Guide Dogs for the Blind

When I first committed to doing the Great North Run, I knew I wanted to do it for a charity. Part of my attraction to GNR was sparked by the volume of funds raised while having an amazing run and a lot of fun.

The issue was what charity to support. There is so much that needs to be done in the world, there are so many things that matter to me. When I met Nik, this added a new dimension. Whilst we are passionate about many of the same issues, inspired by our own life and work experiences we support different charities.   We could have run for different organisations but the partnership element is key to everything we do and so, we wanted a charity that represented both of us.

I’d been putting this decision off really unsure how to pin it down. The final decision was made on New Year’s Day over coffee (aren’t all good decisions made that way?). We had been to the New Year’s Day parkrun (by far the best start to a New Year I’ve ever had). During the post-run coffee (the best part), conversation turned to the various run challenges the parkrun pals had coming up during 2022; GNR being one of them.  I mentioned that I was really hoping I’d achieve my GNR dream this year, but of course, it was all dependant on what happened with the ballot.  It was Isobel who told me about the GNR charity sponsors who have a number of guaranteed places for those who fundraise for them.  She suggested I take a look at the list and consider applying that way. Sam brought up the list and 3rd from the top was Guide Dogs UK.  Something clicked inside my head, this seemed like the perfect charity fit for us.

Guide Dogs are a charity close to my heart perhaps for obvious reasons. I don’t personally have a guide dog yet. Training for a dog is intense and takes time but its definitely on my to-do list after I finish my degree. Through my work and friendship groups, I’ve seen first-hand what a difference having a guide dog can make giving a blind person increased independence and confidence, rather like running has done for me.

 

Like many charities, Guide Dogs have been hit hard by the pandemic. Their inability to train during covid lockdowns meant that many blind applicants couldn’t get a dog at all. Many of the new puppies lined up to be trained had to be rehomed as the training window had passed for them due to inactivity. One of my work colleagues had to retire his dog during 2021 due to ill health. He has a very active lifestyle with 2 small children and a job that has him flying the length of the UK on a weekly basis. His guide dog is pivotal for all he does however he has been told that he may need to wait up to 3 years for a suitable match. This has, quite literally, thrown his life into a state of flux. Taking his kids to school, or going to the train station have all become major challenges. He now uses a white cane to get around, as I do, however he hasn’t had to use one for many years.  Re-learning this skill takes so much longer. Increased funding will enable the charity to address this shortfall, acquire more potential guide dogs and employing additional staff to train the dogs and their human companions.

 

Guide Dogs do much more than training and matching guide dogs to new owners. They also support blind people with rehabilitation skills, training them in the use of a long cane so that they are fully independent while waiting for a dog. They can help with daily living skills for those with newly acquired sight loss, and do a range of awareness raising work to create improved built environments for the visually impaired and for guide dog users. Funding helps to support all of these areas making a massive difference to so many. It creates a legacy simply by supporting people to maximise their potential through mobility and independence. 

 

To me, my journey with Nik was representative of all of these aspirations making Guide Dogs such a good fit for us. Running has empowered me, it has given me confidence, expanded my friendship circle, and enabled me to raise awareness of both running and sight loss in ways I never could have imagined. By being my guiding star, Nik has acted as my eyes; the way Guide Dogs do for their new owners turning their lives around. The work going on really mirrors our journey. On top of all that, Nik and I both adore dogs of all kinds; it was an effortless match all round. I registered to run for Guide dogs on that same New Year’s Day;  the rest is history. Well not quite as this is where we need your help.

 

To support our efforts for Guide Dogs, we have set up a fundraising page at www.justgiving.com/vision2run Already, we have been blown away by the generosity of friends, colleagues, family members; and all those beyond our circle who have heard about our efforts and offered their support. It would mean the world to Nik and I if you could support our efforts by making a donation. Any donation will make a tremendous difference to Guide Dogs and will truly inspire us to train hard and run strong for you at GNR. Even if you can’t support us financially, you could help us out massively by just sharing our fundraising link, spreading our story through any on or offline channels open to you encouraging others to help where they can.

In the coming weeks, our training will become more intense. We’ll be increasing distance to make sure we can run the entire 13.1 miles that is the Great North Run. We’ll have to think about how we keep hydrated and energised throughout the run. We’re not aiming to complete it in a particular time; we just want to enjoy our first joint experience of running a half marathon. We are already so thankful to everyone who has followed, shared and, hopefully, been inspired by our journey. You are the driving force behind every step we take. Thank you in advance for any support you can offer, it all makes a difference and really does motivate us as the big day gets ever closer.

