Running - time for ME (Running)

Member Name: hypno06

Product:	Running
Date:	13/12/08 (45 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Gives me time to do something for ME

Disadvantages: It is cold and dark in the winter, and often wet!

As a teenager I used to watch the London Marathon and look at those people struggling at the back and make some very derogatory comments about their lack of speed etc. My dad was watching with me one year, and having already run a couple of marathons himself, looked at his gobby teenage daughter and said "get your trainers on, we're going round the block".

We went a mile, of which I walked far more than I ran, and I realised that those people struggling round 26 miles in London deserved my respect rather than my criticism.

Twelve months later, I became one of those strugglers, as I completed the London Marathon, slowly. Running, especially running long distances, was a far bigger and better thing than I had ever given it credit.

I did the marathon once more before I had a couple of children, after which I never made the time to get my trainers on and go round the block. I still watched the London Marathon every year, getting emotional about the efforts everyone was putting into completing the course, and promising myself that I would "do it again next year".

15 years on, and I have finally got my trainers on again, and have a place in the marathon in April 2009. I was terrified about trying to get the milage in - would I have time? Was I physically capable? Am I too old? All of these things that I have used for excuses over the years suddenly became hurdles that I was about to push to one side.

Running has provided me not only with a goal of completing the marathon again, but with time for ME. When I am running, for half an hour, or an hour, I am NOT working, running kids around, cooking dinner, stressing about what needs doing.....I am just running. I may or may not have my ipod plugged in, I might just want to listen to the sound of the birds as I run round the country lanes.

It takes a little bit of effort to fit in that 4 miles, but even with the busy life that I lead, with full time work, and very active children that need transporting here there and everywhere, I have managed to fit 3 or 4 runs in a week, between 2 and 13 miles without too much hassle at all, proving that it is not that I didn't HAVE the time to do it before, but that I didn't MAKE the time.

So, whether you are wanting to complete a fun run, or a Marathon, give yourself some ME time and put on your trainers - go and make a start - you may not be able to run for more than a minute or two the first time you go out, but I can guarantee that within a few days you will be running further than you ever thought possible!

Summary: Don't just watch the marathon - get running!