I’m a Virtual Runner! Towards the end of 2014 I used to regularly walk around Attingham Park, trying to get faster each time. I couldn’t run 100 metres then, but soon found that the only way to beat my previous time was to jog a little. The jogging seemed to happen more and more and at one point I thought I’m virtually a runner! That was the start of my running journey. Soon afterwards I ran the 5k Race for Life. I could hardly believe it!
I entered another challenge honouring the NHS. I had to set myself a target, any target, and claim the medal when it was achieved. I entered, committing to do PE with Joe Wicks every day. I didn’t realise he was going to continue well into July! But I did it, and got the medal. Again it was fun, but I learned to ‘dig deep’ and do the work even if I didn’t feel like it.
I’m not fast but I love races. I love the excitement of waking up on a Sunday morning knowing I have a race to go to. I love the pre-race atmosphere and the chat with other runners as we line up for the start. I enjoy the run (mostly) and I love that moment when the finish line is in sight. Possibly best of all, I love the medal. It makes me feel I actually am a runner. This year I had entered many races, including two international half marathons, but then they were all postponed. I missed the exercise but perhaps even more I missed the buzz and the bling. I started entering virtual races…
I entered the Dominic Cummings challenge to run 30 miles in two weeks. The reward was a medal that looked like an eye test! It was a fun challenge to enter and it got me running regularly. Since then I’ve got a medal for taking 3.5 million steps, and for walking a half marathon. I’ve nearly walked virtually from Lands End to John O’Groats and I’ve entered the virtual London Marathon among other races. I’m also building up my collection of bling!
The first, in support of the NHS, had to be run in your own garden, so I did 50 laps of mine. To make it memorable, I searched through all my running t-shirts putting together a rainbow of colours, changing my top every 7 laps. It was fun and I felt I was doing something to help.
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So, why do it? Entering a race motivates me and I love it when the medal arrives. I prefer real challenges; an easily obtained medal doesn’t mean as much. I enjoy races that have a fun element as well as real meaning. Completing virtual challenges is difficult because there’s no atmosphere, no other runners to chat to and no finish line. But they’re helping me to keep fit both physically and mentally and, instead of thinking I’m virtually a runner, I can now say I’m a virtual runner! Pam O’Carroll
