How did running get so hard?

When I was 35, I ran my first and only half marathon as a birthday challenge. At that time, I was the fittest I had ever been. Although I never considered myself a natural runner, I loved training for it. The freedom and joy of running, the improvements in my personal bests, and pushing myself were incredibly fulfilling.

A few months after completing the race, I developed a serious knee infection and spent two weeks in the hospital. The orthopedic surgeon advised that running wouldn't help my recovery, so I switched back to cycling.

Nearly ten years later, I decided to challenge myself again by running a half marathon for my 45th birthday, aiming to match my previous time. My optimism led me to believe I would easily achieve this goal. I couldn't have been more wrong!

Running with an aging body has been challenging. It took me four months to build up to a 10km run. My left knee hurts, my right foot aches, my hamstrings and quads scream after 20 minutes, and my back is sore. Self-doubt creeps in during every run: I'm too old, this hurts too much, I'm not a runner, I'm carrying too much weight. I often want to quit before I even start. The joy of running isn't the same as it was ten years ago. However, there's a new kind of joy—the joy of suffering. The joy of pushing through pain and self-doubt, accomplishing something you didn't think you could, and solving your problems. Happiness in life doesn't come from a lack of obstacles and challenges; it comes from overcoming them.

Overcoming problems often requires help, and I haven't done this alone. Ben from The Frontrunner ensured I had the right gear, and my wife provided encouragement and support. Most importantly, I invested in a coaching programme. I'm not an expert on running, but there are plenty of experts I can learn from. Getting a coach has helped me manage my return to running safely, provided structure to my training, and set realistic goals. When negative thoughts arise, I rely on my coach to keep me focused on what matters.

My return to running hasn't been easy, but I love the struggle, and I wouldn't enjoy it as much without the help of a coaching programme. Will I beat my time from ten years ago? I'm not sure, but with a coach, I'm giving myself the best chance.