So many things come up for me on these runs\u2026<\/p>\n
I run. \ud83c\udfc3\u200d\u2640\ufe0f
I walk. \ud83d\udeb6\u200d\u2640\ufe0f
I listen. \ud83d\udc42
I observe. \ud83d\udc40
I dance. \ud83d\udc83
I choreograph. \ud83c\udfb6
I chat. \ud83d\udde3\ufe0f
I breathe. \ud83c\udf2c\ufe0f<\/p>\n
I push myself when I can and adjust my tempo when my body needs it.
No pressure. No obsession with my time. No chasing any personal best.
I choose me \u2014 and care enough to show up \u2014 fully, presently, my whole self, however I am. \ud83d\udc9b<\/p>\n
The views at Sherwood Pines are breathtaking \u2014
the kind of place that feels more like the Canadian Lakes than the middle of Nottinghamshire. \ud83c\udf32\ud83c\udfde\ufe0f
So picturesque. So idyllic.
If you run too fast, you miss it.
Another reason to slow down.
To see it. \ud83d\udc40
To feel it. \ud83e\udd32
To smell it. \ud83d\udc43
To appreciate it. \ud83c\udf38<\/p>\n
The families taking part are just as heartwarming \u2014
watching them look after each other, cheering each other on, their furry friends running alongside them. \ud83d\udc3e
There\u2019s a real strength in numbers here \u2014 a real community spirit. \ud83e\udef6
Honestly, there\u2019s nowhere else I\u2019d rather be than at a Park Run on a Saturday morning. \u2600\ufe0f<\/p>\n
Exercise is a benefit \u2014 but it\u2019s never been my motivation.
The real gift is the showing up. \ud83c\udf81
The being part of something bigger.
The meeting myself exactly where I am.<\/p>\n
Just like the weather shifting without warning \u2014 colder, warmer, colder again \u2014 I\u2019ve learned that my body and needs shift too. \ud83c\udf26\ufe0f
Especially now that I\u2019m trialling HRT.
It\u2019s not something to control or fight.
It\u2019s something to meet, like a change in the air. \ud83c\udf43<\/p>\n
So while others might arrive in shorts and t-shirts (or less), I often set out looking ready to meet snow. \u2744\ufe0f\ud83e\udde3\ud83e\udde4
Layers, gloves, hat \u2014 all carefully choreographed, not random.
I strip each layer as I go: hat first, then gloves, then jacket. \ud83e\udde5
Allowing my body to breathe and brew its own rhythm while I move forwards. \ud83c\udfb6<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not about looking the part.
It\u2019s about feeling the part \u2014 understanding what\u2019s real for me now after a late diagnosis, and honouring that every step of the way. \ud83c\udf1f<\/p>\n
On my third Park Run, I had started to pick certain things up about the protocol. \ud83d\udece\ufe0f
The volunteers are exceptional in giving instructions and setting you up. \ud83d\ude4c
Repetition is key \u2014 it\u2019s what helps me remember what to do on reaching the finish line. \ud83d\udd04
Each run, a few more pieces drop into place. \ud83e\udde9
Each step, a little more trust and familiarity builds up. \ud83d\udee4\ufe0f<\/p>\n
By run #3, when I spotted the finish line, I was able to pick up the pace. \ud83c\udfc1 My phone had died halfway round \u2014 but somehow, almost instinctively, my second phone was already in my hand. \ud83d\udcf1\ud83d\udcf1 Despite barely any signal, the Parkrunner app had downloaded. \ud83d\udcf6 Now\u2026 where did I park the car? \ud83d\ude97<\/p>\n And then came Park Run #4.<\/p>\n Same spirit, same approach \u2014 but it felt more automated somehow, like something had shifted again. \ud83d\udd04<\/p>\n I noticed it in the way my breathing settled earlier. \ud83c\udf2c\ufe0f I didn\u2019t fear anything or feel phased by anything. In fact, looking back, I\u2019ve hit a personal best every single time<\/strong> so far. \ud83c\udfc6<\/p>\n Not by forcing it. And yes \u2014 as I neared the finish line, those familiar words popped into my head again: Another barcode scanned. \ud83d\udcf7 Four runs. And yes\u2026 whilst I still had to wander around a bit before I found where I\u2019d parked \ud83d\ude97, I\u2019d remembered enough after leaving it. Some things are just part of the journey. \ud83d\udeb6\u200d\u2640\ufe0f\ud83d\udcab<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Park Run \u2014 More Than a Run So many things come up for me on these runs\u2026 I run. \ud83c\udfc3\u200d\u2640\ufe0fI walk. \ud83d\udeb6\u200d\u2640\ufe0fI listen. \ud83d\udc42I observe. \ud83d\udc40I dance. \ud83d\udc83I choreograph. \ud83c\udfb6I chat. \ud83d\udde3\ufe0fI breathe. \ud83c\udf2c\ufe0f I push myself when I can and adjust my tempo when my body needs it.No pressure. No obsession with my time. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":662,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-660","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hopeful-elgamal.88-208-215-195.plesk.page\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/660","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hopeful-elgamal.88-208-215-195.plesk.page\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hopeful-elgamal.88-208-215-195.plesk.page\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hopeful-elgamal.88-208-215-195.plesk.page\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hopeful-elgamal.88-208-215-195.plesk.page\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=660"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/hopeful-elgamal.88-208-215-195.plesk.page\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/660\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hopeful-elgamal.88-208-215-195.plesk.page\/index.php?rest_route=\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hopeful-elgamal.88-208-215-195.plesk.page\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=660"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hopeful-elgamal.88-208-215-195.plesk.page\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=660"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hopeful-elgamal.88-208-215-195.plesk.page\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=660"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
I started repeating in my head:
“Get my tag, get my tag, get my tag!”<\/em>
(If you know, you know.)<\/p>\n
(And yes, I carry two phones \u2014 because it works for me. No one else needs to get it.)<\/p>\n
I collected my tag. \ud83c\udf9f\ufe0f
I scanned my barcode. \ud83d\udcf7
Because this mattered.
I mattered.
And I wanted every single run logged as evidence that Michelle was here. \ud83d\udcdd<\/p>\n
\n
In the way my legs found their rhythm without overthinking. \ud83c\udfb5
In the way I trusted my body to guide the pace \u2014 not too fast, not too slow. \u2696\ufe0f
Just right for me.<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t go out chasing anything.
And without even trying, I hit a personal best \u2014 again. \ud83e\udd47<\/p>\n
Not by chasing it.
By intentionally showing up. \ud83e\udef6
By listening. \ud83d\udc42
By adjusting \u2014 one breath, one layer, one step at a time. \ud83c\udf3f\ud83d\udc63<\/p>\n
“Get my tag, get my tag, get my tag!”<\/em><\/p>\n
Another small but mighty moment logged. \u2728<\/p>\n
Four personal bests.
Four powerful reminders that it\u2019s not about the speed \u2014 it\u2019s about the showing up. \ud83c\udfc1\ud83d\udc9b<\/p>\n
(When we get there it\u2019s quiet \u2014 but it\u2019s jam-packed when we leave!)<\/p>\n