“Running is the backbone of my well-being…”
Do you run 5Ks regularly or is this something new for you?
I picked up running nine years ago. I played basketball in high school, but after I finished, I wanted to figure out some sort of way to keep in shape now that I don’t have an organized sport anymore. When I used to play more organized sports, I thought that I [wouldn’t] like running, until I picked it up for myself. It was something that I really took off with in college.
I typically don’t run any further than 5K, even though it’s something I’d like to work up to. I usually try to do a 5K a year, and I’m fairly new to the Boston area, so I thought this would be a good opportunity.
Do you have a favorite 5K that you’ve run?
I’m originally from Thomaston, Connecticut. There’s an annual 5K that happens in my town. It’s called the Diane Burr [Memorial 5K], and it’s a fundraiser for breast cancer awareness. It’s a pretty big deal in my town, so that was the first 5K I ever ran. Whenever I do have an opportunity, it’s nice to go back and do it.
Can you talk about how running helps your overall well-being?
I’d say running is the backbone of my well-being, honestly. I’m the type of person who likes to start my day with physical activity — you know, a run in the morning, even if it’s cold and dark. I feel like I’m one of the few people that also enjoys the treadmill. It’s a really good way to start my day. It leaves me feeling productive and just, overall, good for the rest of the things that I need to take on.
What’s the best advice you’ve received or would give about running?
I think the advice that I’ve been given is it’s important to listen to your body. I’ve wanted to try to run a bit further than a 5K, but I’ve had knee issues over the years, so I need to be really careful. If you have an injury of some kind, it’s really important to listen to what your body is telling you, talk to your doctor, or find different exercises to work to improve the muscles around whatever joint is bothering you. Something that’s helped me over the years is going to the gym and doing a lot of leg exercises to help keep knee pain away.
Advice that I would give is that for running, you could really start anywhere. After I played basketball in high school, I started out just running a mile to a mile and a half. And then, supplementing that with other exercise, too, but then building up from there slowly. You really can start from anywhere, even if you’re starting at a walk to a light jog.
My mom didn’t get into running until she was in her early 50s. It’s something that we’ve taken on together over the last decade or so. There are some days when she feels like she can only walk, and that’s what she does. There have been other times where she’s run much further than a 5K. So yeah, you could really start from anywhere, and it always leads to something positive.