Posted on by Howard

Lesley

Next Sunday, in just over a weeks time, Lesley will be realising a huge goal. Having never run before in her life she decided to run a half marathon. Now that might sound like only 13 miles. But it is 13.2 miles all at once, non-stop, for a little over 2 hours. Running.

The longest journey begins with a single step

The hardest mile you ever run is your first mile. Many cannot do that in one go. Then other miles can follow, one by one. The body complains at regular intervals as every muscle, bone and sinue is brought back into action. Injuries occur that stop the training. The strength and fitness drains away and it feels like starting over again. Back to that hardest first mile.

Like any goal that you want to achieve, it takes determination and sacrifice. By far the biggest sacrifice is your precious time. Time spent you will never see again. We don’t get it back. It’s always easier to carry on with our busy day to day lives and avoid the training. But gradually the time out becomes the achievement. It’s not the miles, its the “me time”. A clear head, splendid isolation from this world. Returning after a run often has put an annoyance into perspective or somehow has allowed your subconscious to provide the solution to that nagging problem. However you get your “me time”, it’s important for the health of every one of us.

A lifetime achievement

So how long will it take Lesley to run her first half marathon? As I said earlier, a little over 2 hours. But in reality it will have taken her an entire lifetime so far. It took her 50 years to run her first mile. In a little over 4.5 years since, she has run 1562 miles. Thats almost a mile a day, every day, on average. Sure she has complained about it once or twice, who wouldn’t, but overall she has loved it.

She will cross the finish line beneath Spaceship Earth in EPCOT. I will be the proudest husband on earth as she realises this huge personal goal and hopefully I will have kept up. I would like to be holding her hand when she finishes.

Never finished

Her next half marathon is already booked. It’s the Manchester half marathon next year. You see once you have achieved something big, it’s not the time to stop. It’s become a lifestyle choice and hopefully the health benefits will become apparent in the future.

Please wish her luck. She isn’t doing this for Charity, she is doing it for herself. There is nothing wrong with that, we all need to look after ourselves to ensure we can continue to help others.

If you want to show your support then do something for yourself for an hour or two next weekend and send her the photo. Get busy living!

26 Replies to “Lesley”

  2. I do not need to say good luck. I KNOW you both can do this. Enjoy x

  3. That’s very impressive Lesley – well done and all the best for the half marathon.
    Yesterday, Mike and I walked up the mountain 300m thereabouts and it was no joy, apart from the view at the top and I suppose it must be ‘the thing at the end’, whatever that might be that keeps you going.

  4. Wishing you all the best. Have fun and enjoy every mile, if you can!

  5. Lesley do you know that 1562 miles is exactly the distance from Bolton to Kremenchuk in Ukraine ? The only problem now is you have to run back again

    Best wishes for your half marathon

    Iain and Jacqueline

  6. Good on you, Lesley! Hope you enjoy it to the fullest.

  7. Good luck Lesley we know you have the determination to win. Fantastic Go Go Lesley.

    Regards
    Eileen and Denis Parkinson

  10. Well done Lesley, you are an inspiration! Enjoy that wonderful feeling when you cross the line! Xx

  11. I’m sure the training will pay off good luck Lesley and don’t leave Howard too far behind!

  13. brilliant good luck !hope everything goes well for you both!

  14. I’m with you in spirit, but that’s all. I was worried in the beginning that someone had entered me in a half marathon! We walk a lot, and we love it, occasionally run but only for a bus!

  15. Ok 2hrs you might not get back, but a life time to look back on and be proud you did it.
    Have fun Lesley.
    Love
    Maureen & stewart

  16. Lesley, that is great, well done

    I hope you enjoy your day – and the weather is good

    Best wishes

    Val

  17. Great effort and commitment. Your putting all us wrinkles to shame. Pete and Janet Root

  18. good luck Lesley, well its not really luck its hard work. Have a great day.

  20. Good luck Lesley,enjoy your day. Best wishes.Alan&maty

  21. Hi Leslie,hats off to you for the marathon👍I think the only marathon I could manage is the the one now known as a snickers!!!Saying that I’m going to take some inspiration from what you’re doing and start a new regime,maybe not quite the marathon but definitely something.Anyway we wish you the best of luck🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️
    Hope you and Howard have a great holiday,
    Jonathan&Mandy

  22. All the best in the world Lesley, it will be a great achievement.

  23. Thank you everyone for your kind words and good wishes; it means a lot to us both.
    Lesley & Howard

  24. Good luck Lesley, uplifting to read of your achievements.
    Best wishes Ken & Julie

  25. All the best to you Lesley, enjoy the moment. We hope that Howard can keep with you.

    Lis & Ian

  26. Good luck Lesley, after all the training you have done it will be very rewarding and pure joy when you cross the finishing line.

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