“I started running in 2014, after I’d had children, to get fit and lose the baby weight. It was so hard at the start. I ran inside on the treadmill for a year before I was brave enough to venture outside. I felt like I didn’t belong. Who was I to call myself a ‘runner’? But then I got outside and I trained for a 5km, a 10km and eventually a half marathon. Through the journey, my body and mind grew in strength.
I have been lucky to be without injury, but became anaemic after completing my first half marathon in October 2017. I took 9 months off after that and learnt a lot about my body and how to fuel myself to be able to continue with my training.
For a person who is introverted, I have found that running is absolutely an individual pursuit, but it provides an opportunity to be part of a community on my own terms. Running has become an outlet, it’s become a way to challenge myself. When I feel strong, I push myself to see what I can achieve. When I feel overwhelmed, I run in the bush and let nature restore my soul. Through it all, my three boys are watching. At the end of the day, it’s all for them. I hope that they grow to believe they can achieve anything they set their mind to and are willing to work hard for.”
Sarah @sarahleebrittain
(Taranaki)
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Portraits of Runners + their stories
@RunnersNZ
