Sarah’s RED approach to the January Blues
RED (Run Every Day) January is a national campaign from the mental health charity, Mind. The aim is to raise awareness and open up the conversation about mental health by promoting the positive power that exercise can have on our minds and wellbeing.
I met Sarah at Ashton Court parkrun on Saturday 20th Jan, 20 days into her RED January, and I was really interested in her story. Sarah is 35, and lives in Kingsdown in Bristol. She works at the University of the West of England where she is Head of Events. This was to be Sarah’s first ever parkrun! Ashton Court parkrun is a challenging course — it’s 2.5k up a very steep hill! (Luckily, you turn around and run back down at the halfway point!)
What made you decide that 2018 was your year to get fit and healthy?
I needed to start 2018 with a goal and to have something to feel positive about, 2017 was a particularly difficult year for me and my journey living with anxiety and depression, and with the breakdown of a long term relationship at the end of the year I decided 2018 was going to be all about ‘me’. I have always been relatively fit and reaped the benefit of exercise on my mental health but I started to feel changes in my body I didn’t like and I was turning to food for comfort in stressful times. I didn’t want those bad habits to consume me in 2018.
What attracted you to the RED January challenge?
It combined two things I am passionate about — running and mental health. I like to challenge myself and I know how easy it is to make excuses about exercise and finding time to do it. I like that I can put on my RED t-shirt, venture out and feel part of something that’s making a difference. I especially like it when I pass another RED runner and you give that little nod of understanding. I also feel passionate about talking about my anxiety and depression, I hate the stigma surrounded by it — the more people that are happy to discuss it, the less stigma that will be attached to it.
What has been your highlight so far?
I’m very much what I would call a ‘plodder’, I don’t run particularly fast but I figure that slow running is still running. However on 11 January, after I went out running quite late after dinner (not a great idea!) I managed to run a sub 10 minute mile — 9m55s!. It’s always been my dream to run under 10 minutes, I haven’t managed it since but I sure will try to do it again!
Do you have a favourite place to run?
Anywhere flat with a view! I particularly like to run by the seaside but as that’s not very practical living in central Bristol I go to the downs. There is nothing like a crisp blue sky day on the downs, stopping for a quick breather at sea walls and admiring the city views. I also like that it’s the choice for so many other runners, it’s nice to not be alone in pounding the pavements. Bristol’s Harbourside is another favourite. There’s so much to see to keep me occupied.
What has been your biggest struggle?
I guess it’s on the cold and dark evenings after a long day at work when all you really want to do is curl up on the sofa in your PJ’s! I definitely have to get in from work, get changed and go out. There can’t be any sitting down otherwise the excuses flow. I’m also a bit of a clumsy runner so running in the dark has been slightly daunting, but it’s not stopped me — I definitely savour the weekend daylight runs though!
Do you have anything special planned for your 31st run?
Yes! I’ve asked my friends and colleagues who have supported me to join me in a group run on the 31st That should keep me motivated and really end the challenge on a high!
What are your plans once January is over?
Part of the reason I did this was because I signed up for my first half marathon in March. I thought this would be good training, though when January is over and I switch on to a half training plan it has rest days — those will be heaven!!!
We caught up again after she had finished. Despite the miserable weather she was still looking very fresh!
I had told her before the start that she’d likely top her fastest mile on the way down, and I was right, her new fastest mile is 9m30s! Sarah is now on 60 miles so far in January which is an incredible achievement. Will she get to 100 before the month is out? I’ll report back!
If you’d like to support Sarah and Mind, here is a link to her JustGiving page.
Good luck with the rest of your challenge, Sarah, and of course at the Half Marathon in March. You’ll smash it, I’m sure!
