Running Order (Nov 2017)
It was December and I was in a bit of a depression.
I went to the Doctor.
“Are you still running?” he asked
“No” I said
“I can’t” I said
“Well, I’d like to see you getting back out there” he said
“I’ll try” I said
I did try and I picked up a new routine, fitting in a run 3 times a week.
April and Spring, I was feeling better, the fog was lifting, I was running and writing and one evening we watched something on the TV called ‘Mind Over Marathon’. It was amazing. I had never felt so inspired. ‘I can do that’ I thought.
I signed up for the Great North Run, through a charity place, I got one through Yorkshire Cancer Research, this was good because it was local and my friend Jo was writing about her experiences of cancer for them.
I signed up for the Harrogate and Leeds 10K runs for Mind. This would support my running for mental health for myself and others.
As I trained I set myself a strict plan, I would stick to it. I was feeling better and running better. I had a target, to run the Great North Run, run it all and enjoy it!
I discovered the Harrogate Ringway, a 20 mile circular route around Harrogate and I used it in my training programme, I split it into sections and did the next bit round each week. I discovered that running was better off road for me.
In July I did the 10Ks, got PBs, started to believe in myself and push a little harder. I raised money for Mind.
In September I did the Great North Run, I kept running, another PB and I loved the feeling of feeling strong and enjoyed the crowds. Jo gave me a card that simply said ‘I can, I will, end of story’, this was my mantra and I kept going. I raised money for YCR.
In October I organised a run around the whole Harrogate Ringway to raise money for Wellspring Training and Therapy in Harrogate. I did the full thing but at 15 miles I lost my self belief and I walked. I beat myself up for giving myself permission to walk.
I read an article on mental resilience in running, we can all get better, we just have to tell ourselves ‘I can, I will’ and, in the words of NIike: ‘Just Do It’.
In November I ran the Guy Fawkes 10mile, 3 massive hills on a beautiful dales route. I told myself ‘I can, I will’ and I did, I was strong and I kept running up those hills.
I was 44 on the day I ran the Guy Fawkes 10 and for the first time in my life I talked to myself positively and made a difference to the outcome. Small steps in the right direction. I still want to get better in my mind and in my running but I’m hoping that these new lessons will help…
