Wicklow#MagicMaker- Orlagh- The Soar Foundation
This year I am representing County Wicklow in the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon. This means a lot to me because this is where my running started.
Over the years, I’ve been lucky enough to have been involved in many different sports and hobbies, but none of them gave me the same feeling that I get after I’ve completed a run. Clarity of thought, carefree attitude to life, feeling happy and healthy, perspective, gratitude and so much more…
Back in 2019, when I moved to the area I wanted to join a club in order to meet new people.
When out and about one day, I noticed a Couch25k Kilcoole AC sign and said to myself, ‘that’s what I’ll do, I’ve always wanted to reach 5k’ . On joining this program, it was because of an energetic, welcoming, enthusiastic friend of mine that allowed me to reach my 5k target (and beyond) through her endless encouragement and belief in me.
Since then, I have gained many friends through running and have ran a few 5k’s to date, the farthest distance being the 18km EcoTrail in 2020. However, still to this day nothing beats the feeling of crossing that 5k line for the first time!
Running, I truly believe got me through COVID and some other challenging times in my life. When all other coping lifelines were taken away, I still had running to help clear my mind of the sometimes negative, irrational thoughts that were spinning round after a day of isolation.
Some of the best memories I have during COVID lockdowns were out in the Wicklow hills running and exploring. Simplistic living, free of charge and access for all walks of life. I used to think that people only ran competitively but since joining the club I have learnt that everyone runs for different reasons, and my group of running pals are some of the most supportive and encouraging people I know, not leaving anyone behind when out as a pack.
I have never ran in the mini marathon before, and am really privileged and excited to be representing The Soar Foundation this year. The Soar Foundation run early intervention, preventative workshops across Secondary schools in Ireland with the aim of young people gaining more belief in themselves and the potential/contribution that they can bring to this world.
One thing we ask of the young people in our workshops is to ‘step outside their comfort zone’ and I feel running is that to me. It never gets easier, it challenges me, and it is a good metaphor for life - some days you feel you can run forever, and other days you want to give up after a few strides, but you have to keep trying because sometimes life is not easy, and neither is running!!!
The reason I want every young person to experience a Soar workshop is because being a teenager is hard, especially nowadays and if we can help instil more confidence and self worth in our young people, the result of this is boundless potential and leaders of the future, not to mention, a happier society. If you want to know more about our programs or wish to donate, please click here
Lastly, just to say, for those of you thinking of starting to run, the best advice I received starting out was to ‘Pace yourself’. I would start out running at my max output and would have to quit less than 1km in. However, if you pace yourself and manage your breathing, you will find that your distance will increase over time. ‘Just go for it - step outside your comfort zone and you will not regret it’.