主播大秀

Five years ago I used to scoff at joggers as they ran past in their tiny shorts, practically being blown over by the wind. Did they not have anything better to do?

I knew for a fact that attempting to run anything further than a mile would no doubt result in me coughing a lung up, which was not something I had any interest in doing. You can keep your pain, exhaustion and boredom thanks.

It wasn't until a friend ran the London Marathon and described it as 鈥渢he best day of his life鈥�, that I had even contemplated running anywhere. So enthused by his achievement, he badgered me into filling out the application form and ensured I sent it off on time (despite my best attempts to stall). Three months later the bad news arrived... I got in.

The boredom I expected disappeared early in my training, investing in a mini disc player and recording my complete 80鈥檚 back catalogue soon put pay to that (the Rocky soundtrack is a must), and with April looming ever closer I surprised myself at how I had become committed to my training.

I soon found myself enjoying the escape and release that came with these runs, and the exhilaration that came with completing a particularly tough session. Although I would never have admitted it at the time, I was starting to enjoy this running malarkey.听

The London Marathon experience

I still vividly remember the morning of the Marathon, runners crammed in on tube trains, nervous banter everywhere, the sheer size of the event taking me by surprise. I can also clearly remember the first 18 miles, however after this point it gets hazy. Flashbacks of the kind of toilets that would make Glastonbury's seem like the Savoy's, screaming crowds and even Scooby Doo patting me on the back around the 22 mile mark 鈥� although hindsight tells me this could well have been a hallucination. I well and truly hit the wall.

I then had two options to choose from, to listen to what my body had told me and call a day on my dalliance with this silly sport. Or do I look at the fact I went from being able to run one mile to completing 26.2 miles 鈥� something I would never have thought I was capable of.

Against my better judgement I went for the latter option. Now, five years on I am training for my 6th marathon, this one in Rome having already run Stockholm, Berlin & Paris (I鈥檝e learned from experience that Snails, eight pints of Paris鈥� finest ale and a karaoke bar is probably not the best post race option).

The marathon is a great testament to the human spirit and resilience and something that will stay with you forever, and more importantly, it is something that anybody can do, no matter what size, shape or age. If you need any further inspiration then take a look at Fauja Singh, the world鈥檚 oldest marathon runner at the tender age of 95.听 Then there鈥檚 Michael Watson鈥檚 story, the partially paralysed former boxer whose blind courage saw him complete the London Marathon in six days, raising millions in the process.

The real beauty of running lies with this accessibility, and with people in the West Midlands spending close to 拢500 a year on gym memberships, all you need is a pair of trusty running shoes and the great outdoors. It is not only an excellent way to get fit and lose weight (an average runner burns 100 calories per mile), but it can also reduce blood pressure and lead to a stronger heart and lungs.

For me personally running is not so much about the calories burned, it鈥檚 the challenge to better yourself and the freedom that this offers. And yes, I am now the proud owner of a pair of tiny shorts.

So with the Memorial Park, Newbold Comyn and Abbey Fields all on the doorstep, what are you waiting for?

Get running!

---

---