“Why did I start running? That’s a great question. Like many I did so for my health, both physical and mental, as for years I’d been suffering from severe depression and my weight ballooned out to nearly 100kg.
January 2nd 2018, I got a new pair of $69 shoes for my birthday. 500 metres was about as much as I could run to begin with and I did not like it one little bit. In fact, I can tell you right now, I hated running! Somehow, despite that, I set myself a goal to run my first half marathon in April of that year – not only finding a running plan online, but even sticking to it.
Setting this goal really helped to keep me focussed and forced me to get out and run, even when I didn’t feel like it. Slowly I came to realise that this running wasn’t just good for me physically, it was helping me mentally as well. Best of all I was actually kinda, just maybe, starting to enjoy it.
A massive part of what kept me going were the people. From my best mate from school who inspired and encouraged me to go running with him (thanks Jason), to the folks I’ve met through our local parkrun and various events organised by the local Manawatu Striders club, to the many many people I’ve followed/stalked on social media – people I’ve subsequently friended and bonded with. And finally my family, whose support and patience has been invaluable.
There are far too many people to name, but they all inspire me and help push me to become better, and I have them to thank.
My passion for running definitely lies on the trails. No noise, no crowds, no big city things – just time experiencing nature, either lost in my own thoughts or with other like minded individuals, getting muddy, wet, sunburnt and scratched by gorse… and still loving it. The camaraderie of the trail running community really appealed to me as well and I feel like I have found my vibe!
In short, running has allowed me to stay healthy and happy – both physically and mentally, it’s allowed me to set and achieve goals I would never have thought possible and finally, to dare to dream of bigger challenges in the future.”
Lewis @fatdads_brews_and_trailshoes
(Palmerston North)
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Portraits of Runners + their stories
@RunnersNZ
