Still, I am by no means interested in becoming an out-and-out runner. The Hackney Half presents a perfect opportunity to see what I am capable of. By incorporating nasal breathing into running and by slowing things down and running in beautiful places like Hampstead Heath I've even been able to start seeing it as a meditative practice.Īll that said, I am yet to test myself in running and I'm still slow. So with concerted effort over the last 3 years I’ve gradually gone from hating running to not minding it and then to genuinely enjoying it. In some cultures, running is even considered a spiritual gateway (for more on this read the excellent Born to Run). We’ve been doing it for thousands of years, to hunt, to move and to escape predation. Running is an eminently human thing to do. Ultimately, it’s hard to deny that running is a significant component of general physical preparedness. The longest I'd ever run was 5km, and this was always done 'for time' such that every longer run I ever did was at high intensity.Īt some point I had to confront the cognitive dissonance of claiming to be a fitness enthusiast while also being a poor runner. Like any good CrossFitter, I thought the most you ever needed to run was 400m, maybe 800m.

Until fairly recently, I hated distance running. BJ and I have signed up to race on May 22nd despite both being average runners. With Basis located in London Fields it’s a no-brainer for us to get involved.

The Hackney Half Marathon is one of London’s most iconic (and fun) fitness events.

Download average half marathon pace