Melbourne Marathon

On Sunday I walked the 10 km event at the Melbourne Marathon.

I ran a few 10 km events a number of years ago, after I had lost a lot of weight, I was slow, but I still managed to run the whole way.

More recently, I’ve tried to get back into running again because my husband and a number of people in my friendship group are runners and so I thought that I should be too. The only problem being that I’m a lot heavier than I was last time I used to run, and I also have a niggling lower back / hip issue which is frustrating at best and quite painful at worst.

After my last disastrous run/walk attempt at Run Melbourne which had me literally hobbling across the finish line, I decided that perhaps this whole running caper is not for me, at least not for now. So when everyone started signing up for events at the Melbourne Marathon festival I decided that I would sign up for the 10 km event, but that I would walk.

I started getting pretty worried that I would be the only one walking – I’d long been in the company of the run/walk/shufflers at these events, but I didn’t know if anyone really just walked. Also, what if I was absolutely dead last over the finish line? (and why do we even worry about that? So what if I was!).

All of these fears were laid to rest once the event started. Sure, at first there were lots of people whizzing past me, but, pretty soon, I found myself surrounded by a group of fellow walkers (there were lots of us!!), and you know, I discovered it was a pretty cool place to be.

I realised that when you are not huffing and puffing and in pain and worrying if you are even going to make it too the end without your hip flexors snapping let alone set a PB, it opens up an opportunity to relax and really enjoy yourself. It also gave me lots of thinking and observing time.

I got to noticing that events like these really are a celebration of bodies. Not just fit, athletic looking bodies, but all bodies. There were six packs and spare tires, big bums, small bums and people with no bums! There were skinny people behind me and larger people ahead of me. There were people of all shapes and sizes participating in ALL events. It really brought home to me the fact that what perceive as being a fit and healthy person is something that is constructed by the media and advertising. When you get out there and observe one of these events you see that every body type is represented and everyone is out there and giving it a go. There was something so empowering about realising all of that.

I also had a special moment when the elite male marathoner’s ran past me at their 40 km mark – to see how effortless and graceful they make it look was really quite special. It really is amazing to see what the human body is capable of. These guys were out their giving it their all and smashing it.

Still, it’s just not realistic to expect that everyone can run a sub two and a half hour marathon if they just try hard enough (nor is this necessary to be fit and healthy). Just as we don’t know anything about a person’s health and fitness from looking at them, we also don’t know their story about why they are walking or running or doing the 10km vs. the half or full marathon. Maybe the skinny girl behind me used to run marathon’s but has an injury, maybe she has absolutely no interest in running – either is fine!!! I think the go hard or go home message can be quite counterproductive. When did just getting out there and participating stop being enough? I have big big admiration for people that do push it to the absolute limit and achieve amazing things like running marathons (big shout out to my hubby and bestie!!) and smashing through PB's, but smaller achievements are worth celebrating as well.

So I walked and walked and I finished the 10km in 101 minutes and, even better, without being in any pain!! I decided I like this whole walking caper and I think I will do more of it.

After my walk, I also decided to do something else that I’ve never done before – I purchased the professional event photos. I’ve never done this before because I didn’t really think any of my achievements warranted commemoration in this way and also – I always hated the way I looked! I think only the elite athletes make exercising look glamorous!

But, as I’ve recently realised, my body IS worth celebrating and walking 10km IS an achievement worth celebrating. I’m going to own that! And so here I am. This is who I am and I will not be ashamed of that anymore. I’m quite happy and proud to be stepping into my space as a “walker”.