Hi I’m Nicki, when Sally asked me to write this blog I felt honoured, but I have also been dreading it, that’s why it’s taken me so long to get started. I’ve never been very good at writing, but here goes…

After talking to my Aunty one September evening, listening to her raving about joining her local running group and after a couple of glasses of wine, I decided to give it ago. I knew that I seriously needed to get fit and lose weight.  After searching on Facebook for local running groups I came across Ossy Joggers, little did I know my life was going to change forever. 

I definitely wouldn’t ever have described myself a runner, in fact before joining this group I was the exact opposite.  I hadn’t run since I was at school and even then i used to dread it. I couldn’t even run to the end of the street without gasping for breath and feeling sick. I am normally one of these people who start something and gives up after a few months because I lose all my motivation. So when I joined this couch to 5k I would never have dreamed I would sign up to do a half marathon less than 12 months later. 

God knows why I signed up to do the half marathon. I had just got engaged that summer so I wanted to lose weight and get fit.  I think that was something to do with it; other than that I can only assume it was too much wine and a lot of ‘egging on’ but we won’t blame anyone… (You know who you are).

It seemed like a good idea at the time.  Anyway I’d signed up now so there was no turning back, let the training begin. I can honestly say I loved the first 7 weeks and the longer runs on Sundays (especially the brews after); I was feeling fit, fitter than I had been in a long time. 

All was going well until the Brun Valley 10k. I’d had a really bad cough for a few days and felt awful on the morning, but I was determined to do it and thought I’d be okay. What a big mistake that was, I’m not going to lie, it was awful. I was just coughing all the way round and I was so disappointed with my time, I was gutted and it really knocked my confidence. 

Then came the longest run of the programme- 12 MILES, I had to give it a go even though I had a chest infection. This was by far the hardest thing I had ever done, and I’ve given birth twice! If it hadn’t been for the amazing support from my OJ family I would have never have crossed the finish line. I couldn’t run that last mile and had to walk; luckily the lovely Mark walked with me, encouraging me all the way. That’s what happens when you’re part of this family, no one gets left behind. I’ve never felt so privileged to run with this group than at that moment.  It was undoubtedly my hardest moment so far in my running adventure; I actually cried my eyes out after that run. Even though I’d completed that 12 miles, with only 2 weeks to go before the half marathon I just didn’t see how I was going to do it. 

I decided to give myself a bit of a break even though the run was so close. So I had the next week off, put my feet up and made sure I was feeling fit and well. This was the best thing I did, as by the time race day came along I was ready and fighting fit. 

Race day….. 

After the 500 messages (mostly about alcohol) in our WhatsApp group we were finally here and ready to go. THE BIG DAY, meeting 7am sharp the bus was loaded with a full team of Ossy Joggers, Beer, prosecco and lots of food (we travel in style). There was a mixture of emotions on the bus; nerves, fear, excitement, but one thing was for sure…we were as ready as we were ever going to be. 

Start line…here we go… I won’t bore you with a mile by mile commentary as it will take way too long and I’ve already rambled on. I will tell you this: it was blooming tough! The running Gods had not been kind and with a temperature of 25 degrees at 9am I knew it was going to be the challenge of a lifetime. 
However we were in this together, it was lovely that the course was on a ‘loop’ so we could see the ‘speedy’s’ when they were on their way back.  Paul, Simon, Mark and Helen were all amazing and took my mind off the run waiting for them them to run past (godsend). 

Fast forward to the last few miles, it was bloody awful! I was struggling but then in the distance I spotted Charlotte and Suzanne, l can’t explain how good it was to see them and I pushed myself so much to catch them up. I eventually managed to catch them and thank god I did, because if it wasn’t for them I would not have made that last mile. 

Crossing the finishing line has got to be one of the best feelings I have ever had other than I the birth of my children. I have never felt such a sense of achievement I honestly could not belive I had just run A HALF MARATHON!!!!  Now it was time to party and that we most definitely did, one thing for sure us Ossy Joggers really know how to party.

I just want to say that don’t ever think you can’t do it because you can, if I can, anyone can. With the Ossy Joggers behind you, you can do anything. 

This group (my 2nd family) has genuinely changed my life, I feel so lucky I found you. I wish I could thank everyone that has helped me along my journey but there are just too many of you. I would like to say a massive thank you to Mark and Suzanne for the majority of those Sunday runs on the half marathon training. Ruth, Liz, Kelly, Jackie and Lauren you guys have been a massive part of my journey and I genuinely couldn’t have done it without you and of course Sally, we are all here because of you <3. There are people in this group who I know I have made friends for life in and I am so grateful. 

P.s 

It can’t have been that bad, I’ve only gone and signed up for Manchester half Marathon in October <3