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Running out….

16 November 2011

I’ve been talking about it, I’ve been thinking about it, now I actually have to do it. I have to stop running.

Just for a while, maybe four weeks. To some people this would be an early Christmas present, or at least not a big deal, but not to me. I first put on my trainers with intent in 1994, ran a half- marathon in 2000 and have run 3-5 times a week ever since, barring injury.

I run on holiday. I run on Christmas Day. I run therefore I am.

Is this right? An awful lot of how I feel about myself is defined by running. How I feel about my body, about food. I sometimes think that my self-esteem is propped up only by running. As a literal example of this, when I was seeing a psychologist for a while last year I used to run to and from the sessions, and sit there sweating for 45 minutes in between.

Hmm.

It’s good to run, objectively. Running is a good thing, good for the body, the mind and the soul. However, I am not entirely made of running. Should running define me? Most people who meet me have no idea I run, I hope. Does that mean they don’t really know me? I don’t think so.

5 Comments leave one →
  1. 16 November 2011 1:12 pm

    I hope you are okay! xxx

  2. 16 November 2011 1:32 pm

    Thanks Alex, I am fine just fretting! I fret therefore I am too. I think a break will also be a good thing too, though I have to accept I may gain a gram or two of weight. I am enlisting running friends to blog about their running while I’m not able to – do you want to join them? It would be fab if you could…

  3. Cat permalink
    18 November 2011 9:51 pm

    gina .. enjoy your break .. keep your blog going as i really enjoy it, i will now look forward to guest entries .. hope to read your running blogs again soon .. cat Xx (michelle’s friend in chislehurst)

  4. 20 November 2011 11:47 am

    4 weeks will fly by before you know it and you’ll be back out and about. The guest blogs are a great idea. Really enjoying the different perspectives and stories.

  5. 21 November 2011 4:34 pm

    Thanks ladies! I am enjoying reading the guest entries, but missing writing my own. I went for a walk on Saturday so I might write a quick blog about that… xx Gina

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