Guest Post: Running ...by Pat Walsh

 ** Running **

The question pounds my head

"What's a lifetime of achievement?"

Is it for sport, for health or for life.

We all have our own love / hate relationship with running and it means something different to each one of us.

Some runners do 70+ miles a week and training 6 days, to the casual twice a week few miles handy jog.

So the sporty person hits the road as often as they can. They live, breathe running and pb’s, times, finishing positions are important. I applaud them but it cannot last forever.

The healthy runner is one who maybe finds the pants a bit tight or got a lecture from the doctor. They are out there to run but they know their health is dependent on staying active and sorting out some situation. Will they stay with it?

No matter who you are in that, and most are somewhere in-between, then the actual secret is fitting it to your life.

The life runner builds running into their weekly routine.

Find what suits you and stick to it. Find what you can cope with and how many times you get to train.

It isn’t last week, this week or next week that is crucial, it is building running into your lifestyle as a permanent component.

The long-term health and mental benefits of good relationship with running are priceless.

It will be done and enjoyed. Plans may have to be altered to accommodate. It is not obsessive, nor overpowering. It is there to be done and enjoyed. 

Races come and go. Times are a matter of the current state of fitness but not to be getting too bothered about.

Be the rock to inspire someone with your lifestyle. Be consistent. Make it enjoyable. Laugh and don’t get too uptight.

Be an example. Don’t be defined by times or finishing place.

Be a real runner who loves running. 

' Lighthouses don’t go running all over an island looking for boats to save; they just stand there shining.'

Sorry: Didn’t get time last Friday to post and away on a jaunt next week. 

Hope everyone had a lovely Bank Holiday weekend.

#pwr