“I would describe myself as an active person and little explorer since a young age. Being a representative sprinter and netball player during primary and secondary schools gave me a joy in life. Then I lost it temporarily while focusing on my medical degree and subsequently busy with full time work as a healthcare professional.
In 2018/2019, I decided to take time off from work and travelling. Having more control on my life and working schedule, I started joining parkrun and local fun runs in Wellington and Palmerston North. Easy enough, I found my passion in running that I had lost for past 10 years. I enjoy challenging myself, from 5km parkrun to 10km fun run events.
When I decided to move to Hamilton to resume my professional work again, I was looking for a running club that could help me out for social running. I found out about Hamilton Roadrunners when I visited Hamilton Lake parkrun and quickly enough was convinced to join the club. But soon after that, Covid pandemic hit the world and we can only meet up for unofficial parkrun, with almost all the running events cancelled in 2020-2022.
I enjoyed hiking as well and with the encouragement from the club members, I got the taste of trail running and now I am addicted to it – having a few 50km ultras under my belt, I am preparing for my next challenge – the Tarawera 102km this coming February 2024.
I do not run to empty my head or just to feel happy. But I frequently feel good after most of my runs. Sometimes I do not feel too good after running – either physically, mentally, or both and that is fine too. Running gives me a time to reflect on myself, relationships with people around me, work related issues, and I try to process them – not necessarily being able to find the solution but ‘filing’ them in separate boxes in my mind. This coping strategy helps with my well being in a fast-paced life and high stress job.
I keep challenging myself to push my distances out, as I feel that a longer run especially on the trail gives me an insight that in life, as long as we are moving forward one step at a time, either ups or downs, fast or slow – we will reach our destination or goals, just at different timelines. Everyone has their own stories, journeys and hardships. Getting to know other runners via clubs and groups, race or events, or social media provides me with a sense of whanaungatanga – human connection. This certainly adds an extra flavour to my running happiness.”
Zilah @drz_lah
(Hamilton)
Photo taken at Tekapo
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