Despite many people I know loving Sport, I have spent my whole life declining sporting activities. I am most definitely a team player, but when it comes to team sports I would much rather watch than participate. There is always that horrible moment at school when the team captains get to pick their teams; to start with captains pick their best friends, but as we grew older, the selection became more strategic. This is when a ‘team sport’ becomes more than just working as a team and enjoying yourself – it becomes working as a team to win. This is something which I always struggled with – I am a self-confessed sore loser and have always enjoyed being somewhat of an all-rounder academically; for me to be bad at something and for other people to know was terrible for my ego.
And so I stopped participating at sport altogether – I used to get my mum to write me sick-notes and would always feign illness, especially during winter when all I wanted to do was stay inside and be cosy and warm. This is something which, looking back, I really regret. Playing football in a PE lesson was not national standard; the main goal was to have fun and to be active which is the most important thing.
Every New Year, I vow to participate in more sporting activities, and this year I am doing something utterly out of character for me. Inspired by the 2012 London Olympics, I decided to make a conscious effort to become fit and really make the most of being young while I still am! When I told my parents that I would be running a half marathon in Vienna, Austria, in April 2014, they asked me if I was still their daughter. I still can’t believe that I have agreed to run 10miles (nearly 22km) for charity, but I cannot wait; it will be for such a great cause and I can feel the benefits of regular exercise already. When I’m feeling a little bit nervous I just look at the picture of Mo Farah crossing the finishing line and remember that anything is possible; every human being is capable of great things it’s just up to us to decide if we want to take the opportunities.
Could you ever see yourself running a half marathon or a marathon?
If the answer is ‘no’, set yourself the challenge – why not?!
Did the 2012 Olympics inspire you? Would you ever run a marathon?
