ForEliteAtheletes toFunRunners
obstaclemudrunner.co.uk
38
In 2014 my life was normal. I had a wife, sons,
stepsons and a home. Sadly, all was not rosy. As with
all marriages there are ups and downs but such is the
way life is. Whilst we were in a low point, my boss at
work decided that he’d enter us into a Super Sprint
Triathlon at Hever Castle. I chose the run leg as I really
don’t like cycling or swimming.
During this time, I became surplus to requirements at
home. I went from having everything to sleeping on
my best mate’s couch. To say it was a bit of a shock is
an understatement.
So, I did what many others do when times are tough
and drank my way through the next month. Drinking
helped stop the anxiety and depression but didn’t
actually give me any answers. My get up and go had
most definitely got up and gone.
So, come the triathlon, I did the run leg on not much
training, enjoyed every minute and wanted to do
something similar. The drinking in the evenings was
by no means beneficial, apart from helping me to
avoid the acceptance of just how rubbish my life had
become. That went on for about another month and
then out of the blue, because I’d entered the Triathlon,
an email appeared in my inbox.
The Commando Series at Hever had come calling.
Finally, I thought this was something I could get my
teeth into.
I stopped drinking and started training. Running when
I could and concentrating on something other than
drink.
November arrives and so does the race.
Awesome, cold, painful. I dislocated my shoulder and
had to re-set it under an obstacle before going on to
complete it.
With that little winter jog, the completion of it just gave
me the drive and hunger to do more. I run not just
for the t-shirts and medals, but to test the limits I can
push myself to, to prove that I’m not useless and am
worth something. I now know I am. I also now know
that I was before I started OCR, except that now I
believe it too.
I have done 7 OCR’s this year. Next year I want
to do the Spartan Beast. Each time I do an
OCR it repairs a tiny part of me.
I’m glad to be able to leave some chapters behind,
I’m now busy creating new chapters in my life.
I am a very different person to who I was a few years
ago and it’s the races and racing community that is
helping rebuild me for the better.
Why I run
I dislocated
my shoulder
and had to
re-set it under
an obstacle
INTERVIEW
Rebuilding for the better
Well for any story you need a beginning. This is mine.
This is why I run. This is who I am. That’s my story.
What’s yours?
Toby.
