Hello, and welcome to my blog!
What's my story?
I'm Amy, and I've been running since I did my first cross country run un high school PE class - age 11 or 12 - where I discovered I was less bad at running than I was at other sports, and it was the first PE lesson that I ever actually enjoyed. I've loved it ever since, and gradually over the years built up the distance from cross country races, Race for Life 5kms with my Mum as a teenager, my first 10km at uni, then half marathons whilst studying my PhD as a way to manage stress.
I did my first marathon in 2009 when I was 25. I did one marathon a year until 2012, when the London Olympics was on. During that year, I saw lots of people doing "12 in 12" type challenges, inspired by the Olympics, and I also got interested reading some books about multi-marathon/ endurance type things. My Aunty also passed away towards the end of that year, and so, inspired by all these things, I decided to try doing "13 marathons in 2013" to fundraise in memory of her. Then I got hooked! Soon after, I discovered ultra-marathons, and got hooked on those too!
I joined the 100 marathon club in 2019, nine and a half years after running my first marathon, and absolutely loved the journey, and continuing on it since. I've met so many good friends through the running community, had the best adventures, and seen amazing places. I feel very lucky.
Some stats?
378 official marathon/ultras (for 100 Marathon Club):
43 road marathons, 193 trail marathons, 142 ultramarathons
3 x "10 in 10s" (one marathons, one 50:50 marathons and 50 kms, one ultras)
25 x 100 miles +
93 non-official marathons/ ultras (don't count for 100 Marathon Club, but just for fun!):
27 marathons, 67 ultras
My motivation?
I've experienced depression and anxiety since I was young, and running (and all exercise in fact), has always been a tool I use to help manage it. It is a way for me to focus negative energy and thoughts, and turn them into something positive. If I ever don't feel much like going out, I remember how much better I feel afterwards. So that's one thing. Self confidence is something I struggle with too, so setting myself running challenges, and achieving them, helps me prove to myself I am capable of things, which has helped me in other areas of life, too.
I've experienced depression and anxiety since I was young, and running (and all exercise in fact), has always been a tool I use to help manage it. It is a way for me to focus negative energy and thoughts, and turn them into something positive. If I ever don't feel much like going out, I remember how much better I feel afterwards. So that's one thing. Self confidence is something I struggle with too, so setting myself running challenges, and achieving them, helps me prove to myself I am capable of things, which has helped me in other areas of life, too.
What's this blog for?
A place for me to record and reflect on my runs - a sort of shared diary.
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