After 16 years away from running, Chrissy Quirk joined her children on their Class to 5K journey – and discovered that the beliefs we carry about being “sporty” are not always the whole story.
When Class to 5K launched at school, Chrissy Quirk joined the journey alongside her two children, Dan and Emily (pictured below).
Both children took part in the programme at school and at home, while Chrissy used the opportunity to return to running herself for the first time in 16 years.
This is her story, in her own words.
I am not sporty
I was never the fastest at school. I wasn’t a natural athlete and often felt like a fish out of water in PE lessons.
I am not sporty, but I do like to take care of myself because it helps me to feel good.
I try to eat well, preferring home cooking to fast food, although I do enjoy a drink at the weekend. Fizz is always welcome!
Over the years I’ve been a gym member, trained for and completed 5K and 10K events, and I subscribe to Apple Fitness and try to complete three or four sessions each week.
But I would still tell you that I am absolutely not a runner.
And I am not sporty.
An opportunity to try again
When Class to 5K came along, though, I saw an opportunity.
It was the chance to have another go at running after 16 years, while supporting my children and their school at the same time.
So I gave it a go.
Alongside Dan and Emily, I began working through the challenges.
At first, it was hard.
A 45-second run felt like climbing a mountain.
But the progress came surprisingly quickly.
By Week 6, I could run continuously for 10 minutes.
I wasn’t fast. I was slow but steady.
Chatty Pace.
And that was fine.
From 45 seconds to 30 minutes
By Week 8, I could run for 30 minutes.
I’d also started strength training with a kettlebell to support my mobility and joints.
Then I began noticing other changes.
I felt better after running. My posture improved. I felt stronger.
And something I hadn’t expected happened too:
I stopped waking up with back pain.
Running had gone from something that felt almost impossible to something I was beginning to look forward to.
Then came Parkrun
To support the training, I signed up to Parkrun and took part in a junior event with my daughter.
Eventually, all of us completed the Class to 5K final fun run.
We crossed the finish with smiles on our faces and a real sense of pride.
But somewhere along the way, I realised this had become about more than completing a running programme.
Why do I still say I’m “not sporty”?
Despite all the evidence, and despite leading a generally active life, I still struggle to think of myself as sporty.
I think part of that comes from the fact that our ideas about ourselves form when we’re very young.
When I was the age my children are now, I didn’t feel sporty.
That perception has stayed with me.
I may never completely feel like a “sporty person”.
But my children don’t have to inherit that misconception.
They can train.
They can watch me train.
They can experience themselves getting better at something.
And they can build confidence in their physical abilities that I never had at their age.
They can see themselves as sporty, healthy and active people.
People who might even choose to get up early at the weekend and go for a run, with me alongside them.
And I’m still going
I still don’t think of myself as sporty.
But I now turn up and train five times a week.
I continue to run and strength train.
I’d like to pick up my pace and complete a full 5K Parkrun.
Perhaps I’ll even have a go at Trails & Trials one day.
The opportunities suddenly feel endless.
Because, despite telling myself that I’m not sporty, I’ve discovered something important:
my body is capable of much more than I had allowed myself to believe.
Class to 5K started as a way for me to support my children.
Instead, it has started a new journey for me too.
And for that, thank you.
