The Importance of Making Time to Run

These days we're all so busy (have we always been?) and it is definitely challenging to fit exercise in around work, family, social commitments and... scrolling social media?

I'm just here to say that while it might be hard, it's definitely worth it. Fitting in a regular run makes your life easier. It's the timeout you need (yes, need) to get your thoughts in order, to blow off steam, to get some fresh air, to gain some perspective, to move your body, to gain strength... you get the point.

I'm a "busy mum" - as all the TV commercials like to call us - of a VERY active toddler. If you follow me on Instagram @mali_runs you'll know we spend quite a bit of time in hospital. I work, I run a household as best I can and I have other hobbies as well (reading, writing, photography, tea appreciation). Also, just for fun, our toddler doesn't like to sleep so we all go to bed late, get up early and wake up quite a few times through the night too. 

With all of this going on, and I know I'm definitely not unique in having this much on my plate, I make sure I get out for a run pretty much every day. If I have a good excuse not to, it has to be a really good one.

Stepping out for my run, even (especially) when it's the last thing I feel like doing, really does make everything better. When life gets really tough, this daily run helps me cope. But not only that, it actually keeps me from getting sick and injured!

Up until October 2021, I had been #runstreaking since June 2018... apart from taking a small break for surgery, a slightly bigger break to birth a baby and then another tiny (2 days) break when I had gastro.
Run Streaking works really well for accountability. It's not for everyone, but it works great for me.

After a year of challenges, I decided to end my 4th run streak because life was so busy in October that I was getting my minimum mile done at 10 pm when my family were asleep. Which felt a little silly. 

I decided I would go back to just running a few days a week. This works great for other people, right? The problem is that for me, 3 days turns to 2, to just 1.... to just running once in two weeks, and next thing I know I'm hardly running at all! By December, I was run-down, had no energy, my joints were aching, my back pain returned- I felt generally unwell and incredibly fatigued. Thinking something was very wrong, I had a very thorough blood test done and everything came back in the best possible range!

I realised that all of these symptoms came from not being active and I had to get back into it. So the day I got the blood results back and had that lightbulb moment as to why I was sick (December 24th), I started running again.

The first week was painfully hard because I felt unwell, unfit, weak, tired... but I knew I had to push through all of that to get better. I'm in week three now. I'm not officially Run Streaking yet (I've missed 2 days) but I aim to run every day unless I have a very good reason not to. I have a lot of work to do to get where I want to be but I already feel so much better!!

Could Run Streaking be a good choice for you? I'll talk more about it in my next post and you can decide!




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