“I started running as a teenager some 15 years ago, mostly because I started playing football (soccerish one) and just couldn’t keep up with others. It wasn’t much, just up to 4km now and then, but surely enough to get that stamina up.
A few years after that I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, where any activity helps control the blood sugar, so running got a bit of a healthcare dimension.
But most important for me, running has to be fun.
I’ve never ran more than 14,5km, never was competitive enough to push harder, faster, longer. It kind of takes the fun out of it. I always compared only with myself. Getting better pace time to time, and seeing those kms adding up in Komoot feels nice.
I loved running the same 8.5km track during the year in scorching 35C or freezing -12C, seeing the changes happening around. I love the motion, and the change it brings. It really is life in a small scale, just passing through.
I loved the atmosphere of running events. All the people, all the different motivations just panting together for an hour.
I love simple things. And running is simple.”
Marián Vrana
(Te Anau)
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Portraits of Runners + their stories
@runnersnz
