“I have no idea really what to say. My running story is not so much about WHY I run, it’s more about WHY I don’t stop.
I can remember as a kid in my primary school days, I was a very skinny kid, old clothes, a big mop of hair, and very average grades. But boy I could run fast! And I really enjoyed it a lot. I knew from them days I would always like to run. Because I could push myself to be good at it… and it was cheap to do.
I joined the local athletes club. I always did well competing in Colgate games and different events in Taranaki. I ran in nearly every running discipline I could enter.
Running around my town most days, and around the farm which we lived on, and soon I was running bigger distances. I’d be thinking to myself while running, I am totally happy right now, even through the sweet and pain of running and pushing myself. This is why I still do it at 42 years old. It just makes me happy. I continued running throughout all my schooling and doing very well. Keeping fit was easy then.
Many years later I walked into The Shoe Clinic New Plymouth and there I met Nick Bull and Erin Vaughan. Straight away and banter started. They invited me to join the New Plymouth joggers and walkers and there I met many different types of runners. I again found myself feeling the enjoyment of running, thanks again to Nick and Erin. They are the friendliest bunch of people around and do everything they can to help me with my running.
I try to get out when I can. I’m still the toughest on myself and try to get the most out of myself because the inner kid inside is saying to move it, hurry up, don’t stop, you enjoy this. But running with the New Plymouth Joggers and Walkers has really made learning about running with a group and it’s something that’s fun.
So why don’t I stop running? It’s simply one of the best things in life; the freedom, the life long friends you make while you are running, memories, challenging yourself, and simply keeping the body motivated and moving!
Right. I’m going for a run.”
Troy @troyfoxrider
(New Plymouth)
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