Helen shares her story of how she discovered I Can Run and Jeffing!

Hi, I’m Helen, a new member of I Can Run. Back in September 2019 I started a brand-new role as a Macmillan Cancer Care Navigator. This is a more sedentary role than the carer role I was previously doing, and my weight started to increase. I needed to do something about it. A few years ago, I took part in Fit Villages six-week running sessions. I really enjoyed it, but once it was over, I didn’t carry it on. My New Year’s resolution was to get the excess weight off. Using Google, I looked for local running groups and up came I Can Run. I joined the beginner’s group doing the six taster sessions of different activities. I loved the cross fit and found the group friendly. Back I went the following week. I managed to go to all the sessions, even after a day at work, and on cold, dark Tuesday evenings.

I enjoyed the evenings but wasn’t carrying over the running in between times. I was walking my dog though and managing a slightly faster walk with him, as well as walking to and from the hospital after parking the car rather than using the free bus!

Then the sessions for beginners were advertised, so I signed up for them. Attending the first session I found I loved it! I loved the concept of ‘Jeffing’ and managed it all without becoming breathless. I started using this when walking my dog, Merlin. He loved the idea of me running -  as a whippet it’s his favourite thing. (Oh, second best to sleeping!)

The second session was good too. I loved the footballer’s knees’ stretches when cooling down: needed to hold on to the bar when trying to balance on one leg!

So, after this session I decided to try parkrun. I signed up online and planned on attending that Saturday, which was the ‘This woman can’ run. Turning up at around 08.40 I didn’t have a clue about where to go or what to do. A lady in Lycra approached me and asked if it was my first time. She showed me where to go and pointed out the volunteers. The park was pretty muddy, so we were told not to aim for a personal best. Personal best? I just wanted to finish.

My son had set my watch to 30 seconds’ run; 30 seconds’ walk. Off I went. I kept a steady pace; it was really muddy. I was terrified that I would slip and make a fool of myself! By the time I finished the first lap, some people had completed the 5k. Never mind, I kept going. I wasn’t last. I came in at 38 minutes 20 seconds as a veteran female. I took my finishing tag and then didn’t know what to do next. Heading up to the table, they pointed me in the right direction for hanging it in with my parkrun barcode.

I did a cool down by myself, remembering what we do on Tuesday evenings, and headed home. I was active for the rest of the day, ensuring that my muscles were being used.

I went back to I Can Run on the Tuesday for a longer session: more running, less walking. I was still enjoying it and running alongside someone with the same pace as me.

I’ve signed up for the Norwich 10K in July as an incentive to keep going. As the evenings get lighter, I should be able to get out on my own more regularly to build up my stamina. Whether this goes ahead or not, no one knows. I will miss the Tuesday evenings due to Covid-19. A couple of Sundays ago I did my first lot of Jeffing on my own, running 30/30 and doing 3k in about 19½ minutes according to Strava. I’ll try to keep motivated and to get out when I can.

I Can Run is a friendly group which I thoroughly recommend joining when ‘things’ get back to normal.