With thanks and love,

Ruth and Nik (Team Rik) for Guide Dogs x

Thoughts on yoga and running

I’ve written briefly about yoga on the blog; I speak about it all the time. If you ask any of the parkrun family, I’m sure many tire of me singing its praises. For anyone who’s not had the talk, I wanted to share a little about why it means so much to me and how it could help you improve your running. If you’ve never wanted to go to a yoga class and don’t necessarily think yoga is for you, this is the blog for you  

 

I discovered yoga in 2016 after various unconnected contacts had recommended it to me. I knew roughly what yoga was but had little interest in it. This was largely due to my aversion to attending classes and being unable to see/understand what was being demonstrated.

After doing some research though, I realised that yoga has a rich tradition of being taught 1 to 1, directly from teacher to student, in precisely the manner I needed to be taught.  So, I went and found myself a teacher and decided to give it a go. My first class was tough, painful and awkward due to my complete lack of flexibility. Even with all those aches and pains, I already knew I was hooked and that yoga would be a practise for life.

 

Yoga is an Indian wellness practise which sits within the banner of Ayurveda,  an ancient school of healing similar to traditional Chinese medicine. Yoga practises are wide and varied with differing practise styles and lineages. Most have originated from India but some take their origins from Chinese Martial arts. There is some evidence to suggest that yoga was practised among tribes in Western and Northern Africa.

 

The school of yoga I mainly practise is ashtanga yoga. Ashtanga means 8 limbs, and of these 8 limbs, physical practises, known as asanas, form a small part. Arguably it is this part that is most relevant to us as runners.

The other 7 limbs are comprised of attributes (such as non-violence, non-attachment, discernment etc), as well as breath control, meditation and focus.

 

How can ashtanga yoga help me as a runner?

So, how can ashtanga yoga help us runners? On a physical level, the ashtanga primary series is fantastic for building strength, endurance and flexibility, which are all key for runners. It helps to open the upper body and the chest, while the breathing practises contained within the series help to build lung capacity which is critical for long, healthy runs. Many of us in the West breathe through our mouths, which can be detrimental to our health and can impede the breath when running. Ashtanga helps to build strong, deep nostril breathing as well as combining breath to sync with movement, which is key when running.

 

Practising ashtanga yoga was my first introduction to free movement, and I now realise I would not have had the confidence to run without this grounding. Ashtanga is mainly taught 1 on 1. Even in group classes, students will come and practise the sequence alone, at their own pace and according to their own ability. The teacher will come and adjust/give feedback, based on the students need, like a 1 to 1 in a group setting. This way of working really empowered me, but also helped me understand my own body movements in relationship to others, and improve my proprioception/understanding where my body was in space, critical if you’re doing a headstand. 

 

Practically though, ashtanga has kept me strong, resilient and relatively injury free. Lots of runners tell me they don’t practise yoga, because they aren’t flexible, which always makes me smile. After all, if we were flexible already, we wouldn’t need it.

Long runs will tend to tighten the hips, knees and ankles, but yoga is the perfect way to strengthen the muscles and reverse any tightness or unnecessary tension that we carry. 

 

The ashtanga yoga primary series can be off-putting, it takes about 90 minutes to complete, and a traditional student will practise 6 days a week, with 1 day off.  If you run, work and engage in other sports, you probably won’t have that time, or even the inclination.  That doesn’t mean you can’t incorporate elements of ashtanga yoga into your life to improve your runs.

 

Here are a few links to teachers I know and follow, and some of their resources you might use to get more familiar with yoga practises to improve your runs.

Leading Yoga teacher David Swenson created ‘short forms’ which are extracts derived from the primary series which makes fantastic warmups before any run, and only take about 15 minutes to complete when you know them well.  Check out one of his short forms here:

https://youtu.be/dAySDECiM90

Glasgow based yoga teacher Mark Russell works extensively to Taylor yoga practises to meet the needs of runners. In this blog post, he shares thoughts on why yoga is so important for athletes:

https://www.fionaoutdoors.co.uk/2013/10/guest-blog-benefits-of-yoga-for-runners-and-triathletes.html

Finally, when it comes to your warm downs, yoga can be just as helpful. I think we’re all guilty of missing out the stretches when we get home, but they are critical if you want to build flexibility and stay injury free. Slower yoga practises such as yin yoga, can be incredible for helping ease tired muscles and aid recovery post-run, try this lovely gentle weekend flow that will take you less than 30 mins.

https://youtu.be/6MFo7p-wtxA

 

I hope some of the above do inspire you to try incorporating some yoga into your fitness routine. I’d love to hear about ways in which you use yoga to improve your running.

