those lunchtime runs and my gym work I managed to run my first race in 57 minutes! I remember that run well — I developed a really bad stitch at mile 5, and my colleague (who was training to be a PT at the time) told me that if I wanted to achieve a sub-hour 10K I would have to try and breathe through the pain and sprint like hell! So I did…with the help of some motivational cheers from the crowds.
Ecstatic that I managed to run a sub-hour 10K in my first race, I kept up my running but became more of a solo runner, preferring to head out on my own and work to my own pace and choosing my own soundtracks to listen to. I entered plenty more 10K races and managed to get my PB down to 48 minutes. But then the 10K became a little too comfortable for me, and less challenging.
So when I landed my job at London 2012 working in Brand Management, I decided to step things up a gear. Now, there could have been considerable influence coming from the fact I was working for the biggest sporting event in the world and felt so inspired by the amazing Olympians and Paralympians. Our mantra at the Games was to ‘push beyond your personal best’, and so taking that wholeheartedly on board, I signed up to my first half marathon.
The same pattern followed after that, where I signed myself up to yet more half marathons in and around London, which inevitably led me to think ‘surely if I can do a half, I can go the whole 26.2 miles’? That’s what nearly happened in 2011, when I started training for the London Marathon. Unfortunately I had to pull out two weeks before the event due to a bad foot injury (more on that in another post!), which forced me to defer my entry for a year. Needless to say, I was back on my training schedule in January 2012 and successfully completed my very first marathon in 4 hours and 13 minutes. It was one of the most memorable days for me, and since that experience the London Marathon has always held a special place in my heart.
Of course you do try and convince yourself that one marathon is more than enough, and I did tell many of my friends and family that it would be my first and last. There simply isn’t the necessity to do another marathon…right? Wrong! I did indeed get the ‘running bug’ and was already planning my next event.
That’s me in the front with my colleagues at the Cancer Research 10K race
Looking hot and sweaty posing with the lovely guys from Shelter UK — the charity I raised money for by running the Royal Parks Half Marathon
Mile 19, Canary Wharf, London Marathon 2012
I did allow my body a break, however. My husband and I moved out to California for a year in 2013 as I got a job in Orange County. This introduced me to a whole new environment for running! Hot temperatures all year round, plus I got a taste for barefoot running along the sandy beaches. I took part in a couple of half marathon races that year, though I don’t think my body ever got used to the early start times (6 a.m!).
Barefoot running along Huntington Beach
Upon our return to London, I had already booked my next marathon and this was to take place in Munich. This is the Motherland for me since my mum is german and lives most of the year over there. The entry fee was surprisingly reasonable compared to the cost of some of the overseas races, like the New York Marathon. I think I ended up paying just £70 for the race entry. Race day was absolutely glorious — the weather couldn’t have been better and though the crowds were more sparse than London, the spectators were in great spirits.
Munich Marathon finisher, Olympic Stadium, 2014.
A few more have been added to the collection since this photo was taken!
There I added yet another medal to my shiny collection, and hopefully that collection will continue to grow. I have allowed my body a rest since last October, though it soon will take a battering again when a group of us attack the Tough Mudder course in a couple of weeks!
I feel running has been my stress-reliever for the last ten years, but it’s also provided me with precious ‘me time’. I often have some of my best thoughts or ideas when out on my solo runs, though sometimes I just like to let go and sing along to the tunes on my iPod. When friends ask me how I enjoy running and don’t find it a chore or monotonous, I simply tell them that I found a sport that I’m not too bad at! Ok, I’m no Paula Radcliffe, but running is something I’ve always strived to get better at and I enjoy challenging myself. I value running a lot more now that I’m a qualified Personal Trainer, especially as my training efficiency has improved ten-fold! And here’s my challenge to you guys — why not book your first race? Whether that be a 5K, a 10K, marathon distance or even an ultra marathon? Still not convinced you’d enjoy it? Have a read of my top 3 books on running and I guarantee you’ll be sprinting out the door in no time!
2. Running with the Kenyans: Discovering the secrets of the fastest people on earth, by Adharanand Finn
3. Run. The Mind-Body Method of Running By Feel, by Matt Fitzgerald