“I’m not actually sure why I started running. As a kid, I had health issues which prevented me from being overly active but after a life giving operation at the age of 14 my perspective on the world changed. I probably always liked a challenge but now I sought them out. Mostly it was through learning new things and seeing what I was capable of.
I had a friend at work Sarah who I started tramping with in my 30s and I fell in love with being out in nature. That same friend compelled me to then do the 5k Corporate Challenge. I had never really run in my life, so it was most likely at that point that it all started and I did a bit of training for that. I really struggled as I felt my body was not made for running, but I enjoyed the movement and going out in the morning when it was still quiet around the park so I persevered. It did get better and I did a few 10k events to keep the momentum going. I then decided to challenge myself even further and did my first (and so far only) half marathon. That was certainly an experience and I learnt a lot about myself in completing it, particularly my tenacity to keep going even when the going gets tough.
After that though I kind of had a break from running as things in my life changed. I still sought adventure and every holiday over the Christmas period for the last 7 years, I have done a Great Walk solo. I am pleased to say I have just completed all the South Island Great Walks having just come off the Milford Track!
It wasn’t until my friend Maria who was helping out with Hagley parkrun decided to become a run director a couple of years ago and I said I would come along to support her first time as an RD. Sure enough she was amazing and I ran again for the first time in a long time. I have now done over 50 parkruns and will probably keep at it as Maria is a great motivator. She managed to get me to do a 10k run last year which I didn’t think I had in me, but managed to survive.
I think I keep running because I like moving in different ways and appreciating all that my body does for me. I am currently learning tap dancing. I am a swing dancer and a Scottish country dancer, having done both these things for many years. I started yoga while at Uni and continue to practice and being able to focus on my breath while running has really helped me get through the tougher experiences.
On my 39th birthday, I decided I would do 40 new things before I turned 40. Completing 25 parkruns was one (which I achieved on my 40th birthday!) and for the month of June I did a challenge within a challenge and did Sweat with Pride which involved doing at least 21 minutes of exercise every day. But of course I had to do it a bit differently and made it a different form of movement every day which included roller skating, aqua aerobics, pole dancing, martial arts, trampolining, and juggling, to name but a few (and I did have one rest day!).
As you can see I do like a challenge, so even though I am just getting back into running and have said I would never do a marathon… watch this space! Next up though is the Whanganui River Journey!”
Carla @psychokiwi82
(Christchurch)
Photo taken in Fiordland
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