“My first memory of running was at Intermediate. My classmates thought I was having a heart attack and asthma attack all at once. I laid off the running for the next 15yrs thinking that was enough time to catch my breath. Then in my late teens I developed a fondness for pushing tin and not getting my heart rate up. The net effect was gaining a good grunt and a dodgy shoulder.
I can’t swim and don’t have the grace to be a dancer, so I’d enter the odd 10 and 21km pavement dash with some work mates. I’d trash myself around the course and spend the next day or so on the couch in the recovery position. This sporadic pattern of running has changed over the past 4yrs, after our movement business Life In Motion created a Run Club. My wife has a huge passion for running and is the Run Club Coach. She’s helped me achieve some awesome running goals and always keeps me motivated to get out and run.
Now instead of a random once a year run I meet up with our Run Club crew (almost) every Sunday and run around the Welly trails. Sometimes I even pop out for an extra run or two during the week, which is sort of like proper run training right?!
If I’m being honest (since we’re friends now), running is not my preferred mode of getting around. But I do love that running has opened up the world of events to me, allowing me to hang out in different parts of NZ seeing some absolutely magical parts of this country. The other thing is I’ve met so many other runners. Runners who get excited about running – kangaroo types who just bounce along effortlessly, and battlers who are unstoppable with their fierce determination. They all motivate me to move. And it’s inspiring watching everyone (including me) grow in ability and confidence.
Speed is not my thing. I’m at the back of our group runs making sure the crew are all going in the right direction (or in the wrong direction but with a buddy). It’s my happy place with good chats and snacks. While I still randomly enter events, it’s now done with a little more excitement and focus on the post jog buffet. My next event is the TUM50 and there is a little bit of a spark when the Run Club chat turns towards the Taupo Ultra.”
Jas @hungry_jas
(Wellington)
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