A few weeks ago I signed up for the Gold Coast Half Marathon. I’ve run a couple times before. I’ve even finished the full marathon twice. Given that since becoming a mum my running has been sporadic at best, I figured the half marathon was going to be the ideal distance to get back into the swing of things.

Like some people love chocolate cake, sitting down to watch their favourite tv series, baking, spending time with their family, or travelling; I love running.

I’d like to do it more often but for now 3-4 times per week for 30-60 minutes will have to suffice. Fortunately, it’s enough to train up to run and finish a 21.1km race.

The initial plan was to run and just finish without worrying about the time however given that I am extremely competitive with myself, I want to do more than just finish the half marathon. I want to finish it within a time limit that is good for me.

My personal best in a half marathon is 1:48:48. Ideally, I’d love to beat that time, even by a second, but this time around it’s not a realistic goal, although I will jump for joy should it happen accidentally!

Last week I did the Mother’s Day Classic. It’s a fun run/charity walk to raise funds for the Breast Cancer Foundation. This was my first year entering and I opted for the 8km run. Out of 487 females, I came in 44th with a time of 40:47 and an average pace of 5:05 per kilometre.

I was expecting to run it by about five minutes slower so I was ecstatic with that result. If I were to maintain that pace for the entire 21.1km, I would run it in 1:46:55. That would be awesome!

That’s what happens when you love running and you run in a group. Your pace increases and you can achieve more. That’s how it works with writing too. When you join a community, talk with likeminded individuals, take chances, ask questions, and support each other, you can achieve incredible results.

The more you push yourself with style and technique, the different genres you try, structure, point of view, and length of projects you allow yourself to grow and improve.

And that’s the point, isn’t it? We should be aspiring to improve whether it’d be running more often or writing better books.

Writing is a sedentary activity. Unless you have a stand up treadmill desk (anyone have one of those?) or you work standing up, you’re sitting on your backside most of the time. That’s not good for your butt, your back, your internal organs, or even your sanity.

You need to find time to exercise to give your body a break from all the sitting down.

Our bodies were not created to sit still for extended periods of time and yet so many of us sit in our day jobs and then repeat it when we get home and plonk ourselves down in front of the television. We’re not doing our health any favours.

Running is great because you can do it anywhere and at anytime. I love living on the Gold Coast because it’s sunny and mostly warm all year round, although right now it’s just turned 6am and I’m sitting in a cafe across from the beach al fresco style watching the sun rise and feeling the chill in my bones. It is the end of autumn after all so I shouldn’t be surprised!

Running and writing is all about endurance. It’s not about doing it once and then moving onto the next activity. It means showing up every day whether it’d be for twenty minutes or two hours. It doesn’t matter whether you go fast or slow, it’s about consistency.

Just like anyone can be a writer, anyone can be a runner too. It doesn’t matter where you’re from, how much you weigh, or what you do for a living. If you want to you can run.

Running can change your life.

If you start running not everyone will understand your passion for it. They don’t have to. As long as it makes you happy, that’s all that matters.

You don’t have to have ever run to become a runner. There was a time where I got puffed running 100m. Now I can run 42.2km. There was a time I didn’t think I’d publish a book, this month I’ve got my third one coming out.

It’s all about baby steps.

If you’ve been interested in running why not get started by signing up for a 5km fun run. Five kilometres is doable and you can train up for it in as little as 6 weeks. It’s also enough to tell you whether running is an activity you enjoy doing. No point in going further if you hate every minute of it!

Walking 5km at a pace of 7km/hr and you will be done in 35 minutes. Dedicate 30 minutes, three times per week to training for the race and you’ll probably do it a lot quicker but it’s not about the time, it’s about crossing the finish line and proving to yourself that you can do it.

How To Run A 5km?

Want to run it? Next time you’re out walking why not alternate between walking and running for half an hour. First time around just start with a one minute jog for every five minutes you walk. The second week aim for a four minute walk to a two minute jog, the third week try 3:3, the four weeks 2:4, the fifth week 1:5 and by the sixth week you’ll be running non-stop.

It’s that simple.

But You Hate Running?

Running is not the only physical activity you have to do. In fact you don’t have to do it at all if you don’t like it and not everyone will. There’s swimming, cycling, yoga, weight training, tennis or simply walking.

Maybe you prefer team sports? Why not join a basketball or football team.

It doesn’t matter what physical activity you do, as long as you do something.

I’ve found that if I fit a run in between my day job and evening writing ritual I get to my desk in the evening feeling more refreshed and can write for longer. A run, or any physical activity, helps clear the mind and boost energy for the next activity.

Just A Few Reasons Why

The benefits of any form of exercise are tenfold. Here are just some according to Centers for Disease Control And Prevention (CDC):

* Improve circulation
* Prevent cardiovascular disease
* Maintain a healthy weight range
* Reduce stress
* Increase happiness
* Live longer

Next time you’re feeling stuck on a scene in your novel, having trouble finishing an article or blog post, or feeling a drought on idea generation coming up, put on some active wear and get moving. Go for a run, a swim, cycle, do some weights or put on a yoga video on YouTube. Do something active for 30-45 minutes and you might be surprised to find that when you return to your project you’ll find it easier to finish.

How do you stay fit as a writer? Is this a priority for you?