Virtual Runner

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’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…

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. 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 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!

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

Where there’s a runner there’s hope

Hope runs in the light Hope runs in the dark Hope runs through the fields Hope runs through the park

Hope plans a route Hope checks the clock Hope ties-up its trainers And pulls up its socks

Hope straps on its watch And pulls on its vest Hope sets its sights On a personal best

Hope goes out strong Settles into its stride Hope wears its race shirt With obvious pride

Hope runs through the outskirts Hope runs through the town Across and over Around and down

Hope runs through the alley And up the lane Hope feels a twinge Hope runs through the pain

Hope checks the distance The cadence and pace Hope tries to tell itself That it’s not a race

Hope makes a plan And just as soon forgets Hope runs too far But never regrets

Hope sprints up a hill Ignoring the rain Hope catches its breath Then turns and goes again

Hope greets the friends It’s sure to meet Every time it goes out And runs down the street

Hope waves through a windscreen A smile to brighten the day Hope turns the corner And then pulls away Hope turns its eyes To the trees and the sky And wonders at nature With a gleam in its eye

Hope keeps its head up And follows the path Hope makes way for others Safely to pass

Hope stops to chat Take care, see you soon Hope checks the mileage Then hits ‘Resume’

Hope thinks of all the races It has run in the past And those in the future That it hopes to run fast

Hope keeps on running Like an endless stream That feeds the belief And keeps the dream

Alive in our hearts That the wondrous day When the wait will be over Is not far away

Hope trains hard Whatever the weather Knowing that someday We’ll be back together

Running in five, ten Fifteen and twenty Until we’re all out Running on empty

Can we but hope? No, we can do more Because there is one thing Of which we can be sure

Where there is life There is hope, so they say And we will run together again One day

SM