Today is my first running anniversary – my runniversary! (do you see what I did there?!)
I started this journey on the 9th July 2014 when I wanted to do something but didn’t know what. I wanted to exercise but couldn’t afford to join a gym. After a bit of googling, I came across the Couch to 5K programme.
This programme made running look achievable! I had tried taking up running before but hated every second of it. No idea what made me think this time would be any different.
I was newly separated, had very low self-esteem and lonely. I thought that if I started running then maybe I would get good enough to enter races or join a running club. Hopefully I’d make new friends and get fit at the same time. Win win!
I couldn’t have imagined that I would do both and have a runniversary. Or become part of an awesome running club who do nothing but support each other and have a great laugh at the same time. I found my running family. Who are these people I hear you ask? Well they are the amazing people who make up Pegasus running club in Cardiff and I love them all to bits.
A few of the Pegs adopted me at Cardiff parkrun back in February this year and I officially became a Peg on the 1st April. The amazing thing about my running family is that they are always there. They are there on race days, they are there on training days. Whenever I need a pep talk, some advice or just a right old laugh. They are even there on my solo runs too, their advice and support often pops into my head when my run is getting a bit tough and I want to walk instead.
Growing Confidence
When I first started this journey to becoming a runner, I thought that I’d probably just do a few 5K and 10K races. As I got into it I felt more confident and decided to sign up for the Cardiff Half Marathon… I might have mentioned that once or twice before.
To be completely honest, I never thought it would feel like an achievable goal and that I’d bitten off far more than I could ever hope to chew but I was wrong. I haven’t even done the half marathon yet, it’s just over 12 weeks away, but I know that I will complete it because Pegasus have got my back. They give me so much confidence. In fact I even entered the ballot for the London Marathon in April 2016 after a night running with the Pegs! Nuts? Yes! Is it doable? Totally! Why? because Pegasus told me so.
Running is also my therapy. If life is being a bitch then I put on my trainers and run away from it all. It helps me clear my mind and put things back into perspective. It’s saved me loads of £££ in counselling fees!
Support System
My friends and family have also been extremely supportive and encouraging. They believe in me and know that I can do anything I put my mind to. I love to see their faces or hear the surprise in their voices when I tell them how far I ran on my long run. It makes me feel SO DAMN PROUD OF MYSELF! I am achieving something that I never thought I could or would.
I am now in a new relationship and it’s going amazingly well *touches wood… touches ALL the wood*. One of the best parts about it is that he’s a runner too and is going to be joining me and the Pegs at the Cardiff Half. We’ve been out for a few runs together and they have been so much fun, I can’t wait to do even more.
To date I have run a total of… *drum roll*… 467 miles! 467 MILES IN ONE YEAR! I can’t actually believe I’ve run that much. Here’s to many more years and many more miles of running! And more runniversary celebrations!
