Donna Bennett

Then comes along the menopause and the weight gain (and the excuses of why I can't lose the weight, yada yada yada).  Sam loses weight, goes to the gym, starts running, and looks really good.  So to support my friend, I decided to start running with her.  The first week, we embarked on the coach to 5k and even with run 90 seconds, walk 60 seconds, I still found this really hard, but persevered.  I hurt, I was out of breath, there was really nothing enjoyable about this at all, but I was supporting my friend on her journey - I didn't have to do this running thing at all. But then something happened... I started to notice little differences in my body and how it was changed, and then there was some weight loss, and I wasn't so out of breath, and I could run a little bit further every week.

We abandoned the coach to 5k and we have a number of routes and once we become comfortable with the run, we (or rather she) steps it up to make the challenge a little bit harder.  Now Sam does suffer with some ailments, such as fibromyalgia - and yet she still does all this exercise and pushes herself and then does end up suffering and her body makes her stop until she feels better - she's an absolute legend and inspiration.

But then, something else has happened - 21 times makes a habit - and even though I started this to support Sam, I find myself running even if she can't make it - I'm still not at 5k yet constant running, but I make it at least 2.2 km every morning running and we only take Sunday's off.  The sunrises are amazing and I find myself actually enjoying it.  So when she offered this challenge up to me, I took it.  I record my running (I don't usually record my walking but I do dog walking every morning after my run too) and I am surprised that this has worked up to the amount of miles that I do as quickly as it has.

So, I'm liking the running thing at the moment, so if you're unsure - take the plunge and get your trainers on and join the cause!