Running took me by surprise. Like so many others, I was only a couple of weeks into C25k, when I needed to find out whether it was ok to run every day, because I was enjoying this exercise, in a totally unexpected way. This wonderful forum provided the answer. Damn........ I've got to have a rest day! I wanted to run all the time....I was loving it and still am. So where did this passion arise from? How did it take hold so quickly?
Over the last two and a half years I have watched a neighbour's son, Aidan, grow from birth to active toddler. He is a fearless individual, which strikes terror into the hearts of his parents. As soon as he could walk unaided, he wanted to run. Wise parents counselled against it on uneven surfaces, but his ebullience and lack of experience meant that he threw caution to the wind and rushed, often faster than his feet could carry him, with the inevitability that gravity would win over, leaving him sprawling and bawling on the ground. This did not, in itself, seem to deter him and as his technique has improved he has managed to remain upright for longer, running and jumping with sheer exuberance and joy of life.
His parents have had to restrain him when near roads or other hazards, obviously, but have not managed (nor attempted) to quash his zeal. At toddler group he is being slowly socialised into sitting and no doubt by the time he reaches school, he will have learned only to run when it is appropriate.
No one is permitted to run inside a school.....for good reason. I remember my primary school playground as a melee of wildly rushing boys and skipping girls, but within the corridors decorum was required. We were allowed to run in PE lessons, but generally in competition with others. Some found they were “good” at it, ie. fast, while others were not “good” at it, and were consequently not encouraged. As the years passed, there was less general charging around and more structured games such as football, and overall, fewer children actually running at all.
Our modern society knocks running out of us, because it is not a requirement for functioning or survival. I ask you, how many of you can say that you have the opportunity to run while at work? Yet, despite not running for all of my adult life, I rekindled the desire to run after just a few sessions. The exhilaration of movement was addictive, despite the pounding heart and the gasping breath, or, maybe because of them.
There is something very basic about running, which is part of our true nature. It is obvious in Aidan with the vitality and excitement that exudes from his careering body. It is also plain to see in so many people who have discovered that running is more than just a way to get exercise, despite the fact that they were never sporty or “good” at running. I wonder how many of the poor souls that we fail to convince with our messianic zeal, who say that they never liked running, could actually recapture that primitive and elemental joy of life that we experience when we run?
My wife told me, when I started C25k, that she had never liked running and that I wouldn't get her running. I said nothing. She now runs. She now loves running.
Enjoy your running.
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I remember reading Seb Coe's book ( when he was an athlete, not a politician).....it was called 'The Joy of Running' and thinking it was only for the elite, but of course, he was right.
Hey Tim, great post ! Though I don't always check out this forum first thing ,I find I'm often drawn to it on a run day...for a motivational fix maybe ....well,it was top of my inbox this morning and reading this has definitely delivered....off for my run shortly
Wow, very insightful blog! When I was trying to lose weight last year I started doing a lot of walking in the woods, I really fell in love with it, and the muddier and messier the better- I remembered thinking one day while I was out 'I used to love doing this when I was a kid' I had forgotten the pleasure I got from my messy tom boy years - and I have embraced that part of me again now - thanks for reminding me again
Yeah, we give up so much to become adults. Running does give you the opportunity to run through mud and puddles, which I have to admit I am getting a bit tired off this winter.
It is possible to expand that philosophy to incorporate your whole life. Just keep trying to get better at being you...............Sorry, I've been drinking.
Great post IT! It got me thinking about the (state) primary school that my boys went to. They were lucky to have a large playing field there and they set up a running club on 2 or 3 mornings a week before school called Wide Awake Club. The idea of it was to sharpen the kids up mentally before they went into lessons, but it encouraged a lot of kids to have a go at running who might not otherwise have tried it. Many went on to join local athletics clubs where they continued to run or discovered they were good at other events like discus or shotput. Many are now regular runners in the local Parkrun! Imagine how many more people might discover running if more schools were in a position to do something similar ...
Yes, we were lucky, and it was just down to the enthusiasm of a couple of individuals really. Now that would be an interesting statistic wouldn't it? I don't know unfortunately. I think it goes further than that too though in that kids who have tried running and discovered a new skill (and thrill!) then have the confidence to try other things when they get to secondary school and beyond. As, of course, do many adults who try C25K in later life.
You've said something really important there. Only the other day I was thinking of how we spend our childhoods being told mostly not to run.
And whilst gyms have a useful place, especially at this time of year, I believe passionately in the importance of people getting outside.
The business of saying nothing is important too... yes people deserve to know that the NHS C25K programme exists because it is such an accessible way of getting into more exercise and running, but better to show them implicitly what the benefits are. (And part of that may involve confining one's obsessive talk to other runners eg here)
What a wonderful post, thank you for sharing your thoughts.
I wish that c25k could be rolled out to schools, I left school believing that I wasn't sporty, never a runner, the only running we did (other than structured sports) was an annual cross country run, which the majority of us hated and failed at, unsurprisingly. It's taken me 25 years to discover otherwise.
Cross country running was something that I actually chose to do in the sixth form and I enjoyed it, but because I was not "good" at it, I never pursued it. At least today the huge number of runs of all types means that it is possible for the amateur to find something that fits their style and ability. Keep running, keep smiling.
Great post and resonated with me. I was the fat kid in school and I took it literally when they said. It to run and waited till 47 to run. So well written and I admire your way with words.
Wonderfully put - I didn't even run at school. I cringe now as I remember the look on the sports teachers face as my mate and I sauntered down to the sports field - late and still wearing our fake patent leather lace-ups rather than plimsolls. It's taken a long time but I now have some sympathy with her and always had a secret yen to be good at sports. Linda
beautiful words...so full of pasion for your running. You are so right too, there is something about running that connects us with who we are, makes us face our deepest insecurities, sorts out all the subconscious 'news feed' ( in the same way sleeping does) and lets us be free....wonderful...thankyou!!!
Great post. As soon as you said running took you by surprise & then followed it by how quickly it became a passion, I was hooked because sometimes I still can't believe it & I it seems extraordinary how quickly I grew to look forward to each run.
Waletta, we are the lucky ones to have discovered (rediscovered) this amazing thing and you are right, it is extraordinary. Keep running, keep smiling.
I do believe we were born to run and also that man flu is a way of keeping you away from the sabre toothed tigers when you can't run so fast. Thanks, fellow runner.
Wonderful post. I too was a complete couchie and so quickly fell in love with running.
I think the idea of running always frightened me, that I would somehow damage myself, and I wasn't a natural so why bother? But the c25k programme is such a wonderfully structured programme that has enabled me to feel safe, teaching me how to build up my stamina properly and that anyone can run.
Great post and your last comment about C25K getting anyone running is so true. I'm yet another couchie who's fallen in love and can't think why I didn't do this sooner.
Thanks, KateK, your experience of C25k is common to many of us. Just a few months ago I looked on runners as some breed apart from me, whereas now I can't imagine life without running.
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