Never thought ‘running bling’ would matter to me… but it does!
For over 20 years in competitive sailing, I achieved some great results. This brought a plethora of trophies and medals. Having sailed competitively for all those years, I lost the passion to sail — I finally decided to leave the sport that I had put my heart and soul into; I had had enough. I didn’t enjoy just sailing. I realised that it was the winning that was more important.
I tried some other sports; golf and clay pigeon shooting, amongst others. I didn’t have the same trophy successes, but I become reasonably proficient at them and had a great deal of pleasure participating. But they didn’t quite fulfil what I was looking for.
For as long as I can remember, I have enjoyed photography. I’ve won a couple of competitions for my pieces; mainly landscapes.
In my professional life, I’ve also had successes. A number of awards have come my way. Also, I’ve helped clients rise to win UK business awards for their achievements.
So, all in all, I’m used to receiving recognition for my personal and business efforts.
I didn’t rate medals for just participating. A medal, trophy or award had to have a 1st, 2nd or 3rd, etc, written on it!
As long as I can remember, I’ve been a keen walker. Long distance treks in the Lake District, Scotland, the South West Coast Path. As well as completing treks up the 3 highest peaks in Scotland, Wales and England; on three separate trips between 2017 and2018.
Up until June 2019 I’d never considered running as something I would ever take up — not for me! I didn’t do running!
At the start of January 2019, I survived a Pulmonary Embolism. Whist sitting in my hospital bed having a bit of a pity party, I decided to rebuild my health by walking. I also took the momentous decision to reduce my ample frame. I chose to lose 5 1/2 stone and get healthy. From that day, I changed my diet, I watched the calories… I cut out the excess sweets and pastries.
At the start of March 2019, I began walking in earnest. A little further every time. After a few weeks, I wanted to finish the walks, usually 5k, a little quicker; so I jogged a bit of the way downhill. Each time out, I jogged a little further. This was working well. Losing weight and feeling healthier.
After a few trips out, I was running most of the distance. So, on the 1st of June 2019, I decided to change the activity on my phone app from walk to run. I managed my usual 5k route in 38 minutes.
Since then, I caught the running bug. Over the following months in 2019 I managed to get the time down to 29 minutes. I then took up a challenge to run 5k every day for charity (the December Daily Dash — for Sue Ryder). At the end of this I was clocking 28 minutes.
Being the competitive soul that I am, I started to take things more seriously. I even started to buy better running gear and shoes. I set myself a goal of getting to 26 minutes. Those that run can see where this is heading — yes, PBs just lead to a new target.
On the 29th July 2020, I managed to hit my goal of a sub 25 minutes 5k (24:56). My next target is a 5k in 24:30. I’ve even started to train for a half marathon. I will have run a 21.1k by the end of 2020.
At the start, it was all about health and fitness. I have now reduced my weight by 6 stone (still 9lbs to go till my new target). Now, I have admit that I actually enjoy the running. Well, the moments after I stop puffing like a steam engine, and see that I set a good time!
So what about the running bling? The medals? At the beginnning of January 2020, I received my medal for the 2019 December Daily Dash. I was as pleased as punch!
That medal represented so much more than the running. It was in the memory of a good friend who had passed away in December from cancer — I did the challenge, inspired by her, and for her. She knew I was doing it for her chosen charity, they looked after her in the last stages of her life so well. So the medal means a lot to me.
At the time, I didn’t want any other medals. After all, they are just participation medals; aren’t they?
In March I ran 2 weekends at our local Parkrun (Newbury, Berkshire). It was good to run with others. I also found that the group were very welcoming too — didn’t matter how fast your are. At my level, it was me against myself anyway. Sadly, the Coronavirus put this event on hold.
I had hoped to participate in a 10k run in September 2020, but with the social distancing rules, it too got cancelled. I have to admit that I, probably like all those in the running community, was disappointed.
Since the Park Run shutdown, many virtual challenges sprung up. I had looked at them and decided that they couldnt be worth the effort. What was this ‘virtual’ running event? Seemed a bit daft to me not running with others. Just to get a bit of shiny tin on a colourful ribbon.
I just kept up with my usual 5k route in my home area.
In May and June, I was looking at the virtual challenges again — what would it mean if I participated in a virtual challenge. Would it be worth it?
Having watched the images on social media of happy people posting their run times and smiling faces, from their virtual challenges, I thought I might as well give it a go.
Having changed my view ‘virtually’, I signed up with a virtual group (Run Challenges) to run 50 Miles (80k) over the month of July. How hard could it be? Well, it was harder for me than I expected. Still, I managed it.
And now comes the real reason for this piece… When I’d completed the distance and sent my proof of activity to the organisers, I found myself keenly awaiting the medal. I wanted to be wearing it! just like all the others were.
I’ve found out that, for me, it represents my life change. An acknowledgement of all the effort I’ve put in, the pleasure I get from completing each run.
I now realise that the medal isn’t for me to show off to others (although that’s nice too), it’s for me to get a tangible recognition of what I’ve done. It’s my pat on the back for achieving the goal.
The medals I’ve got for running mean a huge amount to me. They have also motivated me to increase my challenge on myself.
So, medals do matter, when you’re doing it for the right reason. Invest in your self-worth and confidence — sign up to one of the challenges (lots on Facebook & Instagram) — get your medal showing that you have achieved something worth celebrating.
In September 2020, I will be running 75 Miles (121km). Wish me luck.
