When I run my soul shines through and life is in full HD. For me life slows down and I can breathe; it’s when I feel most alive and free.”
“I started running for the first time in my life about 5 years ago. I was utterly crippled by anxiety and depression and was barely able to leave my home. I started running a 1.5km loop in our local reserve, under the blanket of darkness, because I was embarrassed by my weight and the fact that I could barely “run” for 20 seconds.
Every day I went for a run in that little reserve. Most days I basically just tasted my own lungs and cried. Running is hard on a good day, but with crippling social anxiety and an extra 15kgs, that shit is downright fucking awful. But over time I slowly found myself, my voice, my strong and my sparkle.
Fast forward to today and I have run 4 ultras and even once came 4th in a local 5km race! I am not the fastest or greatest runner out there, but I do love running. I am all shits and giggles, banter and fuckery on single track forest runs, and if I don’t get lost, did I even go for a run?!
Catherine @catherinerunstrails
(Wellington)
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Portraits of Runners + their stories
@RunnersNZ
