Inspirational, me?

You seem like quite a talented guy and one who is putting his talents to work.

Well done.

Hopefully more people will follow your lead.

Now this is a very nice comment and one unsolicited from someone I have never met. I instantly thanked Doug for his comment but it got me thinking…

Have I inspired people? Do I have the power to inspire people? Does what I say make a difference?

I’m not a celebrity. I’m not a theologist, a doctor, a physicists, a historian or a journalist… What can I say that can really make a difference?

Working in marketing this really shouldn’t need much consideration especially as we live in an age where communication, social networks and the power of the individual are key.

I have personal evidence of this today as I couldn’t contact a department store I wanted to to make a complaint. I decided to make a public complaint on their Facebook page – they came back to me today with an email address so I could explain why I was so annoyed with their service (resolution still pending).

I have been online for years, I have blogged for as long as I can remember (and way before it was fashionable). I used to produce a weekly podcast which had a decent following and got me to the iTunes top 10 of personal podcasts so I really shouldn’t be surprised by Doug’s comment – and yet I still am.

I have been going on about my running continuously and this is something I didn’t think I would ever do (the running or the commentary) and yet this too is making a difference.

I blog about my runs as I think it’s great to keep a journal of my achievements and to record my thoughts and fears as I embark on my new hobby. It’s great to hear that others take some learnings and comfort from my words. All I am doing is recording how I feel. Something others have done before me and will do afterwards.

I was humbled that someone sponsored me yesterday because they were inspired by the amount of updates I have made to Facebook (from the blog) which record my effort and achievements. As I had logged such records they felt it warranted reward and have sponsored me as a result (thanks Mike).

I never thought I would get into running that much or so quickly and to be honest the trigger to start is pretty much lost on me now. I know I started simply to prove I could run and to get a bit more active but it appears to have opened up a whole new part of me.

I didn’t enjoy sports at school. I used to like Tennis, Badminton, Gymnastics, Swimming and some Athletics but didn’t really excel at any of them. I did make Athletics captain one year and took part in the 100m and 4x100m relay (which we won) but I never thought much of it.

Looking back I probably had more interest in the changing rooms during games than I did actually doing any games! LOL 😀

So I find myself at 38 years old, embarking on a new adventure and enjoying it. I started running for me and I decided after some thought to move this forward to see how I could push myself. I signed up for my first 10K with the encouragement of a good friend and now I am the proud recipient of £1,000 worth of sponsorship for Alzheimer’s Society. A charity that means so much to me given how my grand mother suffered at the hands of her dementia. This is a pain and a burden I will always carry with me. I know my money won’t cure the disease but if it helps in some way to alleviate the pain and suffering of others from this awful disease then I have played my part.

I love to research things and this ends up making me obsessed sometimes but I’d rather know all the facts than head of blindly. This is why I quickly got myself tested for proper running shoes, this is why I invested in some proper running clothes and it’s probably why I was so hard on myself when I didn’t think I was doing as good or as much as I could. I’ve learnt from the research and my four months experience on the road and I have moved on. Running friends, bloggers and professionals have been very helpful along this journey and I am thankful for that.

What I didn’t expect was to become some form of inspiration or expert to people who are where I was not so long ago. And yet I am. It’s humbling. It’s moving and it’s nice to think others (some who I don’t know or know only virtually), would reach out and ask my advice.

Several people have taken my advice and chosen a similar route to mine into the world of running, others have taken my advice and decided to take their own path but most of all they have done what I did. Got off their backsides, done some research (including asking me), summoned up the energy and got out on the road and run. Unbeknown to me I have spawned a new group of runners and my adventure has moved on from my streets in Colchester and Plymouth onto Ruislip, Oxford, Haywards Heath, Cambridgeshire and beyond.

All I can say is thanks to everyone who has helped and supported me on my journey. Thanks to those who have taken the time to document, write and journalise their experiences for me. Without you I would not be in the position to do the same thing so I want to say thank you to you.

As for my followers and Doug: thank you for believing in me, for trusting me, for supporting me and joining me on this great adventure.

I am always happy to help!

Don’t forget I am running my first 10K in aid of Alzheimer’s Society on the 25th November. I am running the MoRunning 10K at Greenwich Park.

Please support my efforts by sponsoring me.

Thanks!