Run girl, run..

Walking a marathon is eeeeeasy. With a choice of a walk, jog or run ; the first is pretty much the easiest. That’s why I agreed to walk/run the 5k Race for Life for Cancer Research next month. I thought I have walked 5 miles before in one of the most rugged and isolated place in Yorkshire where your earnest companions are Peregrines and a ground covered with limestone.

But when my friend said her new target is 58 minutes it made me nearly choke on my tea. It took her 60 minutes the last time contrary to my almost one day walk. My legs started to ache when I heard it.

I had to rethink whether I was serious enough for the challenge. Then again hubby couldn’t run due to an accident and 5 members in my mum side of the family died of cancer in their thirties-you do the Maths for me. So decision made I will walk or run this marathon. Whichever way I have to train as my friend kept bugging me to do the 10k run in September. I haven’t attempted this first one yet which I thought would be a good test of my endurance plus it’s all for a good cause.

Five kilometres seemed like a reasonable target. One hundred yards in, I realized I was running out breath and baggy trousers turned into a stiff, heavy baggage which made me feel and look ridiculous. It definitely showed how unfit I am and 5k has become 5miles.

Half a mile and I wished I brought Sonny with me or a music player. This meant that at 5mph I was going to run then speed walk in silence.

There is something deeply meditative about running and walking. I have felt the strong connection between body and landscape. I kept looking at how one area of the field was covered in shadows while the other side was basking over the rays of the midday sun. I was getting thirsty and slightly bored but the consolation was our doorstep was just around the corner.

Knowing this is Britain and how easy the weather changes after a few more stride, the heavens opened while temperature dropped a little. Instead of turning towards home I decided to do another loop. My hair was getting wet and my shoes started to squelch while my toes were screaming in pain.

When I got home, I was hot, wet, sweating in buckets and panting. I got changed and sat in the sofa thinking what was I doing.

The following day I had spent all morning getting rid of a runny nose( beg your pardon if you're having a coffee break while reading this), bombarding myself with pain killers and an early hour in bed. When I thought I still had the strength to make another run on a lovely Monday morning, I found myself on a first appointment to a GP for an infection after a sleepless night. Now I’m stuck in bed looking out and wondering when could I run or speed walk again.

It was then that I realized walking is just as hard as running. And marathons aren’t something one should underestimate no matter how far or short the distance is. If you think it’s easy, think again.