"As a teenager, I was very much a don't put me down for cardio girl. At school I would volunteer to be the goalkeeper as it required the least amount of movement. When it came to sports day, if I couldn't blag a sicknote, I'd reluctantly sign up for long jump, since the long-jump pit was tucked away behind the bike shed and drew no crowds."
"My husband had been a runner for a few years, and I was trying to get better at it. As a result, we talked about running a lot at home and my daughter started showing an interest. She said running sounded fun, which reminded me that was the point it was meant to be an enjoyable hobby that made you feel better, not worse."
Teen years featured avoidance of cardio, choosing roles or events that minimized movement and public exposure to running. Diet culture in the 1990s framed thinness as moral and exercise as punitive, producing only feelings of faintness rather than wellbeing. As an adult, attempts at running produced lingering shame and comparisons to school embarrassment. A run with a five-year-old daughter reframed running as fun and voluntary, highlighting enjoyment over punishment. Junior parkrun events offer accessible 2km runs for children aged four to 14, promoting activity and making running more approachable for families.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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