What does “I run because I can” mean to you?

If you run you will already have your reason why you continue to run. As a runner maybe your looking to increase your distance, maybe it’s a personal goal, maybe it’s getting back into running after a break, the social side of running with like minded ladies, to bring some health and fitness into your weekly routine or just to get ourside!

You’ve probably heard this time and time again from us ‘runners’ , ‘I run because I can but what does that actually mean to you?

Running has in some shape or form been part of my life since I was young and joined Reading A.C. at the age of 13 and I ran marathon’s to lose the baby weight after 2 of my children. It then became a challenge, how much faster can I go, how much further, how can I push the limits but this all translated into pressure on me, me putting pressure on me.

Following my torn calf and now achillies issues this year I wanted to find that fun for running again, I love running and always will but wanted to race and make racing fun again so I went back to my routes and headed back to the track.

With very no track training but keeping my fitness levels up I competed this weekend in the National Masters Athletics Championships – it was scary! On the start line being called out next to World and European medalists I re-thought whether this was the pathway to ‘finding the fun’ in running again.

Between my 100m race and my 400m race I watched the other age groups compete on the track – Then there I had it, that magic light blub moment. As the oldest man, at aged 97, raced round the 400m I realised that this wasn’t about positions, times or anything other than ‘getting out there’, running, doing your best and having fun.

I got 6th place in the 100m, Silver in the 400m and just missed out on a bronze by .15 of a second in the 200m but overall I met some lovely ladies, had some great laughs and really loved every minute including the line up call out in the 200 m against those Champions again.

Don’t get me wrong I still and have always loved running, but always put pressure on myself which isn’t necessary. I will always keep on running for all the reasons I did before my new #1 reason on my list now has to be because I can and because I can for FUN…. and will do so for many years to come yet.

My new challenge? To be running into my 90’s … if I can. 😉

Think about why you started to run and what it is you love about running and try and keep that in mind whenever you start to wonder why … think about that 97 year old man and remember that sometime running has no real rhyme or reason but ‘because you can’ .