Ruth X

Learning to Fly

It might sound strange to some but there were definitely a few years in my childhood where I didn’t really know I was blind. That is to say, the limitations and potential safety issues around having no sight were nowhere on my radar. During that time, I remember I ran about with friends; I knew my way to the playpark close to our house, I played hide and seek with the street kids, I climbed trees, fell over, ran into walls and ran across roads not really getting that cars wouldn’t stop for me.

Slowly, over time, and with my parents realising I had this blissful unawareness of danger, people gradually began to tame and restrict me. It was not their fault; free movement is obviously dangerous if you can’t see what is in front of you. Yet some free movement is necessary;  I didn’t register exactly what it was that I was losing because losing that childish care free attitude meant realising I was different in the eyes of society. It meant learning to walk with a cane, it meant trying to look/act sighted as far as possible. It meant missing out on sport/PE to learn braille and other practical life skills. It was years later, that I discovered yoga, and realised how much tension I held in my body. As I learned the ashtanga yoga primary series I found freedom in a degree of free movement once again.

The muscle memory began to return, the soul memory did too tugging at my heart and reminding me of a time when I had once ran all on my own with the wind in my hair.  A time that I wrote about here, a time when I ran all the way beyond the finish line at a school sports day. That was in the past though and wasn’t something I could ever get back … or was it?

Last Thursday and following our success at race for life, Isobel and I had agreed to meet up and train together. Isobel is a great coach;  she planned to do some drills with me - working on strides, slow jogs and fast sprints. I needed this to build up my confidence and balance. As part of her post injury recovery,  Isobel needed it too; so we were a perfect match.

On a quiet bank holiday morning, we headed over to the grassy football pitches a few mins from my house. The grass was firm enough to walk on, the pitches deserted owing to the holiday, the air cool and fresh. We did some slow jogs and slightly faster runs together. We worked on long strides and lunges, opening the knees and the hips. I was enjoying this, the movements similar to the yoga sequences with which I often begin my mornings. The soft, even grass was gentler on the feet and I enjoyed the feeling of boundless space and safety I felt around me.

Perhaps sensing this, Isobel casually said ‘why don’t you try some free running with me next to you? There are no obstacles here, no one else about, no trip hazards, what do you think?

That’s when I realised how wise Isobel was. I’d walked around this field with her several times by this point, I didn’t have to trust her word. I already knew the ground and she knew me. Her teaching/coaching instincts had got to the heart of something I didn’t even know I could still do, yet in that moment, it was all I wanted to do. I started to run, the wind blew over and through me. I smelled the dampness of the grass, breathed deep and ran, seeming to fly. Suddenly, having no sight was no barrier, in fact, I was seeing or feeling everything in HD; I was free flying and it felt brilliant.

After my first lap of the field, I just hugged Isobel; I didn’t have any words that came close to articulating what I felt. Reflecting on it now, it was just boundless joy, free, innocent and childlike. Yet there was nothing childish about it, because it was an adult, broken and bruised and blazing a trail. I was able to leave all my baggage at the end of the path and let go, be free, and fly over that grass. We covered a few more laps of the field as free runs even managing to work on turning technique. I improved my balance, and worked on use of my gaze point (yes, looking/facing where you are trying to go matters; even if you can’t see!) slowly my turns began to improve. 

I came home that day, letting Isobel know she had made my day, and letting everyone else know it too. From the neighbour I caught while putting out my washing to Katy who met me for coffee later that day; everyone got the story.

In the days since, I’ve reflected deeply on why that day was so special. There are the obvious elements of feeling free, capturing the enthusiasm of free running I’d not known since my childhood, but there are other more subtle qualities too. I’ve written before about trusting my guides but perhaps I don’t focus enough on trusting my own abilities. Nik has got to know me intuitively; she often calls me out on my lack of self-belief and rightly so. Others can tell you what you are capable of;  you can read and study and learn about running technique but ultimately, there must come a point when you believe you are a runner. When you trust your body and spirit to get you over the line. There is something else too, the element of surprise. By definition, surprise is just that, it is the joy of not knowing what is ahead. This can be naturally problematic if you can’t see (I don’t know there’s a tree ahead of me, I’d rather not face the surprise of running headlong into it!), but free running in this way gave me back that element of surprise and spontaneity, rather like you running out of your front door with no particular destination in mind.

