running – Clarabelle

Kicking the Brick Wall

if you’re angry, you’re wrong

August 31, 2022August 31, 2022 ClaireLeave a comment

Yes, you did read that right….. and what a really stupid thing for me to do!

2008

The year was 2008 and I was training for my first marathon. I was about 8 months into my training (out of 11 months in total) and was on a significant 16 mile run. Up until then, everything was going perfectly in my training and this particular Sunday morning run, started off really well.

I got to about 12 miles in, and soon, a little knee niggle became a huge big, pain in the butt – so much so, that I had to stop running at the 13 mile mark.

To say I was furious, was an understatement – I was so ANGRY and FRUSTRATED, that I started to agressively kick the brick wall next to me. I kicked that wall so hard that I nearly did myself some serious damage, but thankfully, I realised how stupid I was being and eventually stopped.

This ‘kicking the brick wall’ incident was very ‘out of character’ for me, and as I reflect on it today, I feel very bewildered by that ‘manic behaviour’ – it really made no sense at all!

LIFE

The ups and downs of Life WILL put our true emotions to the test and it’s our job to have internal control over how we respond to these emotions. Anger, frustration, aggression and crazy behaviour, NEVER EVER works…. period!

I recently watched a video interview of a former Royal Marine, who shared one piece of learning that was so POWERFUL. In this interview, he said, “if you’re angry, you’re wrong” – WOW . . . . . just think about that for a minute.

RERUN

So let’s take the aforementioned running incident and deal with it all over again, today, as it was back then. What would I do? Well, as soon as I felt the little niggle at the 12th mile – I’d stop, flag a taxi, rest the overworked knee and celebrate my progress to date, with my favourite bar of chocolate!

*IMPORTANT NOTE – no bricks walls were harmed in this 2008 incident, only a bruised EGO that needed to learn a hard lesson!

By Clarabelle, London,UK
Created on 9 August 2022
Posted to Blog on 31 August 2022

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Me and My Mum

August 5, 2013August 5, 2013 Claire1 Comment

Ponder, Think, Reflect

I am 10 weeks into my 16 week marathon training programme and my long runs at the weekend can be quite challenging. Yesterday, I had to do a 16 mile run, this took me about 2 hours and 45 minutes. I stopped taking music with me on these runs and I now use the time to ponder, think and reflect on whatever comes up for me at that time – very often these thoughts turn into a blog post, just like today.

Carfin

My running routes are through my local town and often take me into other connecting villages and towns. Yesterday I found myself running in the village of Carfin that I was brought up in and where my mum lives.

Whilst running up hill towards my mum’s home I thought about the times when I visit her and then a sad thought came over me, one day I will not be visiting my mum in her home, because one day my mum and just like the rest of us will not be here. I didn’t ponder this for too long because I didn’t want to make myself feel too sad. I suppose that is life and that is the reality of it all but it did make me think about me really wanting to spend quality time with my mum whilst she is here and whilst I live so close to her. I then immediately thought of all the nice things we could do together, places we could go and visit, conversations we could have, holidays we could go on…..lots of special time together. So I now have a little plan of action to put all of this into place.

Loved Ones

Sometimes in life without even realising it we can take our loved ones for granted, especially when everything is going well with their health etc.. My run towards my mum’s house yesterday made me really think about that, I want to spend as much quality time with my mum as I can and I will and I look forward to sharing those lovely fun stories with you on this blog.

If this post has made you think about a loved one, please give them a phone, visit them, drop them an email or text…..just connect with them and let them know you are thinking about them and are there for them, it will make you and that person feel great today.

Wishing you a beautiful day filled with love and happiness, Clarabelle

Chat with Clarabelle (clarabelle.org)
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London Marathon 2013

April 23, 2013April 23, 2013 Claire6 Comments

It was the London Marathon on Sunday, 21 April 2013, and I just want to say a massive congratulations to everyone who took part in the run and also to the most amazing support from the thousands of people who stand for hours along the side of the road to cheer on the runners. I have run a couple of marathons before so I really do know what it is like to feel the wonderful support and encouragement from the crowd, it really does motivate you as a runner and really puts a smile on your face. I did the London marathon in 2010 with my good friend Gina and we raised a good amount of money for a charity which is very close to Gina’s heart, Alzheimer Scotland. I don’t often share a lot of videos on this blog but I thought it might be nice to share the video I personally made in 2010 of our London Marathon experience, it is quite good fun to watch, you will see from the video how excited I am – so please be prepared. I feel there is at least one more marathon in me and as I write this I am seriously contemplating doing another one this year – which one, I don’t know you, but I will let you know when I have decided.

So please enjoy the wee video, I hope it makes you smile and maybe even inspires you to take on the challenge of running a marathon.

Much love to you today, as always, Clarabelle.

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Natural Flow

March 25, 2013March 4, 2016 Claire9 Comments

When I am out running, I often feel like I fall into some sort of hypnotic or meditative state, it’s hard to explain and put into words but whilst out running today I was thinking about it. Sometimes my runs are easy, free-flowing, effortless and natural (like yesterday) and sometimes my runs feel really tough (like today). Whilst out running this morning I was thinking about, what makes the difference in me? I know that when my mind is busy, like today, my runs are tougher and when my mind is silent, it feels like, as the runner, I become the run. This then got me thinking about other things that would also apply to, i.e. the lover becomes the love, the singer becomes the song etc.. etc.. Which inspired this next poem. Whatever you do today, may it feel natural, loving and in spirit. Love Clarabelle

Natural Flow

The runner becomes the run;

The laughter becomes the fun.

The walker becomes the walk;

The talker becomes the talk.

This is what I know;

This is natural flow.

***

The lover becomes the love;

The rain flows from the cloud above.

The singer becomes the song;

Solitude is where I belong.

This is what I feel;

This for me is real.

***

The artist becomes the art;

True spirit flows from your heart.

The swimmer becomes the sea;

Creative flow comes from feeling free.

This for me is true;

I believe for me and you.

***

This poem is part of the poet;

A gift and how I know it.

The Spirit of an Angel

October 28, 2012October 28, 2012 ClaireLeave a comment

I was out running today (08.10.12) in the very beautiful autumn sunshine, it felt so wonderful. I was running up hill and could see I was approaching a group of young children (about 4 years old) with their nursery school teachers, it looked like they had been on a mini adventure. They had all been told to stop to make room on the path for the ‘lady runner’, and as I run towards them, I was given the most amazing, heartwarming waves and smiles from them, with one little girl in particular shouting an excited ‘hi’ from the top of her voice and spreading much happiness from within. It was such a beautiful, treasured moment and it really has made me smile all day. This next poem is inspired by all those cute little angels I crossed paths with today. May your day be filled with sparkles and smiles, love Clarabelle

The Spirit of an Angel

The spirit of an angel, smiled at me,

A beautiful child in the moment, loving and carefree.

The sweetest gift, with such a sparkle in her eyes,

Wholesome and heartfelt, a miracle surprise.

The true magic of such, a youthful soul,

Creates the most precious diamonds, out of coal.

poemsbyclarabelle, 8 October 2012

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