When you start something new, there is always an expectation, a planned route, or at least an understanding of the whys and wherefores and what you expect to gain or experience out of this new thing. Learning to run has been nothing like I thought it would be.
It is actually difficult to go back and work out exactly what I was thinking, except that the dream of running a long distance such as a marathon had appeal, and I was seriously looking for something to challenge me. Something new that I had never done before.
I knew on a logistics level, this would involve running, however had zero knowledge on that subject. Except that every human on this planet thinks they know about running. We all do it from time to time, catch a bus, run a little at school, do some at the gym. It’s that thing we do when we need to go a bit faster than a walking pace. We all know how that is. Except we don’t or at least I didn’t.
There is this foggy, smoky, misty period you go through when you take up running as a sport. You start and the first “in your face thing” that hits you is how hard it is. Your breathing becomes ragged really quickly (even though you are moving at a pace that wouldn’t challenge a tortoise), your body starts flopping all over the place, and there are suddenly lots of voices in your head at various levels of shrillness yelling at you to stop.
You start to really notice other runners for the very first time. You look at them in a whole new way wondering how on earth they seem to do it so easily. Then even more remarkable are those running along chatting whilst they are running. Flying to Jupiter having designed one’s own space ship, seems to be more probable that running along chatting to someone.
I don’t know what keeps you going at this point. Maybe it’s that big dream you had and you’re at the start of something and you want to give it a go. Maybe it’s optimism that it will get better and easier. Maybe it’s just foolishness and stubbornness, but whatever it is, you need a bit of it, because it takes time and progress appears slow.
As I mentioned in previous blogs, apart from family and friends, there are two big influencers who have helped me more than they will ever know. The first are the wonderful people I have met on twitter. I thought I would start to tweet, and look for other runners and gain some knowledge and inspiration. What I found was this very supportive and inclusive community, full of advice, goodwill, humour and a celebration of everyone’s success no matter how slow or tiny the distance. They inspire me every day. I love how they encourage, laugh and delight in each others endeavours.
The second has been ‘Intraining’, my running Club which I joined with some trepidation and embarrassment due to my lack of expertise. The coaches have been super supportive and encouraging, and my fellow runners are a great bunch of people, who it has been a joy to meet up with twice weekly for training, and am now running with at various parkruns where the support and comradeship continues.
I had absolutely no understanding that this new endeavour would lead me here. I can share that my hazy period is clearing on occasions, and there are moments I get a feel for what I think I am heading towards. I simply love it and am so excited for what the future holds.
Have a great week everyone. If you have some time, go for a run. 🙂