“I am a late starter. When I was younger I didn’t want to run, I was slow and hated being last!!
Then three years ago I was sitting on my couch, and when I tried to get up and walk, I hardly could! I was on the verge of ringing my mum and asking to go wheelchair shopping. Then something came to my mind – I have always said I can do anything and the doctors had told my mum that there was a chance I would never walk when I was a child. My parents wouldn’t accept that and they worked extremely hard to make sure I could. So why was I now giving up??
Instead I got my fitness levels up. My confidence started to grow and then I decided I needed a goal; one that would be long term, one that would be something I could show to others that no matter what, I could do anything and that you should never give up.
I chose a half marathon!!
I found a trainer who started to train with me every week, I joined a running club and started doing parkrun each week. I have since run that half marathon. It took me 4 hours and I was so proud of myself. Now I just maintain my running by doing run club and parkrun. The half marathon took a toll on my body, and considering my body’s anatomy, I am not surprised. So I am just running easy for a while until I can gain more confidence in myself and give my body time to rest and heal.”
Erica @ericaperry123
(Taranaki)
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Portraits of Runners + their stories
@RunnersNZ
