In November 2018 I embarked on a journey to improve my fitness. Between November 2018 and May 2019, I lost an amazing 28lb (12 kg). Full details on how I lost weight is a whole other blog post coming soon, but part of the process involved running. During this period, I was regularly running between 3 and 6km each week.
I had created a new habit for myself that benefited not only my physical health but also my mental health. Running helped clear my mind, reduced my day-to-day stress levels, and it gave me more energy and enthusiasm for the day ahead. I also found it really empowering and motivating.
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Previously, I never imagined I’d be able to run any distance at all let alone 5km (a small achievement for some but a mighty one for me). I would find myself halfway through my run thinking:
“I’m doing it, I’m running, I’m a runner. If I can do this, what else might I be able to do if I just believe in myself!”
Hit A Hurdle
Unfortunately, in Sept, my dental health took a turn. I started to suffer toothache and was told I needed a root canal treatment. Anyone who runs will understand that pounding the pavements with any pain (but especially tooth pain) is a complete non-starter.
My root canal treatment went on for weeks, 8 of them, and then during the final treatment, there were further complications, the pain was back again. I was out-of-action of another 4 weeks. My trusty Garmin, usually so full of motivation, had given up on me. After going through a phase or showing my status as ‘Detraining’, it finally went to the dreaded ‘No Status’. I needed to get back to running, maintaining my weight-loss and fitness depended on it.
Get Back Up Again
One of the hardest parts of running, for me, is finding the motivation when I haven’t run recently. When I’m running regularly my body prompts me to go for a run, it craves it, it gets restless when I skip a run. But when I haven’t been for a while my body gets lazy and doesn’t want to go, I seriously lack motivation.
Yesterday, after telling my family that no matter what, I had to go for a run this weekend and I wasn’t allowed to make any excuses, I WENT FOR A RUN (mostly because they made me.)
My first run since September! It wasn’t a marathon, it wasn’t 5km, it wasn’t even 3km, but I got off my ass and I went outside in the fresh, cold December air, even the rain didn’t bother me once I was moving. Now I’m back on the waggon, I’ve just got to stay there, but I’m feeling more motivated already!
Evidence
Because every runner knows: If it’s not on Strava, it didn’t happen!
Follow my running journey on Strava or my personal Instagram account
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