Events, Women
Build me up, Buttercup
WARNING: at the time of writing, it is the end of February in the North of England. I’m just back from a run in stunning, Spring-like weather, and the roadmap out of our long, winter lockdown lies enticingly ahead. Today’s blog post is brought to you by the chemicals serotonin and dopamine, and by the vitamin D. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Running is what I know and love. All you need are some running shoes and a bit of sports kit to throw on. That’s it. Just one foot in front of the other. You don’t need to go anywhere special to do it, you don’t need to learn how, it can be sociable or solitary, fast or slow, flat or hilly, tarmac or mud. There are no opening hours to constrain you, no monthly fees to pay. This accessibility is just one reason why it is the perfect medium for The Running Charity’s work.
On paper, it is beautiful in its simplicity. In practice…well, we all know that simple does not necessarily mean easy.
It can be hard to break free from the force field of the sofa and get out there. Running is not what everyone knows and loves. Even if you do, how many of us have adorned ourselves in running kit and optimism at the start of the day, only to guiltily remove said kit, entirely fresh, many hours later? And, it’s not every day that runs feel as joyous as mine this morning. No matter who you are, everyone has those days where it just feels hard and it doesn’t look too pretty.
BUT
If you’re in need of some encouragement, here’s why it’s worth sticking at it.
If you can just keep on, keep on, keep on at it, a richness of rewards awaits you on the other side of all of those grim, grumpy slogs. Just keep going, and you too will experience that runners’ high that everyone keeps evangelically banging on about.
Once you’re out the door, you may even get to experience some or all of this, too:
- Achieving things in running that you didn’t think you could. Finding that your newfound bravery and confidence spill over into other areas of life. Discovering what you are capable of, being motivated to push the boundaries and set new challenges.
- Finding out that on the other side of discomfort and doubt there is a calm, quiet confidence. The satisfaction of knowing that you gave it your best, however it turned out.
- Feeling part of a ready-made, supportive community.
- Planning new routes. Exploring new routes by accident as you realise just how terrible your sense of direction is.
- Feeling a pleasing ache in your muscles, the sensation sweetened by achievement. Being so physically dog-tired and mentally clear that you sleep a deep, solid sleep.
- Having the kind of chats that only seem to happen when you are side-by-side and in motion.
- Sharing conversations about life events, both joyous and tragic. Chats that left you short of breath as you discovered it’s pretty much impossible to keep running whilst consumed with fits of laughter.
- Feeling the glow of connection through shared experience, with someone who understands. Talking and been heard, or listening and learning about something you haven’t lived through yourself.
- Every now and then, recalling a trace memory of a conversation from years earlier on the same section of trail as your feet tread now.
- You’ll be able to look back and think about the women you’ve shared runs with in your life. Women who urge each other on even as they compete to get the best out of themselves.
- These women may end up being friends for life, and you’ll wish you could go back and eavesdrop on that very first shy run chat. Or maybe you’ve not seen them in years, but every now and then will wonder how they’re doing and if they’re still out running somewhere.
- Having memories that still make you smile years later.
None of this can be experienced from the sofa.
For all the reasons above, running can be such a powerful catalyst for the young people we meet through TRC. The charity gives us the chance to let them experience it, hopefully along with all the life enhancing, life changing side effects.
Whoever it comes from, support means a lot. But there is something in particular about women that support other women. Women who build each other up, across the whole running community. Women you know in person and women online who you’ve never met, but feel like you know because of this shared love of running.
In the words written by a good friend recently, ‘holding someone up costs nothing’.
The smallest gesture of support could mean someone heading in the direction of their ‘yes’ and away from their ‘no’. And who knows where that yes could lead them?
So, on International Women’s Day, I’m taking the opportunity to say thank you to all those women who have supported me.
Here’s to all the women I’ve shared runs with, and those I haven’t yet.
Here’s to all those gestures of recognition, pride in each other, mutual respect and encouragement.
Here’s to building each other up, in running and in life.
(And don’t say I didn’t warn you).
You can hear more from Liz here:
Instagram @liztrc_leeds
Twitter @LizTRC_Leeds
