I had been toying with the idea after chats with my exercise physiologist, but had yet to pull the trigger.
Until my parents came to stay over Christmas and New Year, and my dad, a 70-year-old ex-army and current personal trainer for over-50s, was up at 4 am every day to get his steps and runs in.
He gently encouraged me to join him for a run.
Pat then piped up and said he’d come too. He’s returning to fitness after his injury last year, so we were all probably at the same pace of fitness.
Now hear me when I say this. I have never, never enjoyed running or been a runner. Something about the gasping and panic breathing takes me back to school sports carnivals.
I was a representative softball player at school, but my talent was not in running bases. It was in playing mouthy catcher and belting the shit out of the ball as a batter.
But I’ve done several sporadic fun run events here and there over the years. Walking though. Yeah, walking, I can walk and walk and walk. So I guess running is the next frontier.
Cue the runner’s high post a 2.5km gentle run, and then I was getting interested enough to set a goal to run a local 10km in May.
Dad wrote me a gentle program, and lo and behold, I’m now running twice a week.
It’s not easy by any means, and I’m only ten runs in since I started. I’m now challenged with how to manage my runs around the heat, my current beloved strength training program, and the rest of my duties (mum life, work, social, rest, etc.), but I’m going to give it a good crack.
We’ve got a picturesque flat run event planned for late May, doing it with a couple of friends and Dad, and I’m working on my fitness and mindset.
Let me tell you, it’s such a mind game.
Yesterday was my hardest run yet. I think I was dehydrated, it was windy, and I almost gave up. But the distances are still short, and I kept reminding myself that I would be proud of my effort once I got to the end and rather than stop, I just slowed my pace.
It’s wonderful having something concrete to work towards and to remind myself and my family that we can do hard things and get out of our comfort zone.
What’s surprised me most, though, is what’s happened since I started sharing this on my Facebook page.
I’ve been getting loads of messages from women either returning to running or giving it a shot themselves. Not because I’m doing anything impressive, but because I’m sharing it as it is. The puffing. The doubts. The messy middle.
And honestly, that’s what’s keeping me going.
I really believe women, in particular, are inspired by community and communication rather than perfection. Most of us don’t need another expert or a polished before-and-after story.
We need to see someone we recognise doing it alongside us.
Every time one woman says, “I’m finding this hard, but I’m showing up anyway,” it quietly gives another permission to try. It becomes a loop. I share, they’re encouraged, they reach out, and suddenly I’m inspired right back.
That kind of connection matters. Especially in midlife. Especially when we’re navigating change.
I do still need to manage my competitiveness (aka comparing my stats to my husband, which I’ve now learnt is just not fair as men definitely have different systems and also aren’t battling the hormonal shifts like a perimenopausal woman, or comparing myself to more conditioned and experienced runner friends), but for now I’m focusing on following and trusting the gentle program I’ve been given and moving towards the goal.
Which is to complete a 10km run event in May and not walk away injured.
Tomorrow, February 1, 2026, the preorder for my new ebook Choose Yourself closes, and it’s still $10 off.
If you’ve been craving connection, clarity, and a reminder that you’re not doing this alone, it’s for you.
