“I never thought I’d be a runner again, after years of inactivity and focusing on the kids, I didn’t do anything that was just for me. I used to do really well in my school days in cross country running and often competed in the Taranaki finals. Dad always encouraged us to get out for a run across our farm during cross country seasons, so I think I had a natural ability, but I never kept it up and in my teens I got busy with friends, parties and then working and starting a family meant I didn’t make time for fitness.
My adult running journey really started about 9 years ago when I was a stressed out, unfit, lonely mum of three young kids and struggling with feelings of depression. I desperately needed to do something that was just for me, ‘some me time’.
I started walking one day, but found it slow and boring and it took too long to get back to the kids, so I just started to run/walk around my neighbourhood. It was hard, everything hurt and I couldn’t even run to the end of my street without being red faced with lungs burning. But I kept at it and after about 4 months I eventually ran a 5km local fun run with my sister.
I was then inspired by a friend who ran the local Mountain to Surf Half Marathon and I told myself I would be at the start line the next year… but I didn’t just want to finish it, I wanted to do it in under 2hrs! And I did. I felt extremely proud of myself, like I could do anything I set my mind to, so I committed to doing the full the following year. I didn’t know any other runners at the time, so I trained on my own for months and months. And I did it! In the most horrible weather too!
I never really stopped after that. I went on to do many half and full marathons including a PB of 3hr 38 mins. I had found my ‘thing’, my hobby, something I was good at… but I didn’t want to stop there. I wanted to see how far I could run; how far my body could go. So after reading Lisa Tamati’s books and meeting her at a running retreat, I was inspired to run ultras.
I knew I would have to up my game and not just run on the roads if I wanted to run an Ultra, so I joined the local Taranaki Trail Runners. It took a long time to build up the courage to join these experienced fit runners on a trail run, but I’m so glad I was able to meet these amazing supportive like minded runners that I could learn from and train with. So I’d found a new passion for trail running and in 2018 I ran my first Ultra at Tarawera and then completed the 74 km in Taupō the year after. Running and finishing these events with my closest friends is an experience and feeling I’ll never forget.
Then recently I became a part of the Frontrunner walking/running group. For 6 months I wasn’t able to run, due to being unwell and in immense pain, so I started walking. This was my saving grace – to be a part of something again and then being able to slowly get back to running once more.
Running has given me so much – fitness and strength, and mentally it’s helped me through some dark times. With running I found not just ‘me time’… I found Me!
I have a goal to do 100km, so I’m working my way back to be able to do that next year I hope, but till then I’m happy to be back out there doing what I love on the road and trails in my happy place with my friends. The community of runners in Taranaki who support and encourage one another here is awesome.My motivation for running has changed over the years. I don’t just run for me anymore, I run for others too. I get huge rewards not just in achieving my own goals, but in helping others to achieve theirs. I’ve been lucky enough to support a few people to first marathons and ultra marathons, and just this weekend I ran with my 13 year old nephew for his first half marathon. I couldn’t be a more proud Aunty!”
Natasha @nat_run_mum_
(Taranaki)
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Portraits of Runners + their stories
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