A new me

If she can do it, so can you, says Helene after completing a half-marathon

Helene Pieterse Age:32 Bloemfontein Achievement: completed a half-marathon

I am a 32-year-old mother of two girls. Ever since having my first baby, I’ve not found the time or energy to stick to an exercise routine. Juggling a career, children and household responsibilities was enough of an excuse for me to not have to make time for exercise as well. But then I saw an article in Shape about running. It included a training programme for beginners to learn to run 10km in 12 weeks, and also listed 14 reasons to take up running. Although they all sounded really good, I didn’t believe I’d ever be a proper runner given that I’d never been able to run more than 3km — not even when I was in high school and at my fittest.

But after reading the article (with its day-by- day programme), I decided it actually looked quite achievable, so I joined the nearest gym and did the first day’s training the following Monday morning. By the end of that first session, I was sweaty, exhausted and tempted to quit. But I’d already told my friends about my goal and decided I couldn’t give up so easily.

Every day was a challenge, but I felt an urge to see how closely I could stick to the exact training times of the programme before it would defeat me. And with every day that passed, I surprised myself by managing it. I even kept going through the holidays, thanks to the great support of my husband, who started running with me to keep me motivated. Slowly but surely the idea of reaching my 10km goal was becoming a reality. My mindset shifted very subtly, and I soon started looking forward to my morning runs. I had a lot more energy and felt so good after running — as if my frustrations and stresses were left behind on the road.

As time passed, I befriended other runners and found that the running community is very encouraging, and always willing to offer advice and support. After completing the 12-week programme, I entered my first 10km race. I started off with a bang and even though I knew I was going too fast, I couldn’t slow myself down. It was quite a challenge running on the road, since I’d done my training on a treadmill, which controlled my speed. But adrenaline kept me going and when I finished, I was overwhelmed by a wonderful feeling of accomplishment. Running was suddenly a part of me — and I loved it!

I soon set my next goal, which was a half-marathon, and completed Shape’s 8-week 10—21km challenge. And earlier this year, I was ecstatic to earn my first half-marathon medal. I’d recommend this programme to anyone, not only because I’m fitter and healthier than ever before, but also because it helped me to discover my inner strength and showed me that I could achieve far more than I’d imagined. It also doesn’t hurt that I’ve lost 5 kilos, dropped from a size 10/12 to a comfortable eight; and with firm, strong legs and six-pack abs, my body looks better now than it ever did in my 20s!

Motivational Tips:

-Never think you’re too old to
try something new.
-When times are tough, every
day you persist helps to build
your character.
-Remember, nothing truly worthwhile comes easily.

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