I started running in early 2015, 7 weeks after I had my 2nd baby. Back then I was pretty overweight and a 5k was a scary distance to me. It turns out that if you can put your mind to something that anything is possible.
I still remember the morning I met a slim, fit looking Mum in the park. It was Februrary 2015 and I had recently signed up for my first ever 10K event. I am an organiser and a planner. I wanted to know what I had let myself in for. How long was it going to take me to run such a distance?
I explained to the ‘fit Mum’ that I had just signed up for a 10k. She told me to be careful, that she was physically sick after she finished that distance. My initial reaction was ‘what have I done’. I was afraid. I considered contacting The Edinburgh Marathon Festival to switch to the 5K event.
I mean, if this slim, fit mum was sick at the end what were my chances? Then I decided to push the feelings of fear and doubt aside. Why not give it a try, I mean what was the worst that can happen?
I put in the time and I did the training. I ran in the rain, the hail, after sleepless nights with my hungry little baby boy. I ran when I was tired, I ran when I couldn’t be bothered. Before I knew it my baby was 6 months old and I was up early to give the distance a shot. My fingers were crossed that the only spew that day would be from my greedy little milk muncher.
Funnily enough – I ran past a lot of’ fit’ looking Mum’s that morning. I ran with extra weight but it didn’t matter because I had done the training and I believed I could finish. There was no sickness for me, just a whole bunch of high fiving at the finish line. I picked up my first marathon medal the following summer. Do I regret it? No way.
Setting yourself a challenge keeps life exciting. It mixes things up a bit. Exercise also happens to be really good for us. Not just for our physical health, exercise helps to nurture our mental health.
Keeping active releases natural, feel good endorphins. I found a love for running. Running gives me much needed head space. It keeps me feeling grounded. It releases tension that sometimes I am unaware I have.
When I first started out on my running journey I often compared myself to people who looked a lot fitter. It turns out that what you weigh can mean nothing when it comes to fitness.
Several running events later, when I am still fighting to lose the ‘mummy tummy’ I remember how I ran past people much slimmer than me who were far more out of breath. It is very easy to make assumptions. Stop.
Stop comparing yourself to others and have a little faith. If you set your mind to something you can prove people wrong.
