Some people decide to run a marathon because they've always loved running or aspired to running. I am not one of those amazing people.
I'm Fi — I'm in my 50s, I've been desk-bound for decades, and the last time I ran anywhere with any real commitment was primary school. In April this year (2026) I somehow tricked myself into agreeing to run a marathon with my brother. He's twelve years my junior and not so long ago, enjoyed trail running over hill trails. I, at the time of making this commitment, was spectacularly unfit, and as I’ve postponed doing much about it beyond a mental game – I still am.
So here we are.
Walking Before I Run is an honest and unfiltered account of what it really takes to go from genuinely unfit and almost 50% body fat, to a marathon finish line (hopefully in one piece!). It’s not a highlight reel, or a before and after, but simply the week-by-week reality of an average chick doing the work and figuring it out as I go.
The target is the Hawke's Bay Marathon, 15th May 2027. Two weeks after my 54th birthday.
Right now, I'm starting phase one – the aim is to build base fitness through walking and strength training, shifting body fat, and getting my body ready to tolerate running. I won't be sharing scale numbers here because scales and I have a complicated relationship so I won’t be using them regularly, instead I'll measure progress through all the other wins as I go.
If you're on a similar path, or you just like watching someone attempt something slightly ridiculous with good humour — you're in the right place. The newsletter goes out every Sunday.
From my soles to yours, Fi