Clare, the Business Development Director of our commercial insurance brokerage couldn’t run a mile at age 6, 16 or 26, let alone now, aged 36. In this blog she explains some of the lessons she learned training for and running her first 5K Parkrun, and why she’s now looking forward to her next.

  1. If at first you don’t succeed…try a different strategy

At least annually, for the last 7 years, I have attempted the 9 week ‘Couch to 5K” programme, which gradually increases participants’ stamina, from jogging several 60 second stints over 20 minutes, to running solidly for 30 minutes. To start with, I’d struggled to run even for 1 minute- I felt like my lungs and heart would explode from the pressure. In latter years I’d made it as far as week 6 (2 ten minute runs with a three minute run in the middle), but never further. I never enjoyed it. It was always hard, always a struggle and never something I looked forward to.

This year, I decided to try a different approach. I decided to start with a short run around the block and increase it every second run by a third of a mile, running on alternate days.  It really worked! On 3rd January I pushed myself to run 0.7 mile. Two days later I pressed a little further and managed 1 mile, two days after that I pushed up to 1.3 mile. Every run I wanted to give up, but I determined to meet my objective. I realised I didn’t have to spend two days on each distance: I could keep pressing on. Even with missing a few run days due to snow and ice, I was ready for my first 5K only 3 weeks after I started! Amazing!

The C25K programme works for LOADS of people and has supported many people I know to lead fitter and more active lives. When my many attempts to achieve 5K failed, I felt that it was me that was the problem- I lacked fitness, discipline and stamina. I felt disillusioned, inadequate and incapable. I now understand that the problem was that I hadn’t identified the right strategy to help me reach by objective of running 5k.

I’m an ‘all or nothing’ type person. If I have a task to do, I like to put my head down, focus and get it done. I don’t want to stop or take a break until it is finished. I spent 7 years trying a strategy that just didn’t suit me. As soon as I found the right way for me to achieve my objective, I was able to meet it and exceed it ahead of schedule.

Whether it’s running a race, or running a business, the principle is the same: decide on your objective and work at it until you’ve found your way to get there. Then work and work and work at it till you achieve it.

(While I’ve been working on this blog I’ve been driven to distraction by the laptop playing up. It’s unresponsive when I type with a long lag and keeps freezing. It is my objective to get it written today, so I’m persevering, but getting progressively more frustrated. Richard has just come in a suggested that I work in Word rather than WordPress. I’ve copied and pasted, and the problem is resolved. Different strategy, different outcome, objective achieved. Hurrah!)

2. Asking for help allows you to benefit from others’ experience and wisdom

As I explained above, when I’m faced with a challenge I like to face it head on and plough forward. If I waiver or falter, I’m sunk!

Gateshead Parkrun ends with a pretty brutal (but fairly short) incline. As I approached it, I was tired and struggling and my body was screaming to stop. My strategy was to put my head right down and concentrate on every step closer to the top. I couldn’t see them, but I heard some stewards ahead. “Help me!” I brayed.  “Keep going! You’re doing great” they cheered. “Lift your head!” called one voice “It’ll let the air in your pipes.” I lifted my head- the oxygen flooded into my body and I immediately felt a lift. I powered on up the hill with renewed energy.

I thought I was doing the right thing to get me to the top, but it turns out that my strategy designed to drive me on mentally was pulling me back physically. It took an experienced runner, watching from the outside, pointing out where I was going wrong and pointing me in the right direction, to teach me a valuable lesson and to begin to refine my technique.

When we work alone in a small team it can be hard to stay motivated, see the big picture, recognise our weak points or see solutions to our problems. I find that asking for advice in my online and real life networks such as Forward Ladies, the Inspire Network and #DoDigital helps us immensely by welcoming accountability, benefitting from the wisdom and experience of others and opening up to other perspectives brings nothing but opportunities to improve and refine our practices.

3. We work better together

I work best by myself or as part of a small team. I’ve never been keen to run with or exercise with others as I’m afraid I’d hold them back. I’m also so unfit I didn’t like the idea of feeling obliged to chat with someone when running, making courteous chitchat while worrying that it was going to cause me to be sick on their trainers. Running is also something I don’t feel ‘good’ at- perhaps I felt a sense of embarrassment being seen publicly to struggle and be so weak at something.

