You need to be a good runner, right?

Published: June 2, 2021 - Last updated 17 July 2024 - Please note: This blog was first published more than a year ago.
Damian Parker, Embrace the Outdoors

You would expect someone who is offering guided trail runs to be a good runner wouldn't you?

Well, I'm not a good runner.

People tend to get hung up on whether they're any good at running but the majority of us aren't professionals, our careers don't hinge upon racing and the associated results, we do it for the love of it. Let me explain why I'm not a good runner but it doesn't matter.

The marathon experiment

In 2013 a group of colleagues and I were all training for Brighton marathon. I'd set myself a bit of a goal, 3:30. I trained like the clappers, well I thought I was training like the clappers anyway. Of the other people running there was one person in particular that I felt I needed to finish ahead of. Don't ask me to explain why but I was desperate to beat him.

Months of training had been planned and stuck to, I was ready to go! I set off, spotted my nemesis and vowed not to let him out of my sight. An hour and a half later, I'd run my fastest half marathon EVER. That's when things got difficult. It started with a slight twinge of cramp and ended with me going through a process of run, walk, stagger trying to engage in constant forward motion for 5miles to the finish.

Feeling as though I couldn't make another step but eventually making it over the line with an old school friend who was in a similar situation.

Why I run

I'd committed the cardinal sin of running somebody else's race and paid for it with a slower finish than I had hoped for. It's fair to say I haven't done the same since.

I've still not got that 3:30, my PBs are run of the mill but I still run.

Why?

The feeling about 20 minutes into a run where you can't wipe the smile off your face. The downhills where you feel like you're gliding. The satisfaction of carrying yourself from point A to B under your own steam. The way any problem can be solved in some fashion or another whilst ankle deep in mud. The times where you get up before the Sun and it shows itself as you crest a hill. The mental health benefits as a set time for thinking and self counselling. The pride you feel when you have your version of a perfect run. All of these and more are why I didn't stop running, I just changed where and why I ran.

A change of perspective

My running focus changed to seeking out adventure and experiences. I took part in mountain marathons with no expectations other than to spend most of a weekend wet to the bone in the Brecon Beacons whilst eating too many pork scratchings outside of a pub environment. I ran up and down fells in the lake district for no reason beyond my own curiosity as to what the view would be like from the tops. I ran up and down Snowdon quaffing jelly babies like they were going out of fashion just happy to have finished the brutal quarry section rather than going into our hotel as the route passed it. I looked more for camaraderie from my runs, which is why in March I ran the Windrush Way with a good friend, purely to see what it was like. Don't get me wrong I like to race, but exploring and sharing that with like minded people is far more appealing.

The walking capital of the Cotswolds

Living in The Cotswolds has been a major driving force in that attitude change. The rolling hills, wooded valleys, loose rocky paths and jenga like walls dissecting the countryside into neat packages are all too good to not run around aren't they?

I'm fortunate to live in the walking capital of the Cotswolds, Winchcombe, and it doesn't disappoint on the running front either. A mile from my house I can join a plethora of footpaths and bridleways to link up some of the best views and routes in the Cotswolds including the Winchcombe Way, Windrush Way, Wardens Way, Isbourne Way and of course the Cotswold Way.

It's this landscape and the fantastic network of trails that gets me up and out of the door, not race times or PBs. That's only the routes on my doorstep, when you factor in the Stroud Valleys, Michinhampton Common, Coopers Hill and Cleeve Common to name a few more the choices we have here are enviable.

I'd decided to take on a bit of a longer challenge during March and decided to run the Windrush Way out and back. This gave me plenty of time to formulate the idea for Embrace The Outdoors. Why couldn't I share the best running in the Cotswolds with people near and far who want a change from tarmac pounding, maybe they might not know where to go off road running or just fancied a change from their regular running loops.

The wheels were in motion as soon as I finished the Windrush Way and had a piece of salted caramel brownie in my chops.

Embrace the outdoors

Here at Embrace The Outdoors we are offering guided trail runs in a fun social setting with no time pressure and unhindered by needing to plan a route. We do all of that for you, our moto is faff.free.running.

We do the planning so all you need to do is turn up with a smile on your face ready to have fun.

These are not races, all runs are carried out at a pace that nobody will be left behind or feel that they can't stop to grab that selfie. The routes cover a range of distances from 3miles (5km) up to 20miles (32km) and will start on 5th June with a guided run from Winchcombe up to the Neolithic long barrow of Belas Knapp.

We will be offering something to suit all level of runner: just finished couch to 5k and want to try trail running- we've got the route for you, Can run a half marathon but would like to try an off road half to test yourself- we've got a route for that, looking to create your own personal trail challenge- we've got a route for that. Find all of our current routes here.