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Issue 85 2020
Running With Tom
If you’ve stumbled across this article hoping to find some really useful tips on running, you’re definitely in the wrong place. Here, you will only find an honest account of my running journey so far… and by running, I mostly mean run, walk, run, walk.
For anyone familiar with the original Run Norwich route it took you up Rouen Road, which is a fairly steep incline, especially for a novice who had not practised hills in his runs. The hill hit just before the half way point, and I was beat. I had lost time on all of my practice runs, felt more unhealthy than ever before, and couldn’t believe I had half the race still to run!
I tried running a number of years ago. More than a decade has passed and I still look back on that ill-fated run and regret every decision I made that evening. The clothes I wore, the approach to speed and length of run, but more than anything, I regret the beer I had shortly before I decided to go for a run. Needless to say, I didn’t go again for a long time.
On reflection, I think the atmosphere and other runners had got the better of me and I had tried to keep up with people too early instead of pacing myself.
Fast-forward a few years and having expressed an interest once again, someone suggested to me that I needed something to work towards so I booked myself a place at the very first Run Norwich 10k. As an extra boost, I decided to run for charity. Two charities very close to my heart: Kicks Count and The Miscarriage Association. The pressure was definitely on. I went for regular runs including a practice 10k, so I was content I could reach the finish line, albeit not breaking any world records.
I was proud of the money raised for charity, but especially proud of my run. The next year I set out to beat my time, and concentrate my efforts on one charity, The Miscarriage Association that had offered us personal guidance and support in a time of great distress to us both.
I remember spotting my wife and children, in the last kilometre, heading over for a cuddle and admitting, “I’ve got nothing left”.
Again, I finished. I remember little of the run itself, other than I had adopted my original approach of alternating running and walking, and feeling stronger when I finished.
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