“After taking this photo I was asked ‘why I run’. I find that a really hard question to answer and in all honesty it bugged me for a few days now.
I guess running has become a part of me and I don’t really see it as something I do. Originally I started running as a way to get rid of some pent-up energy as a hyperactive teenager. And now it’s become a way for me to reflect.
I often feel like I’m in a different state of mind when I’m running. It’s like therapy or hypnosis or something. It’s like my body is working just enough to distract my mind. It’s actually kind of strange. I feel like running allows me to switch between physical and cognitive awareness.
I realised this when my father passed away last year and I started running more. It allowed me to be in nature and physically observe things around me, whilst periodically dealing with changes in me. I guess in that way I run to process life.
I also recently decided to use my running to make a positive influence in the world, to help children who are living in extreme crises. I once met a World Vision team working in remote Africa and they were doing incredible work for the local community. It got me thinking of how fortunate I have been and I realise that this is not the case for everyone, especially in war-torn countries. So now I’m on a mission – running 2020km in 2020, to raise $2,020 for World Vision. So far I’ve ran 1,364 km and raised $716.”
Hardus de Bruyn @hardstes @trailathlete
(Wellington)
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Portraits of Runners + their stories
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