Thursday training session doneroonie. Hill training. There's nothing really that could be said that hasn't already been said, but it was brutal, testing me beyond the limits of my capability. I'd like to reinforce something to anyone bothering to read this bunch of old nonsense and perhaps doesn't think running or exercise or whatever is for them, but who also struggles with mental or physical health. It really has made all the difference finding a club to join of people who are various shades of me. When I started I could barely walk up the road. I certainly couldn't do a #ParkRun. I am NOT a runner. I am the opposite of whatever a runner is. I still think that and feel that. Despite now doing a lot of running all of the time. Finding a group of crap runners to do some crap running with - to laugh and commiserate and cheer one another on. It's a kind of magic. Giving you the space to explore being a crap runner in a safe environment with other people also on a journey of discovery, terrified of trying and failing or being laughed at or ridiculed. Suddenly you realise there are LOADS of people just like you. I run with people training for marathons. I also run with people who are 80+ and their hips have gone. I run with people going through cancer treatment and people who are end of life. And it is wholly, unmitigatedly a positive experience. No one is a shit runner. Some are recovering. Some are run-walking just to be out and about. Many are just grateful to be moving and are on a personal journey of various minor to major improvements. Absolutely everyone is supportive and at one point has been injured or unfit and it's taken the support of their peers to get them to where they are now. Everyone recognises that in their future there will be illness and injury or life getting in the way or just plain old age, that will mean having to climb that mountain once again, which is virtually impossible without that support. Everyone respects one another and their journey. If you're there you are part of it. Part of that cycle. And no part of it is less or more important than another. The marathon runners will have had setbacks and need help. I run with a 73 year old I cannot fucking keep up with. He ribs me about it but one day I will either trip him, or wait until he gets old enough to slow down a bit so I can catch him. Only joking. I celebrate it. It's all good natured. I had some pretty extreme mental health issues (still do tbh, but the running is the only thing that works for me). I was extremely overweight, had serious heart problems and never ever in a bajillion years thought I'd be doing hill training on a Thursday. It was frankly awful. But I am very very grateful to have been able to do it and now feel pretty good. I've also had a very nice evening with some people I think might actually be my friends. Bit weird. This turned into the longest post ever. And of course it doesn't relate to just running. I mean for people to seek out other folk who are going through similar journeys and try together to effect/affect (can never remember) positive change in some way. Together apes strong. Love you. X