If short distance is sprinting on a track, then I can consider myself a long distance runner! Not long distance as in marathons. The half marathon box has been ticked twice though, Munich in 2013 and Vienna in 2014. I’m usually somewhere between 5-10k distances when I go for a run, and usually 5k or 10k races when I race. Despite being a sprinter as a kid and gradually moving into cross country in early teens, I never really loved running. Playing soccer was the main love from early age right up to mid thirties. Alas, with thirty seven years and ever creakier bones a decision was made to finally hang up the football boots/astro shoes last year! So nowadays long distance running is my only active sport. And slowly but surely, I’m getting to like it. Especially at this time of year, when the evenings are long and brightness still feels like a novelty after a long, dark winter. Last Friday evening for example, my girlfriend and I enjoyed a lovely sunny evening jog in my local park. A great way to start the weekend!

An evening run is a good way to unwind from the working day. Yesterday evening was another sunny evening in the park, the run just what was needed after a few very busy days at work. The running will step up this week however, as the first race of the year approaches at the end of April. So the training will take on more of an edge from now until then, as I’ll be keeping an eye on times per kilometre and pushing to get these down. No chance of beating my personal best 10k time in this upcoming race due to recent injury and illness, but I’ll certainly try to be competitive. And that’s the other main reason why I’m enjoying my running. Gradually realising that I’m not bad at all, as 5k and 10k times have reduced over the last few years. So though the training can sometimes be gruelling and mundane, by the time I’m at the start line on race day I’m focused on gaining a certain time and being competitive in the race. The reducing of my best times will become more of a struggle as I get closer to forty and beyond, but the good news for me is that runners can still run very competitively into their forties. This is when actively monitoring my diet will become important, but for now I’m happy to pound the pavements quite regularly while also enjoying the foods and alcoholic beverages I like whenever they take my fancy. Within reason of course!

Running is probably the best and most accessible sporting activity, for many reasons. Anyone can do it, young or old! There are no rules or techniques to be learned before you start. Just run at your own pace. All that’s needed is grass, pavement, parkland, beach. The only monetary outlay of note is a decent pair of runners. Go on, spend that extra €20…they’ll be more comfortable and you’ll feel the benefits of better running. It’s not weather dependent, in fact running in rain or in winter cold can be as exhilarating for the senses as running in warm weather. And you can decide your own distance. For health and fitness, it’s a great way to keep weight off or indeed lose weight. So there are plenty reasons to give it a go!