Running for life

Growing Up I was never really sporty and if I was really honest with my self I would say I was overweight. Not obese but enough that other kids noticed and that is never fun.

” I was overweight because my parents fed me too much and I didn’t exercise enough. “

I was overweight because my parents fed me too much and I didn’t exercise enough. I was lucky growing up because we grow our own vegetables and we had our freezer full of our own animals so we had good healthy food and it was delicious so I got fat. later on, into my teens, I realised I needed to do something so I lost a bit of weight and I felt good about myself.

When I was about 18 I joined up for my first run it was a 5km and I absolutely loved it. it was the start of my running career and I haven’t stopped since.

“I was running better and I was enjoying it more because of the training I was putting in. “

I have been doing one or two events a year usually a 10km since then, so although I enjoyed it I never really invested a lot of time into it. then in 2017, I decided to up my game and I started running more consistently. I ran a couple of events in 2017 mainly 10 km but I was running better and I was enjoying it more because of the training I was putting in.

Then in 2018, I fell off my Motorbike and broke a few bones so I didn’t do as much running as I would have liked but still got in Turf Warrior in Galway which is an obstacle race. I got in a 5km, 10km and I was meant to do the Clonakilty half marathon but my Mam got sick and I couldn’t go down so I did it on a treadmill instead(Not the same I know).

I had a good year of running and I enjoyed every second of it especially the hard times. I think it was during this year that I realised how much I need Running. I can easily wander and get distracted in life and I constantly need a compass pointing me in a direction and running gives me that. Even when life is not going to plan and things are falling apart I still have running to remind me to stick to the plan and keep working hard and move forward.

“there is no lying in running”

I love the challenge running brings to my life and the simplicity of it. there is no lying in running you can either run the distance or you cant.

I need challenges in my life especially physical ones. I find that if I slip into a routine where I don’t challenge myself physically I get into a rut and life becomes monotonous and boring and I get to a place where I don’t want to be. you learn the most from yourself when you’re challenging yourself. This is where true learning and development comes from. learning doesn’t come from just plodding along in life, you have to get up and rise to the challenge, not just in running but in work and relationships too.

Some of the best memories I have are of the times I had the hardest challenges.

” Get out and use your meat machine, if you invest in it now it will pay dividends later “

The name of this post is running for life and by that I mean, running gives me life. The energy I use when I’m training is given back to me in my self-esteem, dignity, self-worth and my overall energy levels. I cannot stress this enough, get out and use your meat machine, if you invest in it now it will pay dividends later on in life when you will be healthier and happier and probably richer because of potential future medical bills. if you hadn’t of looked after it.

I hope you enjoyed this post. the subject means a lot to me.

Shane