At age of 39, the sudden realization of imminently approaching next decade hit me hard! You may call that middle life crisis. Instead of buying a fancy sports car or upgrading my husband to a younger and richer version, I decided to take up on running and intended to lose the "baby weight" that I have been carrying around for the last TEN years. More depressingly the baby in question is now a pre-teen.
I started with NHS couch to 5K (C25K) program, teamed up with few mums. Michael Johnson's calming voice provided us the much needed motivation:trying very hard to run, and stopping us from questioning our life choices every minute of it :" Why?!Why?! Why on earth did we do this running program?".
I must also let the reader be fully aware of my athletic ability. As a chubby middle aged mum, the only running I do is to catching up with my child running after the ice cream van.
Anyway, by accident I saw the Ealing Eagles was offering a beginner program, I signed it up and wasn't too hopeful to believe that I could ever run 5 km distance.
And... I was WRONG!
I have learnt so much about running. I still remember vividly, in the first zoom induction session, Wei Hei talked through frame by frame of Mo Farah running, wow! You can't get better than that! (FYI, I did try to "run" like Mo Farah, and tripped myself over). The coaches and volunteers were incredibly caring, kind and inclusive. I have nothing but deep respect and affection to Wei Hei, Rob, Ian, Carie and many others.
I started in January 2022, windy and cold, Wei Hei and Carie would post motivational speeches to get us out of the house. Wei Hei always says "remember your skin is waterproof!".
And my fellow beginners, we bonded and cheered on each other. We were on the same physical and emotional challenging journey together, a real feeling of camaraderie: no one will be left behind and we will finish the run.
After finishing the Beginners’ program, I joined the club and started the Improver 5- 10 K program with Jane and Jack (fabulous duo!). I love how Jane always looks so glamorous and effortless in our training sessions. And Jack is so courteous, a real gent with a tender heart!
As I will unlikely to win any running awards, I must take this opportunity as my Oscar moments, and mention few of my newly found friendships and people who took care of me during the club runs.
Lauren, Wanda, Andy and Phil Cairns: I heart you all ! And thank you for giving me the strength in tough running sessions.
So please come and join us, it is the BEST running club and is fully of lovely genuine people!
In the final plot twist: I have lost ALL of the 'baby weight '!
Pictures were from Bunny Park 10K August 13th 2022, it was 31 degree!
