Current Times - Sarah Deacon

We want to share with you our experiences in the 'current times', this week we hear from Sarah Deacon.

“As many of you know, I really like running. It’s not for everyone and I’m certainly no Paula Radcliffe. But I love how when I’m out my thoughts align and settle down, even as I’m gasping for breath. I’ve struggled with injuries over the last few years, predominantly relating to weak Achilles tendons, but at the start of this year I undertook some coaching through my local physio. I’d almost completed my six-session course when lockdown commenced and plans were scuppered. However, with the lockdown an opportunity presented itself and I started the Couch to 5k training programme, implementing all the things I’d learnt and essentially starting my running journey over again. It took a lot of time and patience but I’m now running pain free and really loving watching the seasons change as I go out regularly. Now that the days are getting shorter I’ve taken control of my working day and I’m starting earlier and finishing later so I can get out and soak up the daylight at a convenient point between meetings.

I would really recommend getting out for at least ten minutes a day. It’s so easy at the moment to be sat in the same seat for hours on end; without a commute there’s often nothing to break the day up and provide an end point to the working day. It’s well documented the impact fresh air and sunshine (even rain) can have on your mood and overall wellbeing. If you can’t get out, as I know will be the case for some of our members, maybe try this: make a cup of tea, coffee or your favourite comfort drink and sit next to a window in a patch of sunshine, or where you can see a tree or even someone else’s window box. Open that window (yes even if it’s raining) and take five minutes to breathe in the outdoors. Take note of what you smell, what you can hear, what you can see, and how it makes you feel. I guarantee you’ll notice the bird singing or the variety of colours in the leaves, even over the noise of the street and next doors car alarm going off.

This is a very strange and very difficult year – look after yourself and those around you if you can, and please stay safe.”