As I'm on Twitter wallowing in self pity a few friends cheer me up by commenting on my achievements this year, thanking them I open my Runkeeper App & looked back at my previous runs to put it all into perspective. In my head it feels like I have been a runner for EVER! In reality I see I have only been running for 18 months.
I ran for the 1st time since leaving school on 27th April 2011, I was cycling as a hobby but was loosing confidence on the bike due to a few near misses, these brought up old fears from when I was hit by THAT car in 2010. Soooo I put on an old pair of Reebok gym shoes & I went for a very painful run, I ended up running 5 miles due to bad planning, I hurt from start to finish, my lungs felt like they were going to burst & my legs were screaming obscenities at me for the whole 50 mins it took me to drag myself around the streets. I bitted a bobbed from then on but only ran to keep up my fitness (or what fitness I had left, I was turning lazy again). It was not until May 18th 2011 that my running mate Ian talked me into coming to a race, the Askern 10K. I was petrified on the night, all I saw was seasoned athletes but I before I knew it I was huddled in with a few hundred runners & the klaxon went off. I ran this in 49:04 & it all fell into place, I LOVED IT! I still used my bike but running had become a passion now & I loved adrenalin I got from racing.
Fast forward 18 months & you get to here, 19 official UK Road Races (plus countless more races & runs) including a chance to run for BrooksUK (a running shoe company for you none runners), I also not only ran around our stunning country with some truly inspiring friends as part of RelayGB but, along the way we fund raised for BraintumorUK & we may even have set a World Record while doing so (still awaiting confirmation), I've ran my 1st Fell Race in the form of the "Hardest Event on the UK Fell Calender" (apparently) The Red Bull Steeple Chase, I've ran around Arthur's Seat (again & again & again...) for 12hrs with some new found Scottish friends (just to say we have done it, no other reason) & not forgetting highlight of the year in my first official Ultra Marathon, The Round Rotherham 50, a 50 miles trail ultra marathon.
I have acquired a few shiny medals along the way as well as a load of T-shirts & mementos inc socks & a Thermos flask (Sorry Russ, I promise you'll get a medal next year) but none are as prized as my Round Rotherham felt badge & my RelayGB bling.
The moral of this quick post is to drag my head out of my arse & stop feeling sorry for myself. I've achieved far more that I ever thought I would on that painful run back in April 2011. I have "The Bug" for sure, why else would I be already planning for next years challenge to be on foot again.
Its already taken over the fridge |
Thank you all for your support guys, you have been amazing. Over the 18 months I have met some truly inspirational friends & would like to thank you all, you all know who you are so I'm not going to embarrass you, but thank you LOTS.