‘I RAN BECAUSE I MISSED HUMAN CONTACT’
I’d never run at all before lockdown. I thought it was boring. Instead, I could head to the gym, do a class and achieve far more. Also, being with other people motivates me. I’m a people person – that’s why I work in PR – and feed off human contact.
So when all of that vanished overnight, there was no other choice but to start running. I got myself some new trainers, a good sports bra, a tracker watch, downloaded the Nike run app and created a fun running playlist. This helped me mentally kick-start my new routine. Now I wake up at 5.15am with a coffee then head out for a jog. At first I started small – walking to the local shop then running home – progressing on to my local park in Milton Keynes, where I run circuits around the lake. Now I can run for 30 minutes straight, around three miles.
What I’ve really missed in lockdown is people – not being able to meet my team or clients face to face has been difficult. I thrive off a change of environment and bouncing ideas around. Running has helped me through this. Even though it’s a solitary activity, I’ve loved seeing the same friendly faces each day on my run, whether they’re fellow runners, dog walkers or family friends. It has become such a tonic to see other humans who are not in my house.
I’ve also found an inner peace on my runs, which has helped me have clarity for life and work. Running soothes the mind and helps me solve problems. I can see why people say it is good for your mental health.
My sister has always been a keen runner, doing half-marathons. Well, I’m a convert now. Running has become my unexpected saviour.