“I run because it gets me out of the door and seeing the wonderful country we live in. It’s very easy to get trapped in everyday routines and busy work. Getting out for a run gets me time to myself and time to think of things from a bigger picture, sometimes the big obstacles in my life suddenly seem much smaller and manageable.
I first started running as a student to try and get fit. Unfortunately a slog around the block with no plan or aim wasn’t for me and I was put off for a long time – it wasn’t until a friend invited me to come to a trail race that I realised that running could be fun! I learnt how to train for something and suddenly a whole world opened up of things to do, places to go and people to run with.
Most of my runs are planned around being able to bring my dogs with me. One is a retired 3-legged heading dog and the other is a whippet cross so we need to find somewhere they can let off steam too. I have noticed that Jet my heading dog is starting to show her age a bit, she tries hard to keep up with Baxter but can’t quite do it. On a recent run she completely forgot our objective and sat down in the way on the path, I think she was considering her life plans. No matter how much I encouraged her to carry on she just looked at me blankly. Luckily Baxter raced back and reminded her what she was doing and they both raced off together.
I think it is important to remember we can only do our best and we should stop and smell the roses on the way. Just maybe stop out of the way of the traffic first…”
Katie @k.durkmead
(Hawkes Bay)
–
Portraits of runners + their stories
@RunnersNZ