While I won’t be able to free run my parkruns and races (for the safety of all involved!), I can find football fields, tracks and other safe spaces in which to keep enjoying this freedom. Not only that but as I capture more and more of it to memory, I can bring more and more of that free flying energy to my races. It can take both me and my guides to new heights and that’s when real magic can happen. So thank you Isobel for reading this blog and making something wonderful happen for me. Something that will benefit me and all of my guides, I absolutely loved learning to fly. 

My First Official Race

On the 22nd May I took part in my first 10K event; the Cancer Research Race for Life. On a bright Sunday morning, around 4000 of us gathered at Glasgow Green to walk, jog or Run 10K to raise much needed funds for cancer research. The Race for Life was one of the first races Nik and I entered. We wanted to get our distances up but we also wanted me to have some race exposure prior to GNR.

Sadly, due to Nik’s injury we were unable to run together. The parkrun family stepped in as they always do providing me with incredible guide running support. Best of all, Nik was there to support us and cheer us on from start to the finish.

Having never raced before, I didn’t really have any perceptions of what a race day would be like. I was a little nervous about being in unfamiliar surroundings, and not having run 10K plus for a few weeks I wondered if I’d be able to go the distance.

The energy of the day was electric, the music, the crowds, the warm up and build really fired up my adrenalin; being surrounded by familiar parkrunners from my home run made me feel at ease and added to the joy. The route was fairly flat so there were no major obstacles to contend with. I had to keep fairly close to my guide owing to the crowds, but in the main, I coped well with. When we could spread out and get into rhythm and move our arms, we did.

All along the routes, choirs, pipers, members of the public, volunteers, marshals and folks in cars cheered and spurred us on. Their kindness was so motivational. Honestly, the miles slipped by and I didn’t feel remotely tired. The day stayed cool for us for which I was grateful. I’m definitely more of a winter than a summer runner.. Most of our parkrun family running the Race for Life had challenges. For some of us, it was recovering from injury. For others, it was about building up distance again. For folk like me, it was about staying steady and maintaining focus and stamina. We all supported one another, keeping each other going when we began to flag.

Before I knew it, the final 200 meters were upon us and I was almost sorry it was over. We all made a great team but my 2 main guides, Sam and Isobel did an exceptional job. Sam kept our community posted with live updates on Instagram, as well as clearing the path to make way for Isabel and I who were obviously not single file.

Despite this being her first long run, Isabel stuck it with me all the way to the end, she coached, motivated and inspired, channelling Nik’s energy all the way round the course.

Nik and the rest of our support team were there to cheer us over the line; I honestly can’t describe the high at having finished. I was absolutely buzzing; it was my first race and the journey we had all been on to get there felt so significant. The people we had met along the way, the stories we had read and the support we had witnessed was humbling and inspiring in equal measure.

The medal I received yesterday is one I’ll treasure forever; it marks my first race. It also contains all of the joy, excitement and sharing of a fantastic day I’ll never forget. Thanks to everyone who made it so truly special; I hope it marks the beginning of many more for us.

My Guiding Stars

Before I even began my running journey I knew that, as a totally blind person, I’d require the assistance of guide runners. I was quite anxious about this and for many years, the idea of requiring a guide really put me off.

My anxieties were partly down to logistics…where would I find guide runners? Would I have to pay for them? Would anyone actually want to run with me? Would we both require training? How much time would that take? If I did find a guide, would they even be willing to match me in my Great North Run ambition?

On top of that, I had some emotional anxieties too. What if I found a guide but we didn’t get along? What if the guide who ran with me was just doing so because they had to, either out of financial necessity, or because parkrun told them to. As blind people, we often experience situations where we require sighted guides. For example, when navigating a train station or a busy airport. This assistance can be very hit and miss. It often doesn’t appear at all even when you book it. When it does show up, those providing it are either significantly over-familiar, wanting to know the ins and outs of your eye condition, or seem rushed, stressed; as though providing this service is the last thing they want to do. For most visually impaired people, we long to find activities we can engage in fully independently without a sense of obligation or duty to anyone.

It was with some trepidation, that I approached parkrun, and began my first run with a sighted guide. As I’ve written here before, I needn’t have worried at all. Guide running has been an incredible blessing in my life and has taught me so much. It was definitely difficult at first but the more I run and experiment with different guides and environments the more I learn. 

You might wonder why the huge 180 degree shift on my part? There are so many reasons. I’m pleased to say that my guide runners turned all of my perceptions on their heads.

