“How can you run all those miles?”
“I choose to.”
-SteveRunner, Phedippidations Podcast, Episode 166.

Thankyou, SteveRunner. You have summed up my argument entirely.

One of my pet peeves is when a friend/family member/colleague says something along the lines of “How do you run so far? I could never do that!” That line makes me want to scream. Not because I don’t appreciate the sentiment -I have worked hard to be where I am in fitness and running ability, and it’s nice to have that hard work complimented once in a while. But I can’t stand the implication that the person speaking is incapable of doing the same. That there must be something I was born with that they don’t have, that allows me to accomplish such feats of athleticism.

There isn’t. I was born into a body with the same capabilities as anyone else’s. I have no special athletic talent -hey, I’ve been running for nearly two years now, and I still don’t have a lean runner’s body. I doubt I ever will. As a kid I was always chubby and in high school I actively avoided sport wherever I could. I put on a lot of weight after school. But none of this meant that I couldn’t run. There’s was only one reason why I couldn’t run: I hadn’t decided to yet.

That’s all it is. A decision. It is THAT simple. I made the decision after considering how unfit I was. I ran for the train once or twice and had serious chest pain, which scared me. I was embarassed by how long I huffed and puffed for after these quite short spurts of running. I had an idealistic future in mind which involved me being a slim, happy mother who had plenty of energy to run around with her future kids. I want to live a long and healthy life, and do fun things like abseiling, hiking, rock climbing etc, unhindered and unembarrassed by my weight & fitness level. And other reasons of vanity, of course.

So I decided to do something about it. I decided to do the C25K program. And in my opinion, the rest is history. Yes, there were lots of little decisions along the way. On each scheduled running day, I decided to go ahead with that day’s session. I decided to try and fit in a run whilst on holidays. I decided to cut a lot of crap out of my diet. I decided to sign up for a beginner’s triathlon, and I decided to go ahead with that triathlon even once I realised how poor my ability to swim was!

But all of these were minor decisions. The major decision was deciding to start the C25K program. I read that some percentage (90%? can’t remember) of people who started the program successfully completed it. I decided I wanted to be one of those success stories. And so I was. And you can be too, if you decide to. You might not be fast, but why should that matter? I’m not fast either. I came 3rd last in a triathlon earlier this year, out of a field of 538 placed finishers. Another 19 people beat me but were disqualified. But that’s ok. The point is, I was happy that I had the ability to finish the race at all. You too, can be fit. Maybe running isn’t your thing. Maybe you’re a more social creature than myself, and would be happier taking up a team sport. That’s great. Decide to do it. Decide now, and when you finish reading this, look up what’s on in your area for you to join. Find an ice skating rink and arrange to meet a friend for skating and coffee once a week! I don’t mind what you do! Just decide to do something, and do it!

It really is a decision. Nothing more, nothing less. Even my poor eating habits, which are heavily influenced by rises and falls in blood sugar and cravings, still come down to a decision. I decide to purchase the chocolate bar, or I decide not to. I decide to go out for a run, even when the voices in my head are complaining about the weather, and tiredness, and how good a chocolate bar would be right now. I decide to tie up my shoes, I decide to head outside & stretch, and then I decide to start running.

So to all my friends/family/colleagues/well-wishers: please continue to acknowledge the hard work I put into my training if you so wish -it is much appreciated! But don’t go discounting your own potential on my behalf. And I never want to hear the phrase “I could never do what you’re doing!” again.

“It’s never too late to be what you might have been.”
-Mary Anne Evans, English novelist