“After seeing my grandad and dad complete the Mountain to Surf marathon as a team, and other half marathons, it always made me want to run one half marathon, to tick it off the list. Then after a few years of saying ‘one day I’ll do that’, it was like I flicked a switch and went for a run. I was finally going to do this.
The more I ran the more I enjoyed it and I guess I was hooked on running. I found a 12wk training plan and after smashing my first half marathon, I wanted more.
I worked out the best way to get a run in was to go first thing in the morning at crazy o’clock, otherwise if I left it till after work I’d find too many excuses not to go. I thought I must be the only crazy person that gets up to run at 5am, but I soon met some other people who quickly accepted me into their run gang, and getting up before the sun seemed so much easier.
The reasons I run now have changed so much. It’s no longer about having to go for a run but that I enjoy it; I enjoy getting out there finding different streets or places I haven’t been. I’ve learned that running is the best way to forget about a busy stressful day at work. It’s a great way to start a day. There’s something about running before the sun comes up that makes it a little more special, maybe cause most people are still sleeping and it’s so peaceful and quiet.
My lifestyle changed a lot. I stopped going out drinking most weekends so I can have an early night and go out on a fun adventure with the gang – whether it’s on the Mt Taranaki tracks, out the back in the middle of nowhere, or just cruising along the road.
Running has truly changed my life. My outlook is so much different now and I enjoy life so much more. I’ve met some amazing people along the way too. The people I run with have become friends and a training run no longer feels like training due to all the fun we have together.
2020 was the year I was going to see what I’m made of and see how far I can push myself. But covid put a hold on things so that goal has rolled over to this year and I’m looking forward to what adventures lie ahead.
I definitely don’t regret going for that one run that changed so much; I just wish I took up running a lot earlier!”
Matty @lane.mathew
(New Plymouth)
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Portraits of Runners + their stories
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