Esther’s Virtual Great North Run: 4 weeks to go

Our Fundraiser in Wales, Esther, is taking part in the #GNRReimagined Virtual Great North Run on 13 September for Music in Hospitals & Care and is sharing her experience as the big day approaches. This week Esther tells us how she plans to complete the race and about her training including paddleboarding and yoga.

It’s funny how you can spend your whole life thinking you know something, only to discover that the opposite is true.

I used to think I hated running, and couldn’t understand the people I would see jogging the streets. Thanks to my decision to sign up for the Virtual Great North Run, I think I am actually starting to enjoy it!

I’ve done 3 training runs in the past week, as well as a lot of running at the beach with my son, purely for fun. My most recent run was longer, at nearly 3 and a half miles, I was very pleased with that! I’ve also walked lots, been paddleboarding and done lots of workouts and Yoga at home. The runs have actually been enjoyable, despite the heat. I am sure that my choice of music has helped. Queens of the Stone Age, my absolute favourite contemporary band, are great to run to.  The strong beats and speed of their music is a great motivator, although it might mean I run faster than would be advised for a novice runner! 

There is a real risk of injury when running, and I am very mindful of this in both my training and my plan for approaching the half marathon itself. I have given myself permission to run the marathon over a couple of days, or to continue with the walk/run approach of the Couch to 5K training I am doing and alternate walking and running as much as I need to. I want to enjoy my achievement of completing this challenge and not suffer unnecessary injury!

I’m so happy that I made the decision to do this event. I love to challenge myself and push myself out of comfort zones. There is a real opportunity for growth when we do this. I have stopped being someone who never runs, and am becoming someone who is able to do something she never thought she could do. This is really showing me that I can always achieve more than I think I can, and that the only thing that limits me is what I tell myself! 

If you would like to use your existing fitness to help support Music in Hospitals & Care, we would love for you to join our team, you can find out more and sign up here. Let’s take on the Virtual Great North Run and raise money to share #JoyThroughLiveMusic together!