Running
I have an app on my phone which, for the last nine weeks, has facilitated me in getting to the point where I can run for a solid and persistent 30mins. Additionally praise needs to go to my lungs, legs, trainers and perhaps most of all to my knees. The trance I play has also, for sure, assisted me. I have had no epiphany and still regard walking as the more mature and preferred human transport medium. I am, however, impressed that it worked and amazed that I completed it.
When I jumped on the Couch to 5k bandwagon I was very aware that it was more of a fully packed flat bed truck rammed with fellow furloughed home runners, than an original idea. I guess that after making nine thousand loaves of (dare I say it superb) sourdough that the balance had to be readdressed. My first run was pathetic. I can look back and say this with good humour and the pride of having slowly improved. I ran for 90 seconds and when I say ran I do not say this in the sense that I was running. Week two took a similar hue and really gave me a much not needed insight into my general unfitness for the task I had embarked on. By week three I was still slow, in pain and resolutely determined to fail. As I mentioned - no epiphany or teary reunion with my true runner inner self. Peddle onto week four and things had marginally improved, I ran for 8 minutes (total) and the full blown lung wheeze was a distant memory. I did the only sensible thing and invested in some overpriced sports gear. Segway to sports gear. There is, as far as I can tell, no point doing anything in life without spending a decent amount of money on nicely branded things that accompany it. Cocktails taste better after you’ve spent a good £50 on glassware, a holiday isn’t a holiday unless I’ve bought more clothes and running is no different. It’s a well known fact that I am as weak willed as the next furloughed part timer and I wanted those bluetooth headphones, so I got them. And a sports watch. And additional leggings. And a new running top. And a fist full of pay for using phone apps. I showed some restraint at not investing in protein shakes. So I spent those savings on a sports belt. My point is I can now run for 30mins and I look damn good when I do it - the other runners see me and they know that I am both a superb runner and decently equipped.
I am not a superb runner. I am a red-faced, panting and fantastically angry runner. But I can run for 30 minutes and despite all my bravado I am incredibly proud of myself for achieving this. It was difficult and I had no inkling that I would be able to actually do it. Four years ago I tried to go on a run with Ryan and gave up after 1 minute (honestly not an exaggeration). Mentally I am still closer to that version of myself and when I get glimpses of the current runner version I do get a twang of pride. And yes, there are moments of euphoria during some runs. It takes me a while to ‘bed into’ a run but those moments, sometimes minutes, when everything is going well do provide a rush of calm happiness. I am not at a point of chasing times or distances but I can see the allure of such things and I understand, if only slightly, why some people genuinely enjoy running.
If there are any takeaways from this journey it is the age old truth that slow persistence can sometimes lead to success. And also that, and again I say sometimes, hard work does bring with it some rewards. And if anyone is thinking of giving this thing a go I’d say jump right in because it could just work and you’ll feel good for it.*
*erm, goes without saying - if crisps, not running, other sports & television watching are more your thing then do that too, you’ll probably also feel good for it.
