I started after DD was born, when she was about 5 weeks old, because i felt that i'd get PND if i didn't get some more endorphins in my system. My relationship was collapsing and XP wasn't helping with the baby, i was exhausted and felt crap (some of which was my thyroid though i didn't know it then), so i knew i needed to do something and i didn't want to take AD's. I'd once run for lent in about 2004(instead of giving up i took up) but i got sore knees after only a week and had to stop, and after DD i was 12kg lighter so i felt i should see if that made a difference and it'd made ALL the difference.

So i ran around a park near me (about 1km round the whole thing) starting off interval running and built up to running round it continuously and then twice, and then i decided i wanted to run to my friend's flat 3km away, then she moved and i ran to her new place 5km away, then i moved (after breakup) and ran to her, 6.5km, then SHE moved again and it was 7.8km and by then it was last winter and i decided since i could already run 7.8km i could enter a 10k. When i was entering it, online, i was offered the entry for the half marathon for less money if i entered both at once. SInce mum died i'd been intending to do something for the Hospice she died in, and hadn't gotten round to it, so i ran the half marathon for them. The 10k wasn't all that but i'd had a really rough night the night before (the friend i'd been running to had a big breakdown and then i found out she'd lied to me about everything, even her name and age, and i didn't know her at all. SHe'd been at DD's birth, that's how much i'd trusted her, and i was gutted) so i only did it because DP stayed over, gave me a pep talk and drove me to the start. He was my rock. The half marathon was more "fun" but it was also one of the hardest things i've ever done as i had a broken bone in my foot when i ran it, which hurt like hell, and unlike labour, when you decide to give up you CAN actually stop, so you have to mentally keep yourself going (maybe i'm weird but i quite liked i didn't have to mentally do anything for labour, except put up with it). But i raised over ?500 so i was happy with that and it was a great way of getting to know how much my body can do. I would NEVER have thought i had stamina like that inside me, mental or physical.

After the half i had a month off to let my broken foot heal, then began very small again, doing 3k runs. I'm back up doing 5-7k's now and enjoying it. My next race will be the Women's Asset Management 10k in May. I'll probably do another 10k in September (instead of the half marathon!).

Bx