Parkrun seemed a good objective to set myself- I could run by myself, I wouldn’t be expected to chat and all abilities are welcomed and encouraged. For me, however, who is very much a goal-oriented rather than competitive person, I didn’t think that running with others would have much of an impact in itself. I was wrong!

I’ve been recording my runs on Strava and noted that while my runs have become increasingly longer, my pace has become increasingly slower. I ran my 2.6 mile run (solo) at 12.26 minutes per mile. I ran my first mile on Parkrun in 9 minutes 52 seconds! My third (and slowest) mile of Parkrun was completed in 11 minutes 36! Running with others keep me going, spurred me on and improved my performance.

I was motivated by the other runners who were running just ahead of me. If they pulled ahead, I sped up. I was encouraged by the experienced athletes who sauntered passed with a glow of success, having completed their run was I was still slogging round the lake’ “Nearly there!” they called “You can do it”. They put a spring in my faltering steps and increased my determination to finish strong. I was motivated by the runner who had a cake to celebrate his 100th Parkrun. I reckon I could achieve that in 3 years, I found myself musing…even before I’d got my breath back from running my first.

I really benefit from the friendships I’ve developed since launching our business. I have been motivated by the enthusiasm and energy of others, challenged by accountability partners and encouraged and inspired to see the success of others. My Parkrun experience really highlighted the value and importance of maintaining these relationships, even when we’re busy.

4. When we dig deep we can find hidden strength

“Finish strong” advised Richard, as we walked to the start line “Even though you’ll be tired, give the last stretch everything you’ve got”. In the end, I was so exhausted and my lungs felt so heavy as I turned the final corner to the home straight, I didn’t remember his words. Our two children appeared, with proud and beaming faces. “Finish strong!” they called!

And, so, I burst into a sprint, I stretched out my legs, I sprang ahead, I pounded my feet and I pushed as hard as I could. Oh my goodness! It felt so good! For the last few metres it felt like I was actually running, like the way you’re meant to run. I’d struggled and staggered around the course, but, as I finished, I felt like I started to have an understanding of how running can feel- empowering and exhilarating, not a trial and drudgery. Tomorrow I have blocked out some time to do 3.3 miles. I’m going to start with a mean hill, then a big long flat, where I’m going to stretch out my legs and try to develop a better technique. I’m excited about it!

The last two years, since launching our business, has been the most rewarding and enjoyable period of my life. I think it’s because I was thrown in at the deep end and have had to learn an immensely varied and new set of skills. We have also been financially vulnerable. We had to dig deep and make it work, in order to feed and clothes our family and keep a roof over our heads.

We are at a very exciting stage in the business, as we take on our first members of staff and working with an increasingly large number of complex and interesting clients. We need to keep digging deep. But, importantly, when I was exhausted and ready to fall to my knees, I was still able to spring forward with renewed energy because I could see the finish line. It is important to dig deep and give our all, but it is also so important to remember our goals, taking the opportunity to stop, celebrate and refresh, before we get back to the start line and race off again.

5. Jump and the net will appear

This is the mantra of my business buddy Natalie. We add a lot of value talking to organisations about managing risks by thorough research, planning, preparation and evaluation, so recommending to “jump and the net will appear’ sounds like a counter-message to our usual approach.

There are times, however, that despite all the organisation and groundwork and investigation in the world, you’ll never feel it’s quite the right time. We felt that with buying a house, starting a family, taking on our office, launching our business, giving up my part-time job… and also running my first Parkrun. I didn’t know if I could do it, till I decided I would. And then I did.

It is an immensely rewarding feeling to take on a challenge that seems more than you can manage…and then finishing it off and walking home for breakfast.

You think Parkrun sounds good, but isn’t for you? You’re wrong! Now, prove it!

Talbot Jones Risk Solutions is a community focussed commercial insurance brokerage based in Gateshead. Do get in touch if you’d value a free insurance review, quotation or advice- we’d be delighted to help!