by Lauren Hewitt

Created on: October 16, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

After university and a couple of subsequent years spent in an office job, it became apparent that I needed to work some exercise into my daily routine. It's easy to use studying and long work hours as an excuse to push exercise out of daily life, but it always nagged at me in the back of my mind and eventually, I had to do something about it. Between frequent catered lunches and a particularly tempting coffee shop directly below my office, I was headed for disaster! The calories were piling up and the occasional trip to the photocopier wasn't going to do much in the way of burning them off.

My neighborhood at the time was full of runners. I'd see them out there on the weekends and early in the mornings while I stood waiting for my bus. Many of them even ran when the temperatures dropped so low that ears and noses would freeze in minutes if not covered up. They were so focused and dedicated and I envied their motivation. So, encouraged by a co-worker embarking on the same journey, I signed up for a running clinic at a local running store.

I was nervous when I showed up on the first day. I had been a terrible runner as a kid and dreaded that feeling of always being at the back of the pack. What if my body just wasn't made for running? What if we went too far? Or too fast?

My fears were unfounded. By the end of the first class I'd not only managed to keep up with the group, but I was running with some of the faster participants. Running with others in the same position as myself, new to the sport, motivated me and helped me to improve with each class as we cheered each other on. By the end of the clinic, I was happily running distances that would have sounded impossible to me when I first started, and I was really enjoying it.

Running has surprised me to no end. Not only did it change the way I felt about myself, but it made me more aware of my body's ability to move. I have felt my legs and lungs grow stronger and watched myself get faster. As I reach my limits, I know when to push myself and, more importantly, when not to. Running has provided me with an outlet for anger, an opportunity to reflect and an excuse to get out and explore parts of my neighborhood which I might not otherwise have known about.

I will always be grateful that I signed up for that clinic and to have re-discovered running. It's been nearly two years since I started and I'm happy to say that I still get a little rush every time I lace up my shoes.

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