Ipswich runner and leader Bev explains why Jeffing works so well for her

Not really having run previously, I joined ICR beginners in June 2017, just after I retired and shortly before my 66th birthday. I wanted to do something to help me keep fit and had been inspired and introduced to I Can Run by a friend who was a run leader at the time.

I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy running but I did. After finishing beginners I joined the Tuesday free runs with ICR and went on to do my first 5k, the August Summer Series run. The support and encouragement that I got from joining ICR was great and I don’t know if I would have carried on running without being part of such a lovely group. It’s good to be able to give that support to others by now being a run leader myself.  

I’ll never be fast, I’m not built for it, but jeffing is just right for me and I’ve amazed myself at what I can achieve with it. Last year, as well as various 5k and 10k races, I did the Orwell Challenge half marathon, the Felixstowe Coastal 10 mile and the Great East Run. I love getting out for a run, it’s my “me time”. Hopefully I can carry on for a few years yet! 

It’s not all been easy and I’ve had several aches/pains/injuries for no apparent reason, as well as a couple of nasty falls. So far I have recovered from them, but do have worries when it takes a while that I might not be able to run again! However, each time I start building up again gradually, as I’m doing at the moment.

The beginning of lockdown coincided with a lower back problem which meant I could hardly walk, let alone run, so my first challenge was to get moving again. As soon as I was feeling a bit better I started short, daily walks with my husband until I was able to walk faster and further. I then did increasingly longer walks by myself every few days until I felt able to add in a little running. By the beginning of May I felt that they were runs rather than walks.  

One of my first cancelled runs was the Resolution Run for the Stroke Association, although I would not have been able to do it anyway as my back pain had just started. However, they said this run could be done virtually so I did a 5k walk instead of a 10k run. I also walked for the NHS Challenge 2020 and the 2.6 Challenge.  

It felt great to be able to Jeff 5k for VE Day 75 Years as well as the virtual Ipswich Twilight 5k run on the Bank Holiday weekend. My next challenge is to be able to run (Jeff) 10k again. At the moment I can’t see myself getting back to running 10 miles or more for some time.

Although I’ve missed our Tuesday free runs and seeing some of our I Can Run ladies at parkruns, I usually do more running by myself than with others so lockdown hasn’t affected me as much as it has some people. It’s been good to keep in contact via the I Can Run Facebook groups during lockdown both by sharing what I have been doing and encouraging others.

Looking forward to getting together again in the future.