I started running back at university, when I realised that the drinking and junk food I had been consuming had gotten the better of me. I decided it was time to start exercising and making healthier choices for both my body and mind. The motivation to run started with me and my two friends who also had a similar idea. We made a group called ‘The Running Squad’, which 11 years later remains our WhatsApp name.

Back then, I did enjoy running, but I hadn’t quite mastered it and struggled running for just a couple of minutes. I had the wrong trainers and probably didn’t even own a proper sports kit! So, as you can imagine, I wasn’t very set up for it at all. However, this didn’t stop us going out each week to run around the park in Southampton to get our legs into gear and hearts pumping. From this, we enrolled my other friend – who since then has gone on to run an amazing 11 half marathons, 1 full marathon and has raised over £3,000 for Cancer Research. Running with my friends has always been my favourite time to run, as it is a great way to motivate each other and have a good catch up at the same time.

After University I found myself back at home, unemployed. This was a hard time for me, as I really struggled to find a graduate scheme or even a part-time job to help me get by. However, the one thing that kept my mood lifted and feeling motivated was my running. Whether it was in the freezing cold, running in the snow or the most miserable day, chucking it down in rain, nothing stopped me running to keep me feeling more positive.

Since then, I have always found ways to keep it up. Yes - I have had some breaks in between, but it has always been there for me like an old friend. During the pandemic, it got me out of the house offering me peace of mind and a chance to enjoy the outdoors. Once the pandemic had eased, I worked it back into my schedule by running home from work in Highbury and Islington to Finsbury Park instead of getting the tube with a stuffy commute.

In recent years, I have started challenging myself more to see how I can push myself. At the start of 2024, I made a list of things I wanted to achieve. One of these things was to run more than 10km. I had run 10km back in 2022 to raise money for Cancer Research, so I was now looking for a new challenge. I have always shied away from half marathons because I was always scared that I wasn’t good enough. But when I saw my hometown had the Birmingham Half coming up, I thought “Stuff it!”, closed my eyes and hit the register button. Once this was done, I was all in. I decided that I would raise money for a charity close to my heart called ‘Myeloma UK’ in aid of my dad and to support the charity, so they can keep researching and help others. I contacted my best friend (the marathon queen) and asked her for her help with a running plan. She put together an achievable plan for me to get up to 21km in 3 months. The plan was fantastic and it got me fully prepared for race day. Though there were tough days, where the last thing I wanted to do was get up at 5:30am on a Monday morning and run 15km, the thought of how good it would make me feel kept me going. The day of the race was amazing, with crowds of people supporting a variety of runners, running for charities close to their heart. The community spirit was thriving across Birmingham, with people cheering you on and offering you their full support.

Since the half marathon, I found myself looking for another challenge. I was browsing some upcoming local runs and challenges, which pulled my attention to an event called ‘The AJ bell solo run’. This challenge was to achieve 12 runs in the month of July, which I felt would be a great achievement. It was something different because it makes you accountable for doing the runs throughout the month that isn’t as pressured as a race. It was challenging but an enjoyable experience, which has led to some lovely encounters with different people (and dogs) on the way. It made me look for ways of how I could incorporate my running into everyday life, from ‘running errands’, to exploring different locations. I house sited for my sister in West London and ran around her local lakes, found a Park Run in Northolt which I brought my friend to, ran through Regents Park with some work friends and found a local running club near work which was great fun!

So, whether you are new to running, a professional, or thinking about getting started, I say go for it! It is great for your mental health, does amazing things to your body and heart, and is something for you to push yourself in and feel accomplished.

Looking to get started? Take a look at some of these free running organisations and challenges to help get you started:

Parkrun
Couch to 5km

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