It’s less than 24 hours until Valentine’s Day, but this post isn’t about my wife. Although she is great. It’s about the very real love I have for running again, and it’s all because I gave myself something that I couldn’t get out of.
A couple of years ago, I was in a bad way. Despite loving running my whole life, health issues caused me to just about give up on it. First came an injury that got me into cycling, and then the really big hitter after my COVID-19 booster shot. Since early 2022 I’ve been unable to run without it causing more issues with my health.
I got this stupid idea to enter London, like I have done every year, and was secretly happy when the decline email came. A few weeks later I had a call from Epilepsy Society offering me a place, and I couldn’t say now—and that has been my saviour. I’ve always been a grab the bull by the horns person, and if you get some sponsorships for it before you’ve had time to think, it means you can’t back out.
So I had to get running. There was no choice but to run through the breathing issues and needing an inhaler. It started out crap, but slowly I began to feel myself again. I’ve fallen back into love with running again, and all because of charity work. It gave me a reason not to give up, to force myself to get better, and although I’m still not 100% I feel the best version I have been for years.
The calmness that running brings helps me in so many areas of my life, and I can’t believe I went without it for so long.
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