July 27th 2024.
I remember the day like it was yesterday. A quick search led me to the nearest parkrun, Osterley Park in west London. Little did I know that this small decision would change my life in a big way. As I stepped through the park gates, I couldn't help but feel a sense of nervousness. But that soon faded away when I was greeted with open arms by two volunteers, Andrew and Geoff. They made me feel like I was part of the community right from the start.
But let's backtrack a little. It all started with a visit to my GP. I had been feeling a bit off lately and decided to get some blood tests done. Little did I know that this visit would reveal that I was in the prediabetic zone. My GP, with a concerned look on her face, told me that I needed to start taking medication. I remember a few moments of silence before I insisted that I was going to lose weight. She chuckled and said, "They all say that." Her words were exactly the motivation I needed to turn my life around and reverse my Type 2 Diabetes, which I was diagnosed with back in July 2019.
Looking back, I always thought of myself as healthy. Sure, I was a bit overweight, but I cooked most of my meals from scratch and rarely ate processed foods. But in reality, I was morbidly obese and had a sedentary lifestyle. Working from home as a marketing consultant for 20 years had taken a toll on my health without me even realizing it. I loved food, especially my mother's delicious Punjabi cooking, and I would often indulge in delicacies on my travels. But I ate too much, and it was starting to show.
In 2016, my mother fell ill and was bedridden until she passed away in May 2017. During those six months of caregiving, I put on 15kgs and weighed a shocking 110kgs. It was a wake-up call for me. I knew I needed to make a change, but I didn't know where to start. Then, my GP's words pushed me into taking action. I changed my diet, replaced all snacks with fresh nuts, and implemented an intermittent fasting regime. But I also wanted to incorporate exercise into my routine. That's when my friend Ed told me about parkrun.
So, on that sunny day in July 2019, I found myself at Osterley Park, ready to join my first parkrun. I was nervous, but the friendly volunteers made me feel at ease. I started off as a volunteer, slowly building up my fitness levels before attempting the 5k course. It wasn't easy, but the supportive community kept me going. I even managed to "run, walk, run" the course a few times before the pandemic hit and parkrun had to be suspended.
But during lockdown, I found the motivation I needed to continue my journey. A simple walk in the park with my neighbor, Rajeshree, led me to discover the Strava app and the Couch to 5k program. It took me eight weeks to complete, and I was proud of myself for being able to run 5k without stopping. And when parkrun returned after the pandemic, I was ecstatic. I had hoped to take three minutes off my pre-pandemic time, but I ended up beating it by nine minutes! With each run, I was getting faster and stronger.
Soon, parkrun became a central part of my weekly routine. I loved the fresh air, the release of dopamine and endorphins, and the interactions with my community. I even joined the local running club and started attending group runs. The other runners were incredibly supportive, offering advice and encouragement to improve my running.
Three years have passed since that first parkrun, and I can confidently say that my life has changed for the better. I've lost over six stone, gone from 5k runs to 20k, and even become a Run Director at Osterley parkrun. Volunteering has become just as satisfying as running for me. And in June 2021, two years after that initial doctor's appointment, I reached my target weight of 73kg. My GP told me I was in remission and could stop taking my diabetes medication.
It's been a long journey, but I've managed to keep the weight off by controlling my eating, walking, and running. I've even added the gym and swimming to my routine. I've now completed over 100 parkruns and volunteered at over 70 events. Parkrun has shown me the power of community and how a solitary sport can become a supportive and inspiring group activity.
So, if you're thinking of joining parkrun, I say go for it. It might just change your life, like it did mine. And as they say, "It's free, and you only need to do it once." So why not give it a try? Share your views in the comments below and join the country's biggest running club. I promise, you won't regret it.
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