I used to assume that independence was a trait you were born with – something you either had or didn’t have. And I was not someone who felt independent – anxiety meant that I rarely did anything on my own and never felt fully free as a result.

It’s so important that women feel that they are in control of their own lives, but all too common that we don’t. Women carry heavy and varied loads and are the primary caregivers in most societies. Because of this, it’s so vital that we have time to ourselves.

My version of this came through running. Mental health issues meant I was increasingly reluctant to go out, feeling unsafe when I ventured out. When I began to run, I had to stay close to home so I huffed and puffed up and down a short alley near my house. Once I felt ready, I was able to run a bit further and head down some busier roads. Within 3 months I was running down main thoroughfares without a second thought. It felt like flying to me.

Running was something I did just for myself, and something I stuck at, even when it was hard. That built up my confidence and I found I started to savour that time alone when I’d pound the streets and be in total control of where I went.

I’ve been running for five years now, and I head out almost every day. I jog in unfamiliar cities and down local streets. It has given me the strength to take control of my life in a myriad of ways that I had never previously imagined I could. And it sometimes seems absurd to me that something as simple as running could make such an extraordinary impact on my life, but you only have to look at the work of The Running Charity to see that I’m far from alone. Happy International Women’s day. And here’s to independence, however we find it.

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