I have been a runner for over 15 years now. But what got me started and why do I run?

Many people who meet me think that I have always been a runner, but I actually started from zero.

I was always active as a child and was desperate to be a gymnast, with no club where I lived I had to make do with ballet and tap lessons.Luckily though a gymnastics club came to town and I dropped the dancing straight away to join up.  I loved it for many years. I was also a very keen swimmer. My Mum took me to swimming lessons, I then swam with the local club and then I became a pool attendant at the local pool.

Roll on a few years and I moved to Amsterdam. I met a lovely colleague who was a triathlete. She was busy trying to create relay teams within the company; one person swimming, one cycling and another running.  At that time swimming was the only element of the triathlon I could do so I volunteered for that.  Little did I know what I was letting myself in for.  The swim was one kilometre in a small harbour. It smelled of boats and you could hardly see anything in the water. I came out of the water and declared “never again”. Needless to say I was there the following year!

I loved the atmosphere of the triathlon and having also watched it on the TV as a child it really felt like something I wanted to do. But I could’t run or bike. So, I decided to start with running. I really did start with running for 1 minute, walking 1 minute just like I recommend my clients do. For some reason I started running in the winter so I have memories of being in the Vondelpark in the rain with my new boyfriend (now husband) cycling next to me to keep me motivated. Awwww.

So, that’s how it started. I then entered a 5km run, did a few of them and then a 10km and found that I was getting better and better. I joined a running group and really enjoyed myself. After a few years I did my first half marathon and knew as I crossed the line I wanted to do a marathon.

And eventually after 10 years of running I did my first triathlon. But that’s a whole other story…

Author: Lorna Wilson

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06 460 377 74 / lorna@wilsonsworkouts.nl