a poem to encourage new runners

BY RUN OF A KIND

1 JAN 2021

I THOUGHT THINGS WERE GETTING BETTER

BUT NOW THEY’RE EVEN WORSE

2020 WAS HARD

THIS BLOODY HURTS

I FEEL DOWN AND LETHARGIC

MY ROUTINE’S GONE TO POT

I MISS LOVED ONES AND MY SOCIAL LIFE

WHEN WILL THIS STOP?

I’VE SEEN JOGGERS THROUGH MY WINDOW

AND POSTS ABOUT IT ONLINE

I KNOWWWWWWWWW RUNNING’S GOOD FOR ME

BUT I’VE BEEN HESITANT TO TRY

I THINK I’LL LOOK STUPID

I’LL BE THE SLOWEST ON THE ROAD

I’LL FIND IT REALLY HARD

I CAN'T FIND THE MOTIVATION TO GO

FED UP OF SOCIAL MEDIA

AND THE NEGATIVE NEWS

I PUT ON MY TRAINERS

AND THOUGHT “WHAT HAVE I GOT TO LOSE?”

I WASN’T SURE I’D LIKE IT

BUT MY MIND FELT CLEARER FOR A MINUTE

I LOOKED AROUND MY STREET

AND NOTICED NEW THINGS IN IT

THE COLD AIR ACTUALLY FELT NICE

BECAUSE RUNNING WARMED ME UP

IT DIDN’T FEEL EASY

BUT I DIDNT GIVE UP

I SAW SOMEONE IN THE DISTANCE

WOULD THEY LAUGH?

AS I GOT CLOSER

THEY SMILED AND SAID "GO ON BAB!"

I’D FELT TIRED BEFORE RUNNING

AND THOUGHT IT’D MAKE ME WORSE

BUT NOW I FELT ENERGISED?

MAYBE THIS ACTUALLY WORKS

I SMILED TO MYSELF

FOR A SEC I’D FORGOTTEN ABOUT COVID

THE WORLD FELT A BIT BRIGHTER

I CAN'T EXPLAIN WHY, BUT IT DID.