‘I feel completely reborn through running’
Since retiring as a headteacher, Barbara Elliott, 63, has focused on her fitness – and has been transformed physically and mentally
After 15 years as headmistress of a girls’ school in London, I finally hung up my blazer and retired in 2020. I loved having what felt like 970 surrogate daughters, but it was time to close that chapter of my life and start a new one, focusing a little more on myself.
I’d always wanted to be a bit lighter, but the problem was finding the time to make a difference. I’d brought up four brilliant boys – Nick, 36, Patrick, 33, and twins Chris and Dan, 32 – and worked full time in teaching. I’d always put other people
My family tell me I am like a new woman
first and never made myself a priority. So finally, with no other distractions I told myself, ‘it’s me-time’.
I remembered a friend – another headmistress – who’d got fit with the Couch to 5K app, which helps novices run five kilometres through a mixture of walking and running over nine weeks. When I saw her at a conference a few years ago, I almost did a double take; she was full of energy and looked fabulous. I’d had a few half-hearted attempts at it myself, but I decided to give it another go, vowing that this time I’d stick to it.
Last September, on the first day of what would have been the autumn term, I made a start. In the past, I’d have been dressing in a suit, but this time I was putting on a strong bra, pulling on some leggings and lacing up my trainers, ready to head down to the local rugby field for my first run. My partner, Steve, came along to give me support, along with our cockapoo, Connie.
DETERMINED
Putting in my headphones, I turned on Woman’s Hour, opened the 5K app, hit start and off I went. I turned purple like a beetroot and was quite disappointed with myself because I couldn’t even run for 30 seconds! I’m always very determined to finish things, though, so I wasn’t going to let it stop me.
I had to run at least three times a week and each time the distance would slightly increase. There are different voices you can choose to give you encouragement and I picked comedian Sarah Millican. I loved hearing her gently talking to me every few minutes, cheering me on.
I also followed Dr Michael Mosley’s ‘fast 800 diet’, eating 800 calories a day for eight weeks, and I made lifestyle changes, such as swapping wine for non-alcoholic gin and cutting out carbs.
I couldn’t complete 5K within the set nine weeks, and had to repeat a few weeks, but I didn’t give up. As time went on, I could run further and even began to enjoy it. I’d wake up less snappy and felt generally happier in myself, and I was sleeping a lot better, too. Steve and Connie had to stop joining me eventually because they couldn’t keep up.
By last December I managed to run non-stop for 40 minutes and completed 5K. Steve said I’d completely changed shape and, when I stepped on the scales, I’d lost more than two stone. I felt so proud of myself and, when I told my sons in our Whatsapp group, they said I was like a new woman.
While I’m not planning to take on a marathon, I’m still running and wish I’d started sooner because the difference it’s made to my life, not just physically, but internally, has been so powerful. I feel full of energy, and so positive, like I’ve been reborn. Even when it rains, I’m still motivated to get out and run. My son Daniel is getting married next September and I hope he’ll be proud of his mum.