12 Days to go!
TWELVE DAYS!!! OMG!!!
12 days until I’m running the Boston Marathon.
When I started this blog 3 and a half years ago, I’m sure there were many doubters. 4:33 marathon pb, and you want to run under 3:35 in 2.5 years time? Yeah right! Good luck with that one!
I’m quite frustrated at the moment. I really care about people’s health, and that includes mental health and self esteem. It frustrates me when I hear ‘reasons’ for why they can’t be happy. Or excuses for why they can’t do stuff.
I’ve set 2 major goals in running.
#1 When I lived in Sydney, working for APS growth, I set the goal to run the London Marathon before I was 25. I was 22 at the time, I lived in Sydney, I had only done one half marathon before and I had to walk regularly from about 8 miles in.
#2 With the start of this blog, I set the goal to qualify to run the Boston Marathon before my 30th Birthday.
I’m 12 days away from ticking off both.
Here are my excuses:
I live in Sydney
I’ve just moved back to London
I’ve started a new job
Raising £2500 is too hard (that’s how much I had to raise for my charity place in the London Marathon.
My dad was diagnosed with cancer
I’ve just bought a flat
I’ve changed jobs
My boyfriend broke up with me
I want to be promoted (and was)
I’ve got a new boyfriend
My dad died
I’ve just gotten engaged
I’m planning a wedding
I’m retraining to be a PT
I lost my job
I’ve started a new job
We’ve just gotten married
I’ve started a business
Some of these were absolutely devastating, some of these were intensely joyful, and some were a bit, eh? But despite all of them, I still hit my goals. And you know what, I think it is predominantly down to running, and working toward these goals that I was able to cope with all these changes in my life.
So, some lessons I’ve learnt along the way:
Happiness is a choice
If you are struggling with something, seek help - 6 months after my dad died, I was struggling with believing that I shouldn’t still be crying everytime I thought of him, I found commuting to work and doing the work almost impossible, and actually ran myself into injury - its probably the rest I took that meant I hit a block, but eventually I spoke to my boss about how I wasn’t coping, and he recommended I seek counselling, which I did, and in about 3 sessions, I made huge leaps. It actually gave me some great skills to handle stuff that’s come up since as well.
Do the work, like seriously, if you want to be, do or have something, do the work to get you there. Small actions repeated daily is pretty much all it takes
Listen to your body - I created a pretty awful string of injuries from running too much when I was an emotional wreck - I didn’t have the strength and so parts of me broke
Be grateful. Always be grateful for the blessings that you do have…
And to that end, my gratitude extends far and wide. On this running journey, I’ve met many people along the way, but also in my non-running journey, I’ve met wonderful people too.
Too many to name them all but I will try to mention some of the really important ones!
Elle! My friend from CCHS who is very kindly putting David and I up when we’re in Boston. I am eternally grateful that we haven’t had to pay for accommodation. It really did take the pressure off the trip. 2 months ago I was considering not going because our previous plans fell through and it would have cost too much to stay at a hotel with this short notice.
My Parkrun buddies - its so nice to be able to runchat every Saturday, and be met with encouragement and support :-)
My RW forum buddies- I’ve been absent lately, but some of these folk have given me such valuable advice over the years
The Running Community in and around Colchester- Like seriously, I feel like the whole of Colchester is behind me in this!
4Networking - a networking group I have been part of for the last 18 months - they have provided an important support network, and again, they are so excited for me to be achieving my dreams of running in Boston
My Colleagues at Playgolf - Each of the Personal Trainers at YourGym has their own specialty, and they are all exceptional. They all support me in my running, even though for many of them, running isn’t their thing!
My wonderful clients. Your dedication to training and bettering yourselves despite all the things that happen in your lives (see above) inspires me each day. Added to which, you have shared in my excitement about reaching this goal, and even understand (as many won’t) that running this event is of similar importance to me as my wedding day was - and in fact, its taken far longer to prepare for!
My friends - you've shared the joys, you've empathised with the disappointments and you were all rooting for me last year at London marathon when I had to run the BQ.
My family - for putting up with my talking about running, and sponsoring me for events when I did fundraise for them, for example, my first marathon.
My parents - they taught me that anything could be possible for me, and I truly believe that. Anytime I think of can’t, I also beat myself up to get out of my own way. If anything I’m super fragile at the moment, because I so want to tell Dad about my excitement - even though he wasn’t a runner, I know he’d have taken an interest, and probably come to watch as well. BUT, my mum is taking an interest now, and has even bought me a lucky elephant charm to wear for the race.
My husband! Again, for putting up with me. He’s gotten a bit bored of watching marathons now, but he doesn’t stop me from doing my training. This goal tool 3.5 years of dedication, and he has let me get on with it, and not gotten in my way (except for asking me to marry him!!)
So, come on Boston. BRING IT ON!
