
Did that make you giggle? Not what you might associate with me is it? It’s the title of a brilliant book by Chris McDougall that has inspired me back to running.
Yesterday morning I threw on my tracksuit bottoms, grabbed a T-shirt from the cupboard and donned my sports bra. These days, that sports bra is the only thing I wear that is “running gear”. Since the marathon I have gone back to running in my scruffy clothes.
My Garmin Forerunner watch had run out of charge. So I grabbed my iPod, set up the Nike+ for 20 minutes of running and shuffle on songs and headed out for a run.
It was sunny and windy. There were puddles everywhere from all the rain over the last few days.


My head was full of thoughts that I needed to work through.
This is why I started running.
Just under a year ago I had my first Cognitive Hypnotherapy session with Trevor Silvester. It changed a lot. One of the big things that happened is that it unlocked my emotions. Something that I had always seen as dangerous – I had them locked safely away. As a result, as well as being able to feel true happiness for the first time, I was also increasingly moody, miserable and snappy.
I had a real problem with that. It was not how I saw myself. I spoke to Trevor about it and he suggested I take up yoga or even just go for a walk each day.
I am very lucky in that I live by a disused railway line. So I stepped out of the house the next morning and went for a walk. I had put on my trainers because I figured, if I was out anyway, then I may as well try and run a bit to get some exercise and help with weight loss. No-one would see me because we live in the middle of nowhere.

I walked and jogged a little. After seconds I was red faced and panting so I walked again. I walked to the end of the first bit of path and then back. Jogging for seconds at a time. I think that first outing took me about 28 minutes to do 1.2 miles.
But I turned it into a habit. Each day I put on my “running gear” when I got up instead of my clothes for the day. I didn’t make it a choice. Irrespective of the weather I went for a walk/run. Gradually increasing the running instead of walking. Eventually I tried for a longer run one day a week…getting up to 2 miles and thinking that might be the furthest I would ever managed.
I made it a habit because I hated it. But you see, running is one of the few things you can’t find an excuse not to do. It’s right outside my door. I don’t need equipment. I just run.
And things changed. My moods changed. I started the day positive and light with a sense of achievement. I found the endorphins I was getting from running carried me through the whole day and I lost my 2pm slump where all I wanted to do was sleep. I was no longer permanently tired – even if the little one had a terrible night.
Running was addictive.
And it was that path that led me to the marathon. But it was also that path that took away this feeling I was getting from running. Because I started running for a purpose. I had to run a certain way, a certain distance to train. I was no longer doing it to clear my head and I didn’t like that.
Marathon over. I’ve proved I can do that distance. There is nothing left to prove.
So yesterday morning I stepped out of my front door to clear my head. To get the endorphins to carry me through the day.
One foot in front of the other. As I set off feeling that usual doubt about how I can keep going. Running isn’t easy for me. It never has been and I suspect it never will be.

Up the small hill onto the path. I can see now the blue sky with the clouds. I can see the wind swaying the trees. A rabbit crosses my path as I recover my breath from the hill and find my pace on the uneven surface. On some mornings I would have no way of knowing how beautiful the sunrise was unless I went for a run.
“Just jog” I tell myself. “There is no hurry, just enjoy it”
I start to process everything in my head and soon forget how my body feels. I enjoy keeping my body occupied while my head does its job. Moments of insight flow in an out of my head and I occasionally notice what’s going on around me.
I struggle to breathe. I have started my return leg and the wind is blowing on my face. My heart is racing from my thoughts. I push on focussing more internally.
I occasionally wonder if my foot is going to start hurting but it doesn’t.
1/2 a mile to go. I stop to walk. The wind is too much. I am cross with myself and then I realise it doesn’t matter. I am just out to clear my head. That thought allows me to start running again.
I round the corner to my house and sprint to get that last boost.
I feel that sense of achievement of having had a run again. Things have made more sense and I start my day knowing I will have all the energy I need to get through it. All the energy I need to have the mood I choose.
This is why I run.
This was all put together for this weeks gallery over at sticky fingers where the subject is "Morning"
