“A very wise person once told me to ‘find your joy’. I’m privileged that for me it’s running.
Running along a ridge watching the sunrise above Wellington or being on the trails in the middle of the night to get to the top of a mountain to watch the Milky Way at the zenith with coffee and a group of girlfriends, these are moments of joy I’ll cherish forever.
I dipped my toe into running about three and a half years ago. I’d started to lead an unhealthy lifestyle, drinking too much (and a few other vices etc etc) and wanted to get a bit fitter and lose some baby weight (actually school age weight by then). A few friends were doing the couch to 5km programme and I thought I can do that! However my phone was so rubbish I couldn’t get the app so instead I just walked a lamppost, ran a lamppost until I was running more and walking less. I was so proud the first time I ran around the block without stopping!
About 6 months later my friend and running inspiration Sharisse Eberlein took me into the Tararua’s for my first ever trail run. We did the Hooper loop and she had to coax me up River Ridge with lollies and cheese sandwiches, but I couldn’t get the smile of my mug, I was hooked.
What took me by surprise was not just the physical benefits of running but the holistic and mental wellbeing it brings and the friendship, support and camaraderie that comes with running. I’ve met people who I otherwise wouldn’t have met who are now lifelong friends; friends that would literally give you the thermal off their backs.
Running makes me a nicer person and I think if I didn’t run I’d probably have an addiction to something illicit by now. I don’t mean that flippantly, I’m a chef and somedays work from dawn until 2am the next day…. Running gives me my escape. When I go into the bush it’s like it’s my church, my time to defrag and rebalance, and when you’re accompanied by a cheeky tomtit along the way – it’s even better!
I’m still surprised to be labelled as ‘a runner’. I always loathed running. It was something to be endured at school. I’m not great at the actual physical biomechanics, my gait and posture are undoubtedly wrong. However when you lace up those shoes and run out the door, no matter your ability or your weaknesses, you are a runner and you will also be someone else’s inspiration. So be proud, work towards your goals, and enjoy the journey and the scenery along the way.”
Marise @marise_rozing
(Wairarapa)
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Portraits of Runners + their stories
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