Global Running Day is a day that aims to encourage people of all ages and abilities to get out, get moving, and experience the joy of running. In the spirit of Global Running Day, I want to share my love of running with you. I would also love to hear from you about your running journey. Today, whether you are a seasoned runner or haven’t run since you were at school and the PE teacher made you, get out there and make a start.
I have always been active since a young age, but I didn’t run for the sake of running, only through other team sports like rugby. I actually became a runner by chance. After university, I decided to go run a half marathon and thought I could do so with minimal training. I found it so difficult that I was disappointed by my fitness, so I began running to improve. During this time, I got carried away with always needing to improve and PB at every race. I didn’t enjoy running and picked up so many injuries, being too hard on myself all the time.
I then received an opportunity to pace the same race I had struggled at 4 years earlier, and this changed my outlook on running. I had a mixed experience of pacers at this time. It wasn’t as common as it is today to have pacers, and those that I had seen were not very motivating. From my very first experience pacing I knew that this was something I was passionate about, and I found an outlet to help and support people, as I try in all areas of my life, such as at work and at home.
Running became more about supporting other people, helping them to achieve their PBs, and I no longer felt the need to push myself harder and harder each race. I fell in love with running and the social side of the sport. The wellbeing element, where you see the best of humanity.
Running is a sport where it doesn’t matter how old you are, how fit you are, and how fast you are running. Together, we are all runners, and we all get the same benefits from running whether you are the race leader or back of the pack, and even if you don’t like to race at all.
I have seen the world through running, made many friends, and shared such wonderful experiences with my family. I hope I have shown that you don’t need to be the best, and you don’t have to train all the time and sacrifice your family time. The more you put in, the better you will be, but you are good enough just how you are.
I would love to hear your running stories today, so please share in the comments how you got into running, and what led you to this point.
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