“I would be so strong, fast and in shape, if only I had more time to exercise.”
This was my genuine belief before lockdown. I had periods of success in terms of focusing on my physical fitness by setting myself goals and signing up to races like the ABP Southampton Half Marathon or the Great South Run, but I’d always struggled to maintain consistency with my exercise. I would check gym schedules with renewed commitment each week, only to find that my favourite class clashed with an evening work event, or a family member’s birthday dinner, or my hairdressers appointment. Life before the pandemic was fun, but relentless and I really did want to be able to spend more time focusing on my fitness.
However, like many, when I got the opportunity during lockdown, I found that I wasn’t spending all of my new spare time lacing up my shoes and pounding the streets. I was finding it hard trying to adapt to all the change happening around us, at work and in the world as a whole. I jumped on the Joe Wicks bandwagon for a bit, in an attempt to get a new routine in place while working from home, but that didn’t last. I told myself every day that I’d go out for a run but often found a reason not to. When the winter came, I even forked out on a treadmill, which quickly started to gather dust. I felt like I’d lost my mojo. Even though I knew that the best thing in world for me during lockdown was to get out of the house.
So I decided to go easy on myself. I told myself that it wasn’t about smashing PBs or trying to rack up long distances when running. I’d just put on my wellies and my headphones and go for a good old stomp taking in the scenery of the New Forest, where I am fortunate to live. This did wonders for my mental health. I knew that my whole day would be improved by just taking 30 minutes to get outside. I knew that I wasn’t getting high intensity training, but I had to prioritise my wellbeing and that meant doing whatever I felt I was able to.
Pre lockdown I’d signed up to my first triathlon, which was postponed and postponed again. Each time the email came, it was like a huge weight was lifted as I knew I was far from physically ready. However, in the Spring this year, it reared its ugly head once again and I knew that this time the event would probably go ahead. On the morning of the event I was terrified. Not the normal ‘this is exciting but I’m a bit nervous’ butterflies I’ve experienced at other sporting events, but actual fear. I hadn’t been in a pool for years, I’d only ridden my road bike twice before and I was even way out of practice at running, which should have been my strength. What if I was last and all the marshals had to wait for me to get over the finish line before they could go home? Or worse, what if I couldn’t finish at all? Nonetheless cheered on by friends, family and my partner, I set off.
I immediately remembered what an amazing community of people there are in the sporting world. Everyone I came across cheered for me like they’d known me all my life. From the people who held the briefing at the start, the safety marshals positioned on roads all around the course, members of the public and spectators by the finish line. No one was judging me for my speed, they were genuinely pleased to see people outside, moving their bodies and achieving something. I won’t lie, I found it hard, and I definitely didn’t smash any records, but it was so life affirming to be around such positivity. Sitting in the pub afterwards with a well-deserved cold drink, I immediately signed up to next year, feeling on a high from the whole experience.
If you’re reading this, also struggling with the motivation to get some exercise, I’d encourage you to think of what it can do for you that’s positive, rather than thinking of it as a chore or a punishment. Listen to your body and your mind and if that means that today is walking day, then that’s what you should do! If setting goals works for you and you’d like to be showered with positivity and encouragement from a community of people who want nothing but to see other people achieve their goals then I’d really recommend finding a local event to sign up to. I promise you’ll get such a boost!
If you need even more inspiration to get you up and moving visit the self serve resources on The Insider where you’ll find a selection of materials to help get you started.