The beginning is always the most daunting part. Trying to get fit after years being out of practice can be very difficult. In this blog, sports therapist Bea Juanites relays her journey from reluctant trainer to completing the 10k Taylor Swift themed ‘Swiftathon’ in Manchester. Bea reflects on the journey and shares the many valuable life lessons and disciplines she learned along the way.
Bea Juanites’ Swift Steps to Strength, Discipline, and 10k Success
Catch me about a year ago and I would probably have laughed at the idea of me volunteering to run the 10k Swiftathon. My abilities then were a far cry from what they are today, and I owe it all to the motivation and self-discipline that running the Swiftathon helped me to achieve. Less about finishing the run, the whole experience taught me valuable skills that I have since broadened into my life beyond sport.
For me, the most important step was signing up in the first place. It may sound obvious, but this turned my daydreams of being fit into something that I could realistically achieve. Without a fixed deadline to aim for, so often these sorts of ambitions can fade due to complacency, disinterest, or a lack of motivation. I have let such barriers obstruct me in the past, and by putting pen to paper, I then set myself the non-negotiable task of finishing this race and had to fully commit to my training.
Thinking about completing the Swiftathon, I was terrified at first because I have never really been much of a long-distance runner. As a kid, I can recall a few stellar moments winning the short sprints on sports day, but I always felt that I lacked the self-discipline and commitment necessary to compete in the longer races. Blessed with a natural ability in sports, I was always able to get by in most competitions without ever needing to really apply myself. Here, however, I knew there would be no fluking the Swiftathon if I should decide to slack on my training. I was in this for the long haul, and my daily routine required a dramatic shake-up if I was ever going to bring my stamina up to standard.
“I found my rhythm, and soon, training became almost addictive.”
After signing up, I had six weeks to train before the run. There wasn’t much time to lose, and so I quickly set upon maximising what could be achieved during the limited hours I had available for practice. I had work and a social life; and needed to shoehorn a disciplined training routine somewhere in between. This proved more effortless than I anticipated; and I very quickly accelerated from reluctant beginner to being enthusiastic about what I was doing. I found my rhythm, and then, found the act of training became almost addictive. Whereas at the start I had been dragging my heels over the mere thought of running, very soon I was brushing off those early mornings and late evenings like they were nothing. I was running 2–4 times a week and starting to notice clear improvements in both my mental and physical health.
My training went beyond running as I also educated myself in how lifestyle impacts fitness. I was reading blogs and listening to running podcasts, speaking with friends and turning to professionals who run marathons, 5k’s and 10k’s as I sought to consume every bit of information on running that I could. My research led me onto breathing exercises and recovery techniques that would help make me fitter, and I would even spend time mulling over Spotify playlists and which outfits I felt most comfortable running in. I was determined to leave no stone unturned in trying to perfect my form.
Despite all my enthusiasm, I still needed to be careful. After about the 4th week I felt a tightness and discomfort around my left leg. I immediately got this treated with some dry cupping and did some extra dynamic stretching before and after my runs to avoid any further setbacks. At this point, my body was still adjusting to a more intensive training regime than it had ever been used to. It was important that I listened to all the warning signs and made sure to avoid injury.
On the day of the race, nerves could not supersede my sheer excitement at the prospect of running. I was a little overwhelmed at first; beginning to question my own fitness after seeing how prepared some of the other runners were. But then I remembered: this race has nothing to do with finishing times or competition. All those pressures were immaterial on the day, as this was about personal pride and proving to myself that I could do it.
I set off running and the atmosphere was buzzing. The first 2k simply flew by as I went fuelled by adrenaline and practically skipping because of it. After I hit around the 3-5k mark, that was when my enthusiasm started to wane – and when my legs (and most of my body) started to feel tired and numb.
“Surrender was the very brick wall I had targeted to smash.”
At this moment, fatigue began trying to breach my newfound resilience with thoughts about throwing in the towel and giving up. But on this day, surrender was the very brick wall I had targeted to smash; and with the roar of the crowd injecting a little extra into my stride, I managed to stay focused and rally on towards the finish line.
It was an unbelievable feeling finishing and a personal victory for me on so many levels. I found it difficult to appreciate at the time simply because my body felt like such a wreck. Once I got past the crowd, I immediately collapsed onto the ground, fearing that I might never be able to stand up again. I could not remember what having working legs felt like, but still… I had done it! And although I lay half-dead on the floor; red-faced and gasping for breath; like a small ray of light peeking through stormy clouds, my beaming smile was still shining above it all with pride.
The race was about getting fit – which I did – but also about reminding myself that I am still perfectly capable of focus and self-discipline. I had been aiming for around 45 minutes, but crossing the finish line in 47 minutes and 17 seconds felt like an incredible victory and a true testament to all the hard work I had put in. I feel stronger and more confident as a person since running the Swiftathon, as I now know what I can achieve if I simply put my mind to it.
My advice to anyone thinking about running long distances untrained (or perhaps, not confident in their ability) is this: begin small, train smart, and train effectively. Be patient, consistent, and show so much determination that no amount of self-doubt, laziness or hesitancy can stand in your way. Just continue to show up every day, as I can tell you now that sprinting through that finish line, I have never felt anything like it.
Written by Bea Juanites, Sports Therapist
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