“Running takes me back to winter 2018. I was hospitalised 6 times with 3 of those including ICU stays. I was a chronic asthmatic; even a flight of stairs would have me doubled over gasping for breath. I met with specialist after specialist who just threw more drugs at me. It got to the stage I was taking 18 puffs of different inhalers daily, just to breathe, and living on back to back Steroids. Not the way to live!
Then I was assigned a new specialist who in a very polite and professional way said I was overweight, unhealthy and horribly unfit, and the drugs would only do so much. Talk about a wake up call!
So I set a goal to run 3km (I still hold on to the fact that was hardest 3kms of my life!) I signed up to the Manawatu Super Sevens and there I meet the amazing Kate. She invited me along to 261Fearless and it was here my fitness goal turned into a passion for all things running. It’s where I first experienced the moral support and damn right awesomeness of the running community. With the help of the 261 ladies I didn’t give up. I ran, I walked, I swear I nearly died more than once, but I got there! 3km! Then I decided well if I can run 3km, surely I can run 10km, and I signed up for my first 10km running event. Spoiler alert – I ran that 10km! Which was a lot further than 3km!
What keeps me running now is still my health, both physically and mentally. Now I only take 1 puff on 1 inhaler daily, I’ve lost nearly 30kg and had zero hospital stays.
Running has been life changing for my asthma and overall health but it is also so much more than that. The self-satisfaction after a win, and the endurance it takes to push through a not so great run, are strengths I take into my everyday life. And the community of runners is like no other. I have made some of the most amazing friendships with amazing people, doing epic stuff. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that?
I also have to add… I will 110% run for a fancy bit of bling.”
Emma @running_maw
(Waiouru)
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Portraits of Runners + their stories
@RunnersNZ
