NTHNHS | Health and Wellbeing Magazine - Issue 2, December 2021

Running is my therapy

| By Claire O’Malley

Highly Specialised Podiatrist Claire O’Malley started her running journey over four years ago after a chat with a fellow mother at her child’s nursery. An initial drive to get a bit fitter and be a bit more active a few days a week turned into a lifeline during the pandemic. Claire took some time out over one busy lunchtime in December to share how running has helped with her health and wellbeing:

CLAIRE: On the 16 March 2020 I started running every single day. That’s 365 days twice over, in all weathers. At the time, I was conscious that the world around us was changing and I should make the most of being able to get out for a run before lockdowns and restrictions came into force. I didn’t want to take my running time for granted.

When COVID came, we all had to continue working to do the best for our patients. That was regardless of how worried we were with our new reality. Our high risk podiatry clinics kept running to the same capacity levels, but everything felt heightened.

Running every day became a sacred time - my ‘wee bit of sanity’ to help escape the noise, changes and pressures of work. I run before work in the morning and that half hour helps to prepare me mentally for the day ahead.

I say to my kids: ‘I’m going for a run and I’m going to leave my bad mood somewhere’.

And if I’ve had a bad day? I go out on an evening for 20 minutes, pop in my headphones, throw some music on and decompress from the day. I say to my kids: ‘I’m going for a run and I’m going to leave my bad mood somewhere’. It works for me - I always come back feeling happier and lighter.

The time to get my thoughts in order and put things in perspective helps me ensure that a tough day doesn’t affect my home life, as firstly I’m a mummy of young children. Secondly, I’m a podiatrist working within a high pressured team.

I’ve been quite lucky to also have a number of ‘crazy running friends’ who live nearby – so I can share my running time with them, nothing beats a good old moan with your friends, especially when being outside exercising was the only way we were allowed see other people at the time.

During the first lockdown our running group set running challenges via our Facebook page to help to keep each other motivated and connected in such isolating times. I’ve also since joined the

Trust’s Strava group and through that I’ve made new work friends. It’s nice to be able to chat to likeminded people and then bump into them at work or out in ‘real life’.

Running has also led to some new adventures.

Starting with smaller challenges has since translated into bigger challenges. I’ve now done three Ultramarathons in the past two years. The latest being a Sunderland Ultramarathon in November where I was the second lady finisher! My biggest challenge to date was the Lakeland 50 Ultramarathon in the Lakes in July – a 50 mile race over extremely challenging terrain. I find them less serious than your normal marathon as you can’t run fast all the time – it’s a good excuse for lots of chatting and snacking with new people.

Do I have any thoughts for staff who want to start running? Everyone says ‘I can’t run’ but we all have to start somewhere. I would say there is no better motivation than having a running buddy, it keeps you accountable as you’re letting someone else down rather than just yourself if you don’t go out.

I have found that you always regret the runs you don’t do, not the ones you do, every bad run makes a good run great.