Born to Run
As a kid growing up listening to Bruce Springsteen, one song that always stuck with me was “Born to Run” but at that point I wasn’t interested in running unless a football was involved! The song is not actually about running but about escaping and leaving your troubles behind, even if it is only for a little while. The benefits of pulling on a pair of trainers and going for a run are not just physical but also great for your mental health too.
Fast forward, what seems like a lifetime, in a good year I run an average of 2000 miles and class myself as a “Runner”. Physically, with that kind of mileage, you end up with a body built in comparison to the gable end of a £5 note!
It is not all about weight control and earning “snack points” after coming back from a run, it’s knowing you can demolish a large bag of crisps without feeling guilty, because you have earned it!
There are mental benefits that non-runners aren’t fully aware of. When you drive past a runner in typical Uist weather – where it’s windy, pouring down with rain and you think to yourself “Why on earth are they out running in this weather? They must be mad!” – there is a reason. In actual fact it is the very opposite, they go out no matter the weather to release the stress and anxieties of the day. Sometimes a solo run is used as a means of escape or they meet with fellow runners for a run and a chat.
A run may be as short as a mile or as long as a marathon but every run starts with a small step. I didn’t take up running until my late 30s, when I signed up for the Edinburgh Marathon to raise money for charity. At that time I could barely run a few hundred metres without stopping for a rest, I thought to myself “How on earth am I going to be able to run 26.2 miles?” The more I ran, the longer I could go without stopping. It wasn’t all about “how fast can I go!”, as they say, “it is a marathon, not a sprint!”
As a first marathon goes, it was pretty memorable. I had never seen a guy run wearing a mankini before and I hope I never do again! Spotting a sign saying “Run like you stole something!”, made me laugh! Late in the race I couldn’t get over the amount of runners pulling up clutching various parts of their legs with cramp, you would think a sniper was picking them off one by one. I thought “please miss me out”….nope, the sniper got me! The feeling of being unbeatable coming up to the finish line and then being overtaken by Bananaman, wasn’t too disheartening, he is a superhero after all!! The pain of the marathon soon wears off. Okay walking down stairs can be a challenge for a few days, but it is worth it and a marathon is now my favourite distance.
Whether you complete a marathon in under 3 hours or over 6 hours, doesn’t matter, you are still a Marathoner and only 0.05% of the worlds population have managed it! It is amazing what you can achieve by just getting out there. It doesn’t matter how slow you think you are, you will always be faster than the person sitting at home on the sofa!
Yes, the thought of starting running for the first time is a bit daunting.You may feel a bit out of your comfort zone, but that is the thing I love about running, you can leave that comfort zone behind and really challenge yourself. I have done some races and runs that have really hurt, both physically and mentally they have pushed me to near breaking point, but that somehow is part of the enjoyment – to see how far you can push yourself. You are stronger than you think! During a race, if it doesn’t hurt, you aren’t trying hard enough!
Some of the best ideas come when you are out on a solo run, when you even treat yourself to a little bit of day dreaming – this was when the idea of the 3 Islands marathon was born (currently the only Marathon in the Outer Hebrides)!
To celebrate the relaxing of Covid restrictions, I wanted to run a marathon with other local runners. I had the idea of creating our own race and making it more accessible by breaking it up into shorter distances and having relay teams.
Runners had their names drawn at random to create teams, giving those who may not usually have the chance of winning a prize a good opportunity to do so. It is also a good way of mixing with new people. The race in its first year had 30 runners; this year’s event is full at 150 entries, of which 100 are local.
The island running scene is thriving at the moment with new groups like Stay Active, also new races such as the Stepping Stones 10k and the 3 Beaches Half Marathon, along with older ones making a comeback like the Daliburgh 10k. Whatever your speed and distance there is something for everyone in Uist. Enjoy every step….even when the going gets tough!
But, it is not all about racing, we started the local 3k / 5k Unofficial Parkrun over 5 years ago, where people meet up and go for an easy run round Liniclate beach and machair; it has become more of a social gathering than a run!
The big thing is taking that leap of faith: put your comfort zone in the bin, pull on your trainers and join the running revolution! As The Boss would sing “tramps like us, baby, we were Born to Run!”.
See you on the road some time soon!
