One of the most constant factors of my running ‘career’ so far is that – bar my mid-week run with the WR girls – I tend to run alone. Be it a gentle 5K in the morning to wake myself up before work, or my long 18 milers when I was training for both marathons, I’ve always found I’m happy lost in my own thoughts when I hit the outside world in my trainers.
But here’s the thing – since joining the
Women’s Running team a year ago, loads of our wonderful readers have extolled the virtues of running with friends and running groups, and meeting new people at weekly parkruns. In fact, people raved about running in the company of others so much that I started to realise there was probably something in it.
Group therapy
It just so happened that, around the time of this running revelation, I moved house and suddenly lived a lot closer to one of my good friends, amazing equestrian and pet portrait artist Kathryn (she really is super-talented – check out her website at
www.kathryn-nichols.co.uk). And Kathryn has recently taken up running. Always up for a good natter, I decided that, if ever there was a time to ditch my solo running habit, it was now. And if I was going to take the plunge, what better way to do it than to start going to our local
parkrun together?
Let them eat cake
(oh, and run!)
I can honestly say that parkrun has refreshed my running! Turning up to our local park a few weeks ago, along with more than 200 other people (including enthusiastic families and children, along with some cute canine companions!), the atmosphere was relaxed, friendly and inclusive. And running as part of a big group while chatting away animatedly with one of my best friends was the perfect way to start the weekend. I’d always been worried that, as a somewhat ‘slow but steady’ runner, I’d come last if ever I was to venture out with company, but the mix of runners (and walkers) was diverse – not just speedy guys in tights! – and if anything, running with Kathryn (who is naturally a bit quicker than I am) made me up my game. We’ve now been twice and have agreed that parkrun is set to become part of our weekly schedule. What with a scenic 5K, good company and cake at the finish (what better incentive to speed your way around the course?!), it may even become the highlight of my running week!
