Finally back in her happy place after running took over her life
Afew years ago, stressed out from work, Rachel Smalley scrambled around in the back of her wardrobe, and pulled out an old pair of trainers.
It was the start of a love affair with running that took her from Beirut to Boston.
But it would eventually take a toll on her health.
‘‘I’d become so addicted to it,’’ she says.
With the help of specialists, she’s now back to good health, and she’s now back to running, but with a new attitude, and a hope that her experience can help others, especially women, find a healthy relationship with something she still loves.
‘‘I often wonder and worry about what my life would be like if I hadn’t put on those dodgy old trainers that day and decided I needed to run for stress, because it really is such a gift,’’ says Smalley.
‘‘It doesn’t matter how fast or how far you run. If you move, then you’re a runner. And, you know, isn’t this just such a beautiful community? I’ve met so many great people through running and so many great personalities.’’
Smalley joined us on the Dirt Church Radio podcast this week, to tell co-host Matt Rayment and me about her running life.
But, of course, running isn’t separate from life, it’s part of life. It entwines itself into our regular routine, helps us through times of tension and worry, and can give us soaring highs and crashing lows.
For Smalley, running has helped her through the sudden death of her father, enabled her to bring attention to the plight of refugees, and taken her to some of the most famous events in the world.
And it all began with that realisation she was too stressed out.
A former journalist and broadcaster who’s now involved in strategic communications, Smalley was a well-known