No pain, all the gain

It is now close to five months since I bought new trainers – my old Sauconys having had a fair few years of use: on and off though not quite feast and famine. I had stopped going to the gym some time during summer last year and decided that a decent pair of running shoes would give me the kick start back to fitness that I realy wanted – that and looking good in them would be a great bonus…

Through frequent walks in and around the village where I live, I had eventually found a picturesque route I would enjoy running through; the monotony of the gym and treadmills had finally become too much and of course, in the period of almost zero cardiovascular exertion was now irrelevant. The route would always pose a problem for the unfit though, as within moments of running, there is a steep hill lasting 1/3 of a mile. Writing that down does not look as hard as it actually is though believe me, it feels like it is. Thereafter it is a beautiful 4 miles past fields and fabulous houses, coming back on a loop to run back down the steep hill again.

So it is now mid July and I will admit that at the start, despite the new trainers and a beautiful vista it was daunting. This was particularly as I had not been for a run during December, January and most of February, my excuse being the snow and ice – who could blame me?

Despite the dread, I began in earnest and used my tried and tested alternative healing therapy which I teach and practice on others. Within moments, the dread went and I got through the sheer pain, reluctance and irrational fear of doing the run. I now go out at least once per week and love doing it, to the point that I can now meditate whilst running!

The blessed hill is still steep and the legs are burning by the time I get to the top, less than a mile in, though I actually feel the gain without the pain of moving my body.

I am running a special series of workshops this summer, one module being overcoming mental / emotional blocks to exercise and fitness. If you want to love moving your body and lose the pain, check it out.