It was about this time last year that a group of unfit mums dropping their offspring off at school came to the conclusion that we needed to get fit. We had often seen a group of four other mothers go running straight from the school gates. We were often still outside the school discussing serious worldly issues when they returned. They looked as immaculate as when they left with not a hair out of place, not sign of fatigue and with not even a glow or sign of perspiration, they simply glided past. We referred to them as the human gazelles. It looked so easy,... we can do that! Our very naïve C25K group was born. Of course, it is not as easy as it looks, but a year down the line and our group are now fitter, healthier and fully hooked on running. However we still do get hot, we do get sweaty and we do get very red.
We have so far been extremely fortunate that the only effect that covid has had on our lives is the restrictions of mixing with others, we know others have not been as fortunate. Our group has therefore had to breakup from time to time and either run on our own or in smaller groups to comply with whatever restrictions are in place at the time. Today we ran in groups of two as the whole country can only meet one person outside.
Off we set after the usual drop off, my partner for this run and I deciding on a 5K run. Our brisk warm up walk was coming to an end when the human gazelles coasted past us. Our group all have suspicions that the gazelles must run until they are out of site, stop and do hair and makeup for a while, then return, as how else can they still be as immaculate after a long run. A quick glance and a smile to each other and we knew what were were going to do. We were going to follow them and catch them out!!
First of all, they did seem to be moving at a lot faster pace than it looked and we realised we were going to have to up our pace a little to keep up with them. Not a problem, just a bit of a surprise.
Secondly, they didn't stop when they went around the corner, no stopping to do their hair or anything. That was that theory blown out of the water. They kept going and going.
At one point one of them did turn around and spotted us and I was unsure if my nerve would hold out in case they realised what we were doing. But, they didn't know we don't run this way every day so just carry on, unless they are going home for a while, then we would be rumbled!
Luckily they turned to a road that led back to the school and we followed until the last minute then slowed to a walk as they ran to where they had parked. We arrived just as they were saying their goodbyes and getting into their cars. And yet, they looked exactly the same as when they left.
We carried on our cool down walk and then back to our cars having a bit of a giggle about our secret mission as we walked.
Back in my car a peered into the mirror. I am not a human gazelle!! A red and sweaty face looked back at me. How can anyone run at that pace for 45 minutes and not look like I did? Hats off to the gazelles, they are good, and we still have a long way to go to be anything like them.
What's this, do we think? 
'We were born to do this!'
What a Laugh We Had 😂
How do we get fitter? 
Why do we put ourselves down?
