Life often feels like a marathon, and Jenny saw this
from a whole new perspective. She used that sense of
achievement to heal her life, and realised how being in
the moment could help her through the pain and doubt.
Jenny chose her marathon well! Yes it would be tough- but beautifully so. While we all have far to go
at times, maybe the secret is in choosing a route
that will allow us space to breathe on the way.
OUR EXPERT SAYS
We are amazing. Ordinary mortals
pushing ourselves to do much
more than is comfortable and easyinstant, and sunshine
gives way to icy rain.
Every inch of my body
is awake, feeling pain it
is true, but my physical
senses are alive. The clock
is ticking on, and so am I.
But now I ground myself,
literally. I think down
to the soles of my feet,
burning on the tarmac,
pacing onwards, one foot
then the other. These legs,
mighty with their bones,
pulleys, veins and strings,
pushing me on.
I look at the runners
around me. They are
amazing. We are amazing.
Ordinary mortals pushing
ourselves to do more than
we need to, much more
than is comfortable and
easy. We are not heroes;
we are devourers of life,
using the talents given to
us by nature, the universe,
God, however you see it.
This world is so complex
and unpredictable, illness
so random that, while
I can, I must live fully
with my whole intact
heart. I am grateful for
all I have – my wonderful
sons, family, friends, and
freedom.
Somewhere between
miles 23 and 24, in another
freezing downpour, my
joints are seizing up, and
setting at acute angles like
a wooden puppet. I pull
over to unlock myself. I
stretch my arms and they
click. I bend painfully
forward and cannot touch
my toes. My knees crack.
“I feel your pain,” says a
passing runner.
That is comfort. We
do all share a common
understanding. But I am
sure we all have our own
particular pain.
In spite of the effort,
the overall effect of
running is to make me
feel wonderfully well. It is
as though by getting my
heart pumping, the blood
surging round my cells,
my whole body is being
cleansed and replenished,
my mind made clear and
my emotions balanced.
Add to that the
camaraderie of running,
I see why this is a
prescription that works.
The antidepressants got
me through, and allowed
me to feel joy in my
children. As they left the
nest, I braved coming off
the tablets (something I
had tried and failed to do
on previous occasions).
I had already started
running regularly, and
its positive effects meant
a seamless change to my
now being a pill-free zone.
I reach the 25-mile
marker, and suddenly
I start wheezing. I am
gasping, momentarily
struggling to breathe.
I look to the sky, white
clouds racing, to the river
gleaming and patient.
Whatever is going on, I am
not dying. I run on, stiffly.
These last and hardest
minutes become a race
against myself. I amdangerously close to my
previous time. I hear the
the crowds cheer as I push
on, tired and in agony. I
have achieved my aim, to
think of nothing else but
this moment.
And I win, too, in my
private race. I have beaten
my time from three years
ago by four minutes,
finishing in 3 hours 50.The cheers are for
everyone. The tears are
from me. I stagger and
sob, not from heartbreak,
but from pure exhaustion.
I must look as wrecked as
I feel, because the woman
handing out T-shirts
makes all the other
runners wait while she
gives me a huge hug.
I’m thankful for this
supportive community,
and the good health
that’s enabled this late-
blooming marathon
career. I needed this 26.2
therapeutic miles to build
my heart back up, to break
the cycle of obsessive
thoughts, and to embrace
life again. I’m not sure I’ll
do any more marathons,
but I’ll keep on running,
pacing forward, finding
my rhythm.August 2019 • happiful.com • 39Jenny found mindfulness in
running – and set a new PB!Rachel Coffey | BA MA NLP Mstr
Life coach looking to encourage confidence and motivation