I think I must be one of the very few people who have actually found a small benefit in the misery of the recent lockdowns prompted by the pandemic.
After telling people for years that I used to be fit and once played lots of sports, I thought that it was about time I pulled my finger out and did something to flex my muscles again. So, in joyous 2020, I completed the BBC’s Couch to 5K Challenge and it was brilliant. I downloaded the app and there was Olympic gold medallist Michael Johnson telling me when to run and when to walk, three times a week for nine weeks until I could run a 5K – easy! Nearly anybody could do it.
Now I run a 5K once or twice a week. It takes about 30 minutes and I really do feel better for it. I wanted to share some advice about running as a lockdown lifeline but admit that I’m no expert – luckily, I know someone who is.
I have treated Jack Pitcher for years, since the days when he was a top non-league football striker. Now he’s such a great runner that he finished in the top 50 in the 2020 virtual London Marathon. So, Jack, it’s over to you…
“As soon as I entered the room for my last treatment with Tim, he said to me: ‘I’ve just been talking about you, I want you to be our expert.’ I’m not sure I’ve ever really considered myself to be an expert in anything so my initial response was to laugh. But he then went on to explain what he meant and it all made a bit more sense. So here goes.
“You could say I’ve been running all my life. Until a few years ago, I used to run around after a football but now leave the ball at home. Running became my main sport in 2017 when I met my wife Emily – she was a member of a club and running in lots of races, which sounded exciting. I’ve always been very competitive, so it didn’t take long for me to get involved. I started off having to chase her around but, after a few months of more focused training, my base fitness started to come back and I managed to catch Emily up – much to her frustration!
“My running really started to pick up and became that much more enjoyable when Emily and I joined Emersons Green Running Club at the start of 2018. I always used to think that everyone at a club would be extremely experienced and serious runners and that I would feel a bit out of place. But I couldn’t have been more wrong – everyone was extremely welcoming and there were group sessions for all different standards and abilities.
“Tim asked me to come up with a running tip to share in this blog, so here it is: join a local running club. I admit I’m biased towards Emersons Green, but there are many great clubs in this area, such as Bitton, Staple Hill, Frampton Harriers, Stanbridge Fliers, and Active Soul – to name but a few.
“Whatever your motivation, I guarantee you’ll meet lots of other like-minded people and the social side of running will make it that much more enjoyable. Even in the past year at Emersons, we have had monthly challenges, virtual events, and, when permitted, properly run club nights that have all really helped to keep members motivated during an extremely tough year. So what are you waiting for?”
Thanks for that Jack. Hopefully, you will inspire a new batch of local runners who will be pounding the streets and parks in 2021.
Don’t forget that, despite this latest lockdown, we’re still open at Cleve Chiropractic. We’re COVID safe and have all the necessary PPE and sanitization protocols in place.
Please stay safe and remember that we’re here to help whenever you need us.
(Photo by Jenny Hill on Unsplash)
