“Running has always been something I have been around: my dad was a runner; I ran at school (not always out of choice); I ran when I felt I was getting out of shape; and when my first child was born running became my hobby to fit between the time constraints of being a new dad while working full time. So I ran to stay fit enough to keep the dad bod under control; and entries to events was an excuse for a family holiday. This is why I started running but, for me, running has now morphed into something completely different.
In 2018, 36 hours out from the Captain Cooks Landing run (and 8 hours into the family holiday), I ended up in A&E doped up on morphine requiring Gallbladder removal. This not only prevented me from starting the event, it also started a long road to recovery, where my core muscles were ruined, my diet was hit and miss and my energy and mood followed a similar unpredictable pattern. This struggle, along with the lack of physical exercise and general feeling of being useless, led me to a struggle with depression – a struggle, despite my family’s concerns, I didn’t even realise I was having until I was a long way into a very dark place.
From here, with the support of my amazing family and some deep soul searching, getting back into running was an achievable goal. Something I could focus on and see tangible differences on a short-term scale. It also got me back outside, into the hills and socialising. I joined Squadrun and set the aim of Captain Cooks 2019… as a sort of redemption journey.
It wasn’t fast or pretty but I got to that finish line complete with gallstone now in a zip-lock bag marked “DO NOT EAT”. The sun was shining, I caught my breath, removed the stone from the bag and threw it as far as I could into the sea. I even got some poor guy to film it, not letting him know it was an ex-body part I was disposing of.
Running for me is still a hobby and an excuse for a holiday, but now I realise it is also an escape from the everyday stresses of life, a chance to focus on my mental health, to challenge myself, test my limits, and to be a part of the fun running community I have found along the way.”
Stephen @run_fraggle_run
(Wellington)
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Portraits of Runners + their stories
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