Falling Back In Love With Running

In just under two weeks, four of my colleagues and I will be running the Weybridge 10k. It kinda pales in comparison to our efforts when we ran the Richmond Half Marathon back in September last year but the most important thing is that we’re going to do it and we’ve made that commitment. When a group of us ran our first half marathon back in 2013, I thought that would be it – after all the training, surely now I was a bona fide converted runner and at least 3/4 times a week I’d easily continue pounding London’s streets.

Of course it doesn’t work like that and without the motivation of any kind of event, running all but came to a halt in the intervening years. It doesn’t come easily to me to naturally want to go off for a run. As long ago as it was, the bigger girl still stays inside me, the girl who didn’t want to leave her flat because she felt so uncomfortable. I can always think of a thousand things to be doing instead of exercise and my weekends and evenings feel too precious to spend at least an hour doing something for my health. Nuts, right?

Running to our local farmers market back in 2013

Just recently though, it would seem that lunchbreak running is the answer to my prayers. My colleague took me on a fantastic route a few weeks ago where we left the office, headed straight for the river and then ran along under Tower Bridge, cutting out at Shad Thames and all the way along the river through Bermondsey before diverting through King Stairs Gardens and a lap of Southwark Park then back to the office. All in all the route is 8km, just under 5 miles.

That day felt GREAT. We were back at our desks after having done something productive and restorative with our lunch hours instead of sitting hunched over our laptops scoffing a bit to eat before carrying on with work. So I decided that I’d try to run three times a week, not necessarily doing the 8k each time, but just to get a breather. I found myself coming home in the evenings and feeling so energised instead of just slumping in front of the TV.

I did the full run on both Monday and Wednesday and absolutely loved it. Running solo doesn’t bother me when there’s such beautiful scenery for distraction and it’s such a good use of time. We have a little shower at work to freshen up afterwards and I’m hopeful that maybe for the first time I can finally turn running into a habit and not a chore. We’re off to Florida en masse with work in May and then it’s my and Pete’s 10th wedding anniversary in July so hopefully a tropical island retreat awaits – plenty of motivation to get myself in shape and focus on health and well-being in 2017.

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4 Comments

  1. Nicky
    February 23, 2017 / 12:33 pm

    Oh god I so wish I could fall in love with running! Or any exercise for that matter! Your 10th Anniversary trip sounds like it is going to be amazing though! Enjoy!!

    • Lins
      Author
      February 25, 2017 / 4:11 pm

      LOL Nicky, I never imagined it would happen to me!! I used to be a size 16 and weight 13.5 stone. I didn’t want to leave my flat to walk down the end of the street, I felt so unhappy with myself. Many years later life is so different now Xx

  2. February 23, 2017 / 5:33 pm

    This is inspirational! I’ve never been a ‘runner’, but I think what I mean by that is I’ve never just committed to doing my first 5k and not making excuses!

    I’ve downloaded a running app to get on with when the mornings & evenings are lighter. I love, love, love going for solo walks, and I have a feeling that if I can improve my fitness I’ll love going for solo runs too!

    Good luck with your 10k – your tropical island retreat sounds lovely and great motivation too! 😉

    Flora
    http://www.theeverchanginghome.com

    • Lins
      Author
      February 25, 2017 / 4:05 pm

      Thank you Flora for your lovely words, if someone had told me back in my bigger days all those years ago that I’d one day be a runner I’d never have believed it!! If I can do it then anyone can 🙂 Xx

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