Personal trainer
Paul O'Brien
We are born to run. Anyone who has ever read Christopher McDougall’s fabulous book of that name cannot but be inspired by the message within. This article is for those of you who may be struggling to motivate yourselves to get out there. You’re not inspired and fired-up by the thought of jogging or running. It’s also for those of you who may have forgotten the absolute joy of running.
I began running as a sprinter when I was in secondary school. I always ran barefoot during races. I remember the thrill of springing from foot to foot and racing through the field. In my first school sports day running event, I ran barefoot too. I loved the feeling of the grass beneath my feet. I received some strange looks, disdainful ones even.
The ‘sprinters’ in the race had never run against me before and probably weren’t expecting much competition. I remember them eyeing each other up though, gripped by the competitive spirit and perhaps the fear of losing. I started badly, slow out of the blocks as I always was. Fifty metres in I cruised past them and won by five metres. I remember beaming as I crossed the line. I won because I was faster. I was faster because I was carrying less – less expectation, pressure and fear. I ran because I loved to run, loved the feeling of speed, the freedom of it all.
In later life, as a marathon runner, I always held onto that feeling of joy when running. Now, years later, I still love to run. I love to get out into nature, to run in all sorts of weather. I love to discover a new trail and run up and down new hills, new challenges. I run barefoot on the sand in Bertra, through the short breaking waves.
My point is simply this. Running connects me. It reminds me of what it is to be alive. It reminds me of the gift that is my physical body and the myriad, magical things it can perform. It reminds me also of the old saying, ‘use it or lose it’. Each time I run, I know I am adding another day or weeks’ running to my later life. I will run until I no longer can.
For you, your primary motivation for running should be the enjoyment you get from it. The feelings of freedom as you run the roads and trails. The pleasure of running in nature. The sense of achievement or high after completing a good session. The multiple health and lifestyle benefits you are gleaning. The longer life you are ensuring. A new competition personal best. We run because it connects us, empowers us and frees us.
When you run for the pure enjoyment of it, the suffering you have to endure as you build your fitness becomes secondary. You will find that you no longer focus on the tiredness, the out-of-breath feeling, the sense of how hard it is to begin with. Run and listen to your body. Maybe the cramp you feel is your body shouting ‘Yes, more of this, this is what I’ve been trying to tell you!’
Don’t wait another minute to experience the miracle of your body. It is truly a gift from God. Experience it. So, lace up those shoes and go. If you can’t run, then cycle, swim – move!
In the end your body is a temple. Your choice is to worship it or desecrate it.
Paul O’Brien is a Personal Trainer and Life Coach and runs his own fitness and coaching business in Westport. He is the founder of Bootcamp West, a fitness program running in Westport, Castlebar and Louisburgh. For information about fitness training, coaching, bootcamp programmes and new TRX classes, email Paul at paul@bootcampwest.com or call 086 1674515.