The first thing that shocked me was their willingness. As Nik and I have said, parkrun is managed by volunteers, that includes those who guide run. Everyone who has shown up to guide me has done so under their own volition. This humbled me in ways I truly cannot express. People do not have to run with me; they actively choose to. That is incredible.  It instils within me a real sense of accountability too; even on the coldest, wettest days of the Scottish Winter, I knew someone had got out of bed to run with me. They showed up for me so I showed up too.

Guide runners who have run with me have all been different. I admit I did feel nervous about this to begin with but yet again, I was proven so wrong. Running with different people has taught me so much. Some of my guides have been seasoned race runners. They have coached me and given me amazing tips on how to improve my performance with many helping me secure new personal bests (PB).

Some seem nervous of guiding so we start off with quite a slow run. As we both settle into the run, I feel them relax and we both start flying over the track.  It is a beautiful thing to witness.

Some of my guides, just like me, enjoy a good chat and a laugh, and that is our focus as we run. Working with different guides has built my confidence, and has been an amazing way to get to know my wider parkrun community, forming the lasting bonds of friendship.

While I have run with a wide variety of incredible guides, Nik and I have run the most together. We jelled as soon as we met. Having run a few half marathons before, she immediately volunteered to be my guide. She messaging me the very same day to sort out training runs. We knew we were attempting something new and ambitious, and we also knew we’d have to take our guide work to another level.

We are blessed at our home parkrun with an almost uniform track, and as everyone knows us, we get a clear run almost every week, with little to no obstacles.

The Great North Run would not function like that so we signed up for some local races, mostly 10K events, to get me accustomed to the busy nature of a race day. We also began practising on other routes in and around the local park to get me used to roads, traffic, and different types of terrain.

I have definitely found this difficult.  My run often slows as I try to adjust my perception to different sounds, crowds etc. My feet seem to land heavier on new surfaces as I try to explore them, subconsciously working to avoid trip hazards and falls. Working this way has meant Nik and I have had to build up a great deal of trust. I must trust her to tell me what I need to know about the environment to avoid injury. Equally, Nik has to trust me to let her know of anything I’m struggling with, or any information I might need more or less of on unfamiliar terrain. This is a balance we don’t always get right but only through running and practise are we able to fine tune it to work for each of us.

Working in such an intensive way develops a very special bond by default; it has to. There are things Nik knows of me that no one else does. Working so closely means she has seen me at my best, my worst; and my most vulnerable. While some might find that scary, I’ve found it deeply empowering and liberating. When I run, I’m running with a true friend, who knows my strengths, weaknesses, fears and emotional hang-ups. When I’m flagging, Nik knows me well enough to know if I’m genuinely fatigued, or just having a moment of mental doubt. Having this knowledge means she’s been able to coach me from 5 to 10K and beyond, distances I never thought I’d achieve when I began running in October.

When Nik went down with an ankle injury a few weeks ago; I was deeply worried for her; and for our running ambitions; but as ever, she was several steps ahead of me.

Before she even told me of her accident, she had contacted the parkrun family, securing guides to help me with our pre-booked races, and parkrun events. I know this is the last thing I’d have thought of if I had injured myself, and her commitment and passion for our aspirations genuinely overwhelmed me.

On the 22nd May 2022, I took part in my first official 10K race; the ‘Race for life’ in Glasgow, raising much-needed funds for cancer research.

Though Nik couldn’t run with me, she was there to cheer me on. She had facilitated a truly amazing group of supporters and guides, who got me round the course effortlessly, with lots of laughs and incredible mutual support.

I cannot imagine my life without these guides, without the parkrun family and all that they bring to me. Running with guides has boosted my confidence in ways I never thought possible. I’ve made incredible friends and learned so much from each of them. Working with guides has also made me more assertive about asking for help when I need it, and not feeling awkward or guilty about it. I have also learned the reality that in truth, we are all interdependent, and all have talents we can use to guide, care for, and empower one another, just by being who we are.

Saying that, I know my experiences are sadly unique in many ways. I have many visually impaired friends and colleagues who aspire to become runners but often have to miss local parkrun events as there are no volunteers available to run with them. What we have at our Strathclyde run is truly incredible, and I’m so grateful to the organisers, the volunteers, and in particular, those amazing, brave and thoughtful individuals who take time out to run with me and others like me. If you are reading this and have never considered guide running, please do. You don’t need any special training or qualifications. All you need is an open heart, and a willingness to try something new. Trust me, your impact is nothing short of life changing; at least for me, and I’m sure many like me. Thank you for opening my mind to something incredible. Each and everyone of you who have run with me truly are my guiding stars.

