I never EVER thought I'd be running anywhere, unless it was away from something like a needy salesmen or perhaps a lion.
Found the above quote while I was scrolling one day and felt validated. I'm not saying I'm going to be applying for any marathons any time soon, if anything I feel silly even trying to convince you that I know how to do any form of exercise. But I do run, and occasionally I even enjoy it.
I spent so long, honestly about 22 years, shying away from exercise and laughing at those who did. I had got it into my head that it was embarrassing to try, because I knew I would fail. I was the not type to get picked for teams at school. Actually this is a lie - one time I swam at the swimming gala in the backstroke style AND WON! I literally still talk about it to this day. That was my first, and last, win. And it wasn't even for speed - to win "style" you literally had to be slow and, dare I say, graceful in the water (not something I am known for being on land).
This is deep-rooted stuff, and it definitely revolves around my lack of competitiveness. My Dad will never forget the time in primary school when I was actually winning a running race, got just before the finish line, and then proceeded to stop, turn around, and cheer on the other runners, before I eventually crossed the line in last place. True story.
Fast forward about 20 years and I'm somehow convinced by my boyfriend and colleagues to join in their early morning Couch to 5K group. I'm literally doing everything I can to convince this boy to love me after a year and a half of our relationship, so I concede and for a whole month, you'd find me every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning at 7am on the school pitches at my work.
I actually completed the course, with the help of the boyfriend, the colleagues, and my best pal and now running partner when I came home. I can't recommend it enough to be honest, I tell my students and friends about it a lot.
Fast forward to Lockdown 3, and I'm enjoying running again, after a 3 month break when I got back to work in September. I enjoy it, I'm definitely not fast, I'm definitely not going to win any medals, or inspire any minds (unless you're feeling inspired right now, in which case wow you need new role models - comment below).
What I'm trying to say really is get out there. I was embarrassed for being out of breath all the time and as age carries on, I'm noticing more wobbly bits and it's becoming harder to feel toned and agile. Now I know it was silly - everyone feels that way when they're unfit and out of practice - turns out that doing cross country every year at school was good and not the devil incarnated into an event as I thought it was. Go out, be free, be like Forrest, Forrest Gump, whether its for your physical health, mental health, to impress your partner or just because you are bored locked down at home - be it for 2 hours or 2 minutes. There's no time like this time right here - no-one is going to do it for you.
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