When Clare accepted the challenge to run the Great North Run half marathon, she knew it would be life-changing. She had no idea just how life changing it would be, the lessons is would teach her or how it would serve to shift and shape her mindset.

She shares some of her experiences here:

 

For over a decade I’ve stood on the sidelines of the GNR annually, filled with amazement and admiration for the runners taking part. “I wish I could do that”, I always thought, enviously. Last year, I decided to stop taking my able body for granted and to start showing my children a good and healthy example. I bought a pair of trainers, and hit the road.

Having goals and a plan to get there is important

When we launched the business I had clear objectives of what I wanted to achieve. I developed a strategy, I followed it and I achieved my goals. It felt great! At around our two year anniversary, I set new objectives. But before I had even come up with a strategy, we started to hit my targets. I spent a few months coasting along, meeting my goals, but not really having a plan. It didn’t feel good!

Around the same time, I started training for the Great North Run half marathon. I set myself a really ambitious schedule, for someone who hadn’t run more than a mile in one go in their life, and off I trotted. The first few weeks were fairly miserable. I didn’t enjoy running. It was boring and a chore.

On the day I had scheduled to run five miles it was pouring with rain. I was feeling intimidated by the thought of running further than I’d ever run before, I was remembering the struggle and discomfort of my previous run and I just wanted to call it off and stay home. I had, however, my plan in place, and knew that if I didn’t get up and to the start line, I would fall behind on my training schedule, and, to be honest, it would probably start a precedent of excuse after excuse after excuse when it came to Long Run Day.

Richard and the children drove to me to the start line, and off I went. As the rain poured down, I was biting back tears. It hurt my throat and I felt miserable.

“You can do it!” called a hardy dogwalker as he passed.

“I can do it!” I thought. “Yes! I can do it! I WILL do it!” It was an amazing revelation, that was quite lifechanging! If only that man knew what value his throw-away encouragement would have! I realised that, with a fully functioning body and a plan, the only thing standing between me and my goal was my attitude and determination. I ran the next 4.5miles filled with the joy, delight and pride I would expect to feel at the end of a half-marathon. I knew it would happen, because I had decided so, and I was going to put in the effort and work towards it until it was achieved.

For years I had tried to ‘be a runner’, but failed time and time again. It was because I didn’t have the right attitude or the right plan. When both were in place, it was inevitable it would happen. (You can read more about this journey here.)

The value and benefits of tracking progress was really highlighted to me while running the race. At the half way mark my phone tracking system stopped working. I no longer was able to monitor my speed, distance or time. I was gutted! It had a massive impact on my morale, focus and determination. I guess in future I should train to be less reliant on this system during races, but the impact brought home to me the value of understanding how well you’re doing in order to keep momentum and continue working towards your goal.

Seeing my progress from being able to run 1 mile, to 3 miles, to 5 miles, to 9 miles and eventually complete a half marathon was so empowering. Charting the progress, pushing weekly into my discomfort zone and beating new targets regularly was motivating and exhilarating.

Accountability and support are priceless

I have met some incredible innovators during my business journey, who come up with revolutionary ideas and plans, and despite warnings and discouragements and ridicule, keep persevering with their idea, until it comes to glorious fruition. I am not one of those people!

Over the summer months, making sure I fitted in my training runs became a priority for Richard and I. As the race neared, this meant that he had to sacrifice some of his morning swims and on one occasion, he accompanied me on his bike for two hours to carry my water, making phone calls to insurers and catching up on emails on the way!

“You can do it, Mum! We believe in you!” the children would call as I headed off on my runs. Knowing I’d have to report back to them at the end re my success or failure made me absolutely committed not to give up.

During the race itself I noticed a huge difference in motivation between the points where there were lots of excited and encouraging supporters, no one watching and where there were spectators who were watching not engaging. When they was lots of encouragement, it noticeably spurred me on. I made a rule that I had to high five every hand proffered by a child, and I had to be running, not walking, when I did so. This really kept me running when there were hoards of people walking in front of me. When no one was watching, I was often able to change my focus from searching for familiar faces in the crowd, to concentrating on my breathing or reflecting on my strategy or achievement. However, when people were watching but not engaging, it felt pretty discouraging and I had to dig deeper and work harder to maintain my focus and determination. That experience has encouraged me to look for more opportunities to encourage others as they go through the marathon of life and business.

The support and encouragement of friends, family and clients in the build up to, during and after the race has been absolutely astonishing and overwhelming. Their donations more than doubled the charity fundraising target I had set. It really highlighted my experience that people love to support and encourage others, and that support and encouragement can make miracles happen. When we talk openly and candidly about our ambitions, dreams, hard work and challenges, we give others the opportunity to share our experiences, learn with us and support and encourage us. Building a community around ourselves is so important, so we can encourage and be encouraged, inspire and be inspired and spur each other on to take on challenges that help us grow, develop and thrive.

It isn’t always easy

I was really struck by the variety of images captured of me going around the race. My favourite was captured by the lovely Simon Lowe Photography. I was really looking forward to seeing his friendly face at mile 9 and the photo he captured shows me happy and relaxed. The other images pictures snapped along the race show the range of experience: joy, determination, despondency, confidence, uncertainty, problem-solving, awkwardness, frustration, amusement…it’s all there! There was a reminder that in the race of life and business there is the same mix and the same certainty of tough parts and challenges. It’s not always easy and it’s not always pleasant, but the key is to keep moving towards your end goal, be it at a sprint, a jog, a walk or a crawl. We’ll get there some way, somehow.

It never gets any easier

“It never gets any easier” a wise lady mused to me at the end of the race. “Every race, you’re pushing to your limits. You get fitter and you get faster, but it never feels any easier. Of course, if you ran the race at the speed you first did it, it would feel easier. But, what would be the point of that?! You’re always pushing and striving and achieving greater things. That’s why it never gets any easier.”

When we launched the business we had a four year plan. At the end of the four years, we would have three options: Sell the business, go big or coast along. My definite preference was to work hard to get to a point where we could ultimately coast along. We don’t have grand ambitions for fancy cars or luxury homes or wardrobes full of designer clothes and jewellery. The satisfaction of a job well done, a modest, steady income and time to enjoy work, family and other interests seemed like the perfect ambition.

But, is it possible?!

I remember getting to the end of our first year and breathing a huge sigh of relief. Phew! We’d done it! We’d finished our first year, reached our target and built a foundation and income for our business. Now we could relax a bit. But… we couldn’t! Year 2 had its own, very different challenges and pressures. And then, year 3 came, and those have changed again.

When I was coasting, it didn’t feel good. We were still hitting our targets, but I lacked direction and was losing motivation. I’ve been told so several times by experienced business leaders that if you’re not moving forward, you start to fall back. There’s no option to stand still. As much as I’d like this not to be true, my experience training for the Great North Run has illustrated the value, energy and momentum gained by continuing to press on. It never gets easier…but the rewards and satisfaction are huge.

 

What are your ambitions are your ambitions and goals? What are your dreams? What do you find yourself wishing you could achieve? This morning we took our children to Junior ParkRun for the first time. They are so eager and excited to get stuck into running.

 

“I wish I could win one day” said our daughter, dreamily, as we walked to the metro. “Squeeze my hand and your eyes tight and say that again” I challenged her. She did. “Now you’ve wished it, all you have to do is to put in the hard work to make it happen.” It’s just as true for you and me as it is for our children, or nephews and nieces or neighbours.

 

Let’s make our wishes come true!