Mini goals and disaster

So the ultimate goal is to run the GNR in September but with official events recommencing comes the promise of some medal bling and free t-shirts (all included in the entry fee)! Additionally, the thought of progressing from 5K (3.1 miles) to 21.1K (13.1 miles) can feel quite daunting. We were regularly running more than 5K so entering an official 10K event seemed like a good idea. It would give us a target date for reaching that distance so we could comfortably run and experience the buzz of such events.  I have never run the GNR before; I have heard that the atmosphere is quite incredible. I have run in other official events and can honestly say there is nothing quite like the buzz of the crowds, the entertainment and the encouragement from other participants. 

We entered the Cancer Research Race for Life 10K and the Acorn Trails Woman’s 10K; training was well under way. We had even managed to comfortably run further than 10K a few times so were quietly confident that both these events were manageable. Sadly, the Acorn Trails event was cancelled but the Race for Life was definitely going ahead. 

Then disaster struck; with 2 weeks to go I injured my ankle playing badminton with my wife, Laura. We had only just started playing again and, in pre pandemic form,  Laura was hitting winning and quite spectacular shots on a regular basis. I am convinced she is a former badminton champion or she has a practice court at work. I’m not usually competitive but this day I was a bit tired of losing every point so I turned on competitive mode. In so doing, I damaged tendons in my ankle and was told no running, sport or long shopping trips (genuine NHS advice) for 4 -6 weeks. Yes I am being a big bit dramatic by calling it a disaster; I was so excited to be running an official event with Ruth that it felt like a bit of a disaster to me. I knew that Ruth would be more concerned about my injury than anything else. I also knew, without a shadow of doubt, that one of the parkrun pals would run with Ruth. 

I put out the call to arms and within seconds a plan was formed. I phoned Ruth to let her know what had happened. She was, as expected, more worried about me but she was also delighted that others had offered to guide with her. 

Thankfully, I was able to go and support her and the parkrun pals running the Race for Life. Katie, Gray and I waved Ruth, Isobel, Sam, Karen, Ann M, Mary Anne and Louise off at the start line and saw them cross the finish line. Isobel was guiding with Ruth and Sam on standby just in case. Sam kept us up to date throughout the run with some videos and images of the run. It is Ruth’s story to tell so all I will say is she looked like she was enjoying every bit of it. We were all a bit overcome with emotion watching our friends cross the finish line; first event and longest distance post covid for many of them and Ruth’s first official event completed with ease. I could not be prouder of her and hope she does not under estimate the enormity of her achievement. It was only a few weeks ago she declared that she ‘was not really a runner!’; this being said as she was half way through a 7 mile run. 

Ruth, it is over to you for your story of your first official event. 

First a dream

Walt Disney once said ‘ all our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them’.  During my first guide run with Ruth I learned that her dream was to run the Great North Run (GNR), an iconic half marathon held annually in Newcastle. A half marathon is 21.1 kilometres or, if we’re being traditional, 13.1 miles. It is more than 4 time the distance of a parkrun. Ruth had already taken the first courageous step towards making her dream come true but even I know that training for a half marathon requires more than a 5k run every Saturday. 

I think many of us will admit that the covid-19 pandemic had an impact on our health and wellbeing. In the first lockdown, we were more motivated to be active under the misguided belief that it would not last as long as it did. As restrictions continued and guidance became more confusing the drive to be active diminished; unhealthy habits started forming and before long many of us were complaining about our clothes shrinking in the wash. I fell into this category, I was struggling to get back into running and made every excuse not to go out for a run (too hot, too wet, too late, too Wednesday 🤷‍♀️). Admittedly I am not a huge fan of running on my own and when I run with music I run to the beat. There must be occasions when I look like I’m running in slow motion. My motivation for asking Ruth if she wanted to go for a midweek run was about supporting her to run regularly; the reality is she would be supporting me too. 

As I was driving home from parkrun that day I realised that I had not asked if Ruth had a place or a guide for GNR. Places are allocated by ballot with no guarantee that you’ll be successful. It really is your luck; I know of people who have been very lucky in obtaining a ballot place on their first attempt whilst others have tried several times. I wasn’t sure how guide running in official events worked but I already had a place in the GNR rolled over from the previous year.  Offering to guide with Ruth seemed the most natural suggestion to make. I fully expected her to politely decline; I was pleasantly surprised when she accepted the offer. And so, the plan to make a dream come true was well and truly established.