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| Dam tot Damloop This was my slowest 10M (16K) but I was happy that I could run again; it felt like flying! 2014 |
If there is time travel, and you would go back in time to tell the 10-12 year old me, that I would finish not one but 3 marathons within a year and a half of running - as a 40-41 y.o. woman! - I think I would fall over on the spot, and not live to see the marvelous days from sheer shock!
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| July 2013 @ Wijk aan Zee 07.07.13 I ran barefoot on the beach for the first time in my life because of the foot pain I experienced, when I was training with the wrong shoes for my Autumn races. Later on, I will be diagnosed with Morton Neuroma. An injury, which taught me a lot of important running and non-running lessons! |
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| One of my most favorite race photo because it is evident here that I have joy in running, and no more hang-ups wearing shorts; it was a fear I had since I was a little girl. Taken a year and a month after I started running |
Between the age of 10-12 years old, I was severely terrified of sports, terrified of wearing shorts (because of a scar!), and I fell over often that I did not even run just for the fun of it - the way I experience my 3 daughters (6, 12, and 15 years old respectively) do it!
Next week, it would be the 39th edition of the TCS Amsterdam Marathon.
This event is very significant to me; it is the event that finally got me out of the door running. Well, it got me out of the door walking with my very old running shoes!
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| The last 50 meters of my first 8K! |
My first training day for my first 8K run, was an 8K walk; I went out of the door, pushing the jogger of my (almost 4 year old) daughter, in front of me.
It seemed appropriate to vigorously walk the distance I will eventually run in order to get over the anxiety I was having over the goal I set for myself.
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| On the 8th of August 2011, I walked an 8K with my daughter in her jogger. I vowed on the first day of my training to document everything, as much as I can of my "late in my years running adventure"! Until now, I am very grateful I made and keeping making the effort. |
I was 39 y.o. then, separated. Once again I found myself in yet another foreign country - beginning a new life, this time, in a loving and nurturing relationship.
At this point, I've lived in Holland for 2 years. Life is good, stable and going in a positive direction but I was still experiencing severe cycles of my bipolar disorder.
From my previous therapy with a clinical psychiatrist, I knew that I had to take charge of my disorder or it will take charge of my life.
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| At the marathon expo a day before my first 8K! October, 2011 |
Going outdoors, being physically active, participating and engaging in community & social activities, were just some of the things I had to maintain to get myself out of the prison of my own mind.
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| Left to right: Berlin Marathon 2011 Paris Marathon 2013 Luxembourg HM 2013 (I became the face of this HM!) |
August 2011 - October 2014, 3 unforgettable running years:
from finishing my first 5K, 20 days after that significant 8K walk with the jogger in front of me, to running back to back marathons (3 weeks apart) a year after, and finishing in Paris marathon half a year later.
Family and friends started calling me: "Super Woman! Super Mom!"
I felt elated and embarrassed at the same time.
It was not until I decided to write with more self-conviction, no shame and more transparency about my mental disorder, that I felt genuinely deserving of the praise.
I coined my journey: The Story of Slow.
I do not run marathons to beat time, I run marathons to beat anxiety, depression, panic attacks and to tame my mania.
My marathon motivation is to help others empower themselves.
My fear has become my power. I do what I fear.
Mostly, I do them with my running shoes!
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| NTC live class in Carré September, 2014 |
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| Posbankloop October, 2014 |
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| Singelloop Breda After a year of struggle with my Morton Neuroma, I finally ran the fastest 10K for this year! #NEVERGiveUP! |
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| My TCS Amsterdam Marathon in a collage hopefully next week I will be able to add another race/finish line photo from this event. |
UPDATE ON THIS BLOGPOST 04.11/10.11.14 ( a bit late!) This is a blog I wrote, in the hopes, that my story will win me a starting bib on the 2014 TCS Amsterdam Marathon. It did!
Follow up blogpost on this story coming up soon, together with the story of why I am running the marathon again in Amsterdam, next year. :)
8/100
This blogpost has been updated
on the 20 of July, 2017 08:54
This blogpost has been updated
on the 20 of July, 2017 08:54
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If I can run, so can you: big dreams are reached with baby steps!