Who would have thought that a hobby that started during lockdown, simply because “everyone was doing it,” would blossom into a passion that propels someone all the way to a marathon finish line?
Not Lily when she first started running.
In this More Than Miles story, Lily D’Abreo, a runner from Brighton, walks us down the path from lockdown runner to marathon finisher, uncovering her reasons for running.
Taking Her First Steps
“My journey in running, like a lot of people, it started in lockdown. I’d never run a 5K before, I just thought it was something everyone was doing so I needed to do it,” Lily recalls. Initially, running felt more like a punishment rather than something enjoyable.
However, as lockdowns eased, Lily began to see the benefit of running for more than what meets the eye. “I realised it wasn’t just a trend, it was something that was benefiting me beyond aesthetics,” she reflects. Fuelled by this newfound purpose, Lily continued her running journey, culminating in her first marathon last year.
How Running Empowers Mental Wellbeing
For Lily, running has become a powerful tool for managing mental health.
“I’ve always been very into sports so having discipline has always been a big thing for me. So having that kind of element of control in terms of relating my mental to my physical, having that way to connect them together and just me being in control of it really helped the mental side of running for me,” Lily explains. This connection between the physical and mental aspects of running has been a key factor in her ongoing commitment to the sport.
Navigating Setbacks and Self-Motivation
Every runner encounters obstacles. Throughout her running journey, Lily has experienced her fair share of setbacks but has found ways to push through by focusing on the supportive community around her.
“There’s obviously highs and lows within the sport, and there is always that comparison, but I do just have to remind myself that it’s a community that I’ve built with likeminded people and with my mates at the end of the day, and it doesn’t always have to be serious,” she says. Reminding herself of the communal aspect of running helps Lily to stay motivated, even when training for a marathon or a race.
Setting Goals and Staying on Track
When it comes to setting running goals, Lily has one golden rule: “Don’t compare yourself to others.”
“It’s your journey. If you’re training for a 5K, you’re training for that. People are training for marathon, you don’t need to be tapping into that. I think just stay on your own path, set realistic goals,” she advises, recognising that most runners have full-time careers away from running.
Lily stresses the importance of balancing the activity with other life commitments. “We’re not full-time athletes – none of us are. I think that’s something I have struggled with,” she admits, and “A lot of the people I follow on Instagram are full-time athletes. They get paid to go on runs and that’s all they do. But we all do have other stuff, and this is something we do for enjoyment, not for any financial benefits.”
The Essence of Resilience
At SUDU, we celebrate resilience. For Lily, this concept is deeply intertwined with her experience in overcoming setbacks.
“In terms of resilience for me, I’ve obviously done all of that marathon training block and I’ve done that 5:30am long run on a Saturday morning that I probably didn’t want to do,” she shares. The key to resilience lies in remembering the reasons behind the running journey and the ultimate goals. “I think it’s just reminding yourself of your why and why you do it, what your end goal is and how you’re going to feel after that. I think resilience comes from getting up, coming back from the setbacks and just doing it,” she concludes.
Find Your Strength in Every Stride
Running journeys can take unexpected turns, and Lily's story is proof of that. It began with obligation but developed into a passion that’s nourishing for the body and the mind – and that’s the transformative power of running.
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