Finishing with a Smile and then Starting All Over Again!

At the start of 2019, I set myself the challenge of publishing a blog post every week during the year - 52 weeks, 52 posts.

My motivation was to get back to something I loved doing, something I'd missed, something I'd started several years ago but then lost my way. I thought I'd run out of things to write about.

On Sunday, I achieved my goal. I wrote about eating profiteroles for breakfast. It wasn't always easy. Some posts were longer than others. Some were only written right at the last moment.

I did it! I crossed the finish line with a smile on my face (mainly thanks to those profiteroles).

But what did I learn? About myself, about running and about life in general?

1. Inspiration can come from anyone and anything... it can be easy to think that you need something 'big' to get you started. At the start of 2019, I certainly had lots of inspiration to run and blog as I completed an ultramarathon along the River Thames. I've also been inspired and encouraged by the running exploits of club mates or the people I meet through running. But sometimes, little things can make a difference too; it can be as simple as a forgotten scarf,  a chatty run with a friend, an encouraging comment from a stranger, a poster on a café wall or the lyrics of a song. The trick has just beem to keep my eyes open and take action when inspiration struck.

2. If you want to improve, you need to put in the effort... it sounds obvious, but we all sometimes expect magic to happen. It takes effort in training if you want to run faster. You need to step out of your comfort zone and take a few chances. You need to be brave and face your fears. You need to change your habits. For the last few months, I've made a conscious effort to bring speed work back into my training. I've run laps of the lake in Hanley Park. I've run up and down one little stretch of canal. I've pushed myself and I've seen results. By the end of the year, I'd run my fastest parkrun at Hanley since 2014 (and my fastest by age grade ever at Western Springs in New Zealand).

3. Celebrate your achievements (big or small)... crumpets, lemon bakewells and pizza were part of my celebrations after completing a big week of training in April. At the end of June, I celebrated getting half way through my blogging challenge with a lovely glass of wine. In July, I ran my 250th parkrun. It took me nearly 8 years of parkrunning to achieve it. I've run at events in the UK, Ireland, Germany, France, Australia and New Zealand. I had a great day with lots of different parkrun friends to mark the occasion. In November, we celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary with a tickets to a special performance of Les Miserables and a trip to New Zealand.

4. There will be days when you just don't want to or you can't... sometimes work gets in the way, sometimes it's the weather, sometimes things don't get to plan or you just feel tired and need and rest. It's ok. Not every run needs to be perfect. There will be days when you need to accept things 'just because'. Don't despair. Take a moment. Have a rest. Have coffee with a friend. Go for a walk. Volunteer. Play crazy golf. Watch the sunrise. See point 1 above - inspiration will come from somewhere. It always does.

5. Keep challenging yourself... I started 2019 with the challenge to blog every week. Throughout the year I've set myself lots of little challenges too, such as finding the 'wow' factor in every run or just running a race.. In August, I gave up eating sweets. In September, I was challenged to eat a different kind of fruit every day for the whole month. I ate familiar favourites and tried a few new and slightly unusual alternatives too. I was really proud of myself for completing the challenge - I think we celebrated with a fruit salad. The challenge has switched to vegetables for January 2020 - we are starting with broccoli. 

That's some helpful lessons for me for 2020 right there, especially as my big running challenge for the next few months is already set... I'll be racing to Bamburgh Castle in June. There will be tough moments but I'll keep putting in the effort, taking inspiration from wherever I can but especially from my running buddies. I'm hopeful we will have something big to celebrate in June but will celebrate all the little achievements on the way too.

But there was something more though; I didn't just want to run and write for myself. I also wanted what I was writing to be read by friends and family and inspire them to take on new challenges too.

I think I've succeeded - thanks to everyone who has taken the time to read, comment and send me messages of support and kind words. It makes a real difference and spurs me on to run and blog some more in 2020.

Hope you'll join me for the adventure.

I've already started... and I've got two feet in the air!

Photo Credit - Mick Hall