Our Health Walks Co-Ordinator and Stronger 4 Longer ambassador Georgina Hainsby is also a valued member of the Burnham-On-Sea Harriers - a local running club that is supportive of all abilities. Georgina has been speaking to another member of the club, Annette, who has been speaking about her journey on a Couch to 5K (C25K).
"On 4/11/2023, I RAN my first ever park run – 5K. This was a graduation event from the Couch to Five (C25K) organised by the local Harriers running group. I didn't want to do it; my daughter wanted to do it and signed me up "for moral support".
I went along to the first session and the photos of me not smiling, just looking angry, are hilarious. I agreed to do one club run a week and that I would do the rest on my own or with my daughter. This programme ran over 9 weeks (27 sessions in total): did they not know that the timings coincided with the start of the new academic year – one of the longest terms ever and so stressful. Then there were the whistles: "We'll blow a whistle to start the run elements and stop them". This got me muttering: "I am not a dog; I don't have to do what they say." I have never been more grateful for some of those whistles, especially the stop ones. By about week three, I'd toned down my muttering and occasionally smiled. I actually knew quite a few of the other people in the group and managed to be polite and chat with them.
On the runs I did independently, I was coached by Jo Whiley. Having her for company while running around the local area was pretty cool. She says funny things like, imagine you're one of those animals that runs fast, like a gazelle. As she promised, I truly did learn to love the half-way bell. I did those early runs in the local area, we affectionally call "God's waiting room": this pleased me emotionally.
It's important to share where I started this journey. I am a middle-aged woman and carrying a fair bit of extra weight. I can walk, especially on the flat, quite a long way. I had recently completed a couple of park runs as a volunteer. I used to run a bit, years ago, but hadn't for some time. I always found it a good way to clear my head: it was time on my own and space to listen to my music. As I have got older, my back and knees have become more and more noticeable – and not in a good way!
What's more, I am peri-menopausal. I have attended lots of seminars about how to support good health during this time and they all mention exercise. I work full-time and I sing, and I have a family: how on earth am I supposed to fit anything else into my schedule? However, I have a family history of obesity, osteoporosis and dementia so I recognise that exercise probably is a good way to support avoiding/reducing my risk of these elements.
Although I haven't noticed any significant changes in my symptoms, I have noticed lots of small changes which, cumulatively, mean that I feel a bit better. My overall mood is improved; my joints are still sore but perhaps a little less and while I haven't lost a significant amount of weight, some of my clothes fit differently. There is a definite improvement in my cardio-vascular stamina, and I can sing much longer phrases without snatching for breath. Also, I am sleeping a bit better.
Anyone who knows me will tell you that I am strong-minded, stubborn and determined. If I was signed up to this ridiculous nonsense, then I was adamant that I would complete it and not miss any runs – even if I had to go out in the rain. I can admit now, sometimes it was even glorious (and I smiled).
That's it. I did it. It wasn't fast or pretty. But again, I did it. Will I keep it up? I don't know – possibly. And, if you promise not to tell anyone, I actually enjoyed some of it and got a real sense of achievement. What's more: nothing bad actually happened! 😊