Helen Croydon swapped partying hard for running hard and was pleased she did
Two Thursdays later, and I was perched on a wobbly wooden stool in a windowless room in an old schoolhouse in Hackney, east London, sipping a beer and eating a ham bagel, even though I felt sick and was shivering.
My body had gone into mild shock. I’d just done my first ever 10-mile run. We’d apparently run at a pace of 8.50-minute/ miles. Whatever that meant. I only knew that because I heard someone say as much as they studied their fancy sports watch.
Nausea was to become a familiar sensation over the next few months. I now know it’s the effect of the body trying to flush away lactic acid, which builds when your heart rate goes higher than you are used to. But I didn’t know that then. I was just annoyed because the bar was the bit I had been looking forward to and, now that I was in it, I felt like shit.
I say bar, but it wasn’t the sort of swanky bar I was used to. The Victoria Park Harriers club bar was a small room with a well-worn carpet, foldaway tables and plastic chairs, and a few wooden stools at the bar along one side of the room. On the walls were pictures of skinny runners in the blue and white club vest, holding up trophies. But it did have a very well stocked bar. Bottles of beer or a glass of wine (from a box) cost a bargain £1.50.
On the bar was a stack of bagels with different fillings. They were going for £1 each. Apparently, each week a different member volunteered to prepare dinner and someone else would wash up. Bagels and jacket potatoes were popular but sometimes the chef du jour got adventurous and out came vats of pasta, stews, chillies and even handmade burritos.
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About Women’s Running
Think you’re too old or not fit enough to start running? Or perhaps think you’re the wrong body shape? The April issue of Women’s Running, on sale 22 February, will make you think again. Find out why running is so accessible, despite these preconceived barriers, and use our ultimate beginners’ training plan to get you started. Get inspired by our cover star, Paralympic athlete Stef Reid MBE, who despite losing her leg in a near-fatal boating accident, went on to become the reigning World Champion in long jump. You’ll also hear from three women who refused to let their disability, weight or cultural barriers stop them from running. Worried about injury setting you back? Don’t miss our 10 top tips for injury prevention, or our lower-leg workout, designed to combat shin splits, plantar fasciitis, calf niggles and more. With marathon season looming, we’ve also got essential advice for you on staying hydrated – as well as reviews of the latest gels, bars and drinks – to help you perform at your best, in training and on race day. You’ll also find our usual kit reviews, expert training advice and inspiring runner interviews.