Why you need a challenge

Give yourself the shake up you deserve

I started running in 2010. Prior to that, I had been a couch potato for years. One thing I remember clearly about my pre-running state of mind was constantly feeling lethargic, frustrated and just drifting a lot.

Then I started running and it was like my world got shifted on its axis. I had been approached by a PR company who’d asked me to run a half marathon and blog about it. So, I was thrown in at the deep end with training - quite a shock to the system for someone who was peeling herself slowly out of the couch potato life.

The changes started happening pretty instantly. Where before I was lethargic, frustrated and drifting, now I was energetic, clear-headed and focused.

I had never known that about myself - that I actually responded really well to having a challenge and a goal.

Once I’d completed that first half marathon, having a challenge on the go became quite a staple of my life.

And I truly believe it’s something everyone should do. I tell everyone they should run a marathon at least once in their life. Most people recoil at the very thought of that, but trust me, who you become during the process of training for that, the discipline, motivation and drive you develop, is well worth the effort.