The Bigger Picture

My biggest achievement this week? A 25-minute run. It doesn't sound like much, but it was a massive deal for me. The last time I went for a run was so long ago, I don't remember it. It was well over six months ago.

Last weekend, I told myself I would go for a run on Tuesday. Tuesday came, and I laid my running gear out on the bed. I put my trainers in the hall. I procrastinated. A lot. Every time I walked through the house, the trainers stared me out. I moved them into the porch. When I left to go to the supermarket, I tripped over them. I threw them back into the hall.

All day long, I came up with reasons not to run. I had too much work to do, it was too cold, I couldn't find my iPod...I started thinking about why I had decided to go for a run in the first place, how I would feel if I didn't go, and why I was making such a big deal of the whole thing. I think only a therapist could give me all the answers. But what I did work out was that running makes me feel better, I would feel guilty, miserable and generally rubbish if I didn't go, and I was making such a big deal of it just because that's what I do. I knew I had to leave to pick the kids up from my mum at 7. At 6.30, I was still sitting on the sofa, a closed door between myself and the trainers. I had too much to do, I told myself. I'd definitely go running tomorrow night. I started sorting through the mountain of laundry on the spare room bed. I don't know what got into me. One minute I was pairing up socks, the next I was in my running gear and grabbing my trainers.

At 6.39 I ran out of the house, and just kept running.

I'm amazed I managed to run for 25 minutes. It felt great. I have no idea why I didn't do something I love (something that's free, and good for me) for so long. Running feels natural to me, and it's great for my mental health. No more excuses.