Hatch Warren Runners
For those of you that regularly read this little club article, you’ll notice that it’s often a celebration of the races and attainments of our club members. Many of them must seem impossible, maybe a bit whacky or just outright mad to someone who has never run or enjoyed running. Why would you run in the mud, in the wind and rain on a Friday evening in January and why on earth would you pitch yourself in the same race as Sir Mo Farah when you’re clearly never going to win! The answer is simple: for physical and mental well-being and for a true sense of personal achievement.
Could I be a ‘runner’?
Yes you could. Although often quoted, it’s not quite as simple as lacing up your shoes and stepping out the door. In actual physical terms it is, but sometimes your mojo wants to sit on the sofa eating crisps and watching back-to-back episodes of Stranger Things. No one who runs has constant and consistent mojo – even though social media (or this article) might imply otherwise! Motivation ebbs and flows and sometimes life gets in the way. It’s at that point that you take a break; do something else for a bit or find a different challenge.
As a new runner, once you get past the stage of being out of breath and wondering how you’re going to make it past the next lamp post without passing out, it has this unique ability to order your thoughts and give clarity and solutions to the problems that felt overwhelming when you left the house. The true measure of a ‘successful’ run is to return home feeling more resilient and a little less stressed; to feel a little more rational when the kids or your partner are driving you bonkers, or to run with friends and, for those few minutes, not have any nagging or negative thoughts enter your brain.
In a nutshell, people will tell you that running causes bad knees and that it prematurely ages your face – but it really doesn’t. Sure, before embarking on running, get checked out by your GP to make sure you’re not going to exacerbate any existing conditions. Maybe take a look at the Public Health England Couch to 5K app to see that it’s a programme that eases you into running over several weeks? Or, if you feel vulnerable out there on your own on the streets of Basingstoke, keep an eye out for any Couch to 5K courses hosted by various running clubs in Basingstoke throughout the year, or start by walking a parkrun and building up to running the full distance. Parkrun really is the most supportive walking/running environment you could ask for.
If you’re already doing a bit of running and fancy some company, take a chance on us! We hold club runs on Mondays and Wednesdays and always encourage a taster session to see if club running is for you. For more information, please visit www.hwrunners.co.uk, our Facebook page or email enquiries@hwrunners.co.uk.
