Running

Sport mirrors life and vice versa, the great highs and lows, constant changing of emotions,the feeling of achievement and utter despair sometimes experienced in the same moment of time.

I was always keen on watching sport, but never had much opportunity to play at school, probably because of my lack of social skills and inability to mix in team environments. Perhaps it was therefore no surprise that in later life running (the loneliness of the long distance...) was to prove my forte.

It all started out as a pastime to meet new people in an area which I wasn't familiar with and didn't know anyone. It was meant to be fun and sport can be and in some respects should always be, but when you have a competitive nature, then this can mean transcending the divide between fun and competition.

Sport takes all you to all sorts of different places, mentally as well as physically, it can be character building and it can also destroy a person, for those unable to conquer the demons inside. How much success is down to mental strength and how much is based on natural divine talent can be difficult concept to measure. But it is unlikely that there will be one without the other, no matter how small the percentage split.

I look occasionally in awe at the medals, cups, trophies, certificates etc... that I have won and wonder how I came from being a skinny kid who couldn't even to do forward role to being county champion in my respective age group, winning races and receiving the trophy from one of my boyhood heroes leading to running a 2.53 marathon in London 2010.

Great days, happy memories, something to be proud of, although I wish someone special had been with me to share the joys of sport with. I thank those who helped my in my early days of running Martin W, Bob D, Chris T, Steve E, without whom it would have been all to easy to give up and go back to watching the TV.

But most of all I am glad I did it my way, on my own terms, through my own efforts and auspices - a job well done... next