Monday Motivation

Happy Monday! Here is a great story!

I started running at the end of 2015 after being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at age 69. In 2007, I also underwent a 13-hour operation for cancer in two separate places. Long story short, I had not done any physical exercise since my 20s.

I started off with the Couch to 5K app and found it very difficult, since it was a one-size-fits-all running program. I did, however, complete it and then started doing Parkrun every Saturday, and found that I enjoyed it.

Towards the end of 2017, I was on the bench for four months with an injury. I started running again in January 2018 and started breaking my Parkrun personal best on a regular basis, so I was encouraged to run my local half marathon.

My goal was to finish in under three hours and I trained for a time of 2:45:30. But five to six weeks out from race day, I ended up with a calf injury and was unable to train for three weeks.

I arrived at the starting line at the tender age of 72.

I arrived at the starting line at the tender age of 72. We eventually got underway, and to my great surprise, I finished in a time of 2:54:18 — only nine minutes outside what I had trained for.

This year, I set myself a target of running a trail half marathon and have entered the Orwell Challenge, which takes place in June. Looking further ahead, I would like to complete a 30- to 50-mile ultra before my 75th birthday, so perhaps I’ll tackle a 30-mile race in 2020.

By: Paul Bloomfield, runner

Reference: Michael Nystrom, Triumph Through Adversity, Polar Make IT a Fantastic Day!