The Power of Running: A Personal Journey of Elaine Briedenhann
Ever thought running was just for racers? Running is a journey of personal transformation and discovery. In reality, running encompasses a wide range of motivations and objectives beyond competition. People always ask why would you choose to just run if you aren't competing for a race? Here's why:
Engaging in the activity of running is a transformative experience that stimulates mental acuity and motivates individuals to overcome new obstacles. My personal running odyssey commenced in 2019, following a notable weight loss of approximately 40kg achieved since 2016. Formerly, in my youth, I engaged in sprinting activities until a pivotal car accident in 1997 led to a spinal injury, causing me to believe that running would forever be beyond my reach and that I might be reliant on a wheelchair by the age of 40.
However, as I approached this significant age milestone, I realised that my mobility was not as limited as I had feared and decided to participate in Parkruns. Upon encountering a compelling advertisement on Facebook from In-Reach a complimentary 6-weeks V02 max workshop, I eagerly enrolled and was introduced to Corne. Over the course of the workshop, I successfully completed my inaugural 5km run in a time range of approximately 52 to 57 minutes. This accomplishment served as a catalyst for me to advance my running pursuits by enrolling in Run Coaching with Corne.
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It has been a challenging journey filled with obstacles. Despite enduring the effects of long Covid, a broken leg, and several setbacks, my dedication to running never wavered. In 2023, I achieved a significant milestone by completing the Two Oceans half marathon in 2:37, an experience that brought me immense joy and pride. This accomplishment served as motivation for me to tackle the demanding Addo Elephant 50km trail race, which I finished successfully. I am determined and unwavering in my pursuit of excellence.
The encouragement from my team serves as a source of motivation and inspiration for me, and by following Corne's structured program, I am driven to fulfill my running commitments. Experiencing progress each year fills me with great joy. To new runners, I recommend building a supportive network, persevering through challenges, and prioritising personal comfort over speed. Improvement in pace will come with time and consistency. My running journey doesn't end here, I strive to achieve a milestone that propels me towards growth.
In conclusion, as I quote:
"Surround yourself with a supportive team, go out and run, you will have great runs, you will have bad runs but keep running and don't focus on pace, focus on what feels good for you"
My goal is to successfully complete a 100-mile ultra marathon, a personal aspiration that motivates me to strive towards progress.
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