Explore the Hidden Benefits of Running Beyond Being Fit with Holly Robinson! Episode 026

 

Richard Conner 0:00

Welcome to Episode 26. We took a little break there, but we’re back with a super cool guest. She’s a novelist, journalist and ghost writer and she shares her running journey with us, as well as the benefits that she experienced beyond the physical ones. Hope you enjoy.

Here’s what you can look forward to on this episode of Inspire Virtual Runs Podcast.

Holly Robinson 0:22

I think the running well I think for one thing it is running really does focus your mind also and keeps you calm in a way you know, Buddhists talk about walking meditations, right to focus the mind and training the mind to be present by having your body engage in these repetitive motions. And I think there’s something similar to running where you you go out and your mind just kind of focuses on on your steps in a way but it’s that rhythm. I think it’s just that rhythm that unleashes other things in your mind and sort of calms your body down, calms your mind down and it’s a lot easier to be calm after you’ve been running and they talk about the runner’s high but I think about it as the runners calm you know, it’s, it’s, it’s more like that for me.

Intro/Outro 1:07

Welcome to Inspire Virtual Runs Podcast, whether you are new to running or seasoned, get tips in the inspiration that you need to achieve your health and fitness goals. Now, here’s your host, Richard Conner.

Richard Conner 1:24

Hi, everyone. Welcome to Inspire Virtual Runs Podcast. I am here with novelist, journalist and ghost writer, Holly Robinson, who was also a fellow runner. Holly is the author of a memoir in six novels, she and her husband have five children, and divide their time between Massachusetts and Prince Edward Island. I’m excited to have Holly here with us today to share with us her running journey. So welcome to the show.

Holly Robinson 1:51

Thank you so much. It’s so fun to be here.

Richard Conner 1:54

So I’m so happy that we met. You know, I think I shared with you that I read a little bit about your story in real simple magazine, which admittedly, it’s not a magazine that I typically read. But I’m really happy that the internet brought me to your article.

Holly Robinson 2:10

Well, I’m really happy too, thanks for reading it. You never know who you’re going to reach with articles and essays, especially now online. So it’s very fun that it led us to meet each other.

Richard Conner 2:20

Absolutely. Absolutely. And you have such a great story to share. And I’m eager to get this conversation going. So you know, let’s let’s jump right in.

Holly Robinson 2:27

Yeah, well, as you mentioned, I’m a novelist and and, you know, when you write novels, they’re long, and they don’t get written if you don’t chain yourself to the desk for hours at a time every day. So basically, that means you spend a lot of your life sitting. And let’s just say that I had developed kind of a Homer Simpson body over time, and, and what’s ironic, I had never been a runner ever, ever, ever. what’s ironic is that three of our five children are champion distance runners. So they were in high school. And they have kept running since finishing high school and college and one of my daughters is an ultra marathoner, which I can’t believe anyway, through the years, I kept cheering them on driving them to track me, it’s, you know, yelling at the finish line with all the other parents. But it never occurred to me that I should run it just didn’t look fun, especially, you know, afterwards, when they were a wreck after these races. Why would anybody do that? That was basically my, my feeling. I’ve never been much for exercise for the sake of exercise, you know, I’d go to the gym for a while, because, you know, I would feel guilty because I wasn’t doing anything. But it was always a struggle to get there. It was never fun. It was really a struggle to enjoy any part of being at the gym. I mean, I did it, you know, tried it a few times a week. But you know, when my youngest child went off to college, this was about five years ago. Now, I happen to see an ad in our local paper for a couch to 5k program, I had no idea what that meant. I didn’t even know what a 5k was. I mean, I figured it out. But when I figured it out, I thought, well, you know, maybe I should try running, just try it because at least then I wouldn’t have to drive anywhere to go to the gym. I live in a small town and I have to drive about 15 minutes to get to a gym. So I emailed the coach and I had all of my excuses for not doing the program pre prepared, you know, like it would be too expensive. I’m too old. I’ll never keep up with it. But you know, every excuse I came up with she shot down, you know, the program was free. It was a community program. She was running it at the local high school and the coach herself was 70 years old and I thought well, okay, maybe I can try it. I’ll just try it one Saturday, I will try it and I had never in my life worked out with any sort of running coach. And you know, I quickly learned both the value and the horror of the whistle. You know, the whistle that keeps you going because I am blaring at you when you stop or slow down and this catch two 5k program. Probably a lot Have your listeners know this is is, you know, a run walk program. I didn’t know that when I started, I had no idea what it was I just looked at that track and I thought, I will never be able to run around that track. That’s too far. It was cold. It was March now that went here in Massachusetts, the wind is really icy in March. But when you only have to run a minute, that’s actually doable. I so I just said, Okay, I’ll run a minute, because that’s what the first thing was to run a minute, I think if I’m remembering, right, and then you get to walk for like, two minutes. I was like, Oh, yeah, I can walk. And the other thing that helped is that a lot of the people who came I was not, in fact, the oldest one. And I was in my late 50s, at that time, and I thought, Oh, no, I be too old.

And, and No, I wasn’t the oldest person there. even beyond the coach. There were a couple other older women there. A lot of people had stories, you know, they were coming back from cancer, or they wanted to, you know, be more fit for a daughter’s wedding or, you know, various things like that. So that kept me going because there’s this group, and the coach was wonderful. She would, you know, see a slowing down, you know, she eventually moved it like from the track. She taught me the value of like running in different places, because we started on the track, but then she would take us to trails and she would take us to the city park and she’d take us along the waterfront. I live along the water here in Newbury Port. And it was really interesting how she would sense you were slowing down and the flow that even if she saw you slowing down, because I would slow down, there’d be one particular area, one trail, she would take us on around a pond, and I would know there was this hill, and I would try to slow down my steps. So I wouldn’t reach the hill when she would blow her whistle. And we’d have to start running and and you know, everybody else starts running so you can’t not run and so so I prayed she would somehow be across the pond and she’d catch me she was so fast. I don’t know how at that. But she would just race around and she’d run beside me and say baby steps, you can run up that hill. And she just with that kind of encouragement, what could I do? I had to run up the darn hill.

Richard Conner 7:00

Sure.

Holly Robinson 7:00

So this went on all summer. And the goal was to run a 5k race by July I think was the city charity race in July. And I thought at the start, I thought oh, no way Can I do it. But by May, it was Mother’s Day, there was a Mother’s Day charity, run, walk race. And I thought, you know, I want to practice I don’t want to, I’m kind of a perfectionist and writing my novels. And you know, now I wanted to practice my 5k before I did the real one, the so called real 5k with the group. So I sneaked off to this 5k charity race for Mother’s Day and didn’t I wouldn’t even let my husband come because I was so certain I was going to come in last last last and I didn’t want to be humiliated. I was scared. And I did have some humiliating moments. Like there were a lot of moms with baby strollers who just cruised right by me. And it was humiliating. But on the other hand, there was music, people were cheering, and nobody was there to see me. And so nobody had to care how I did. But me. And I didn’t In fact, come in last mainly because there were walkers. And so it was great. And then I could do the official couch to 5k program race. And that was also a blast because it was in the city. It was a fundraiser for a good cause. And there are all kinds of people doing it. And I really loved it. And despite it being like, I know, it’s like 90 degrees, horrible heat that day. And so when it was over, I was really sorry, it was over both for the community of runners that I had met. And also because I thought oh no, if I don’t have this community, what if I quit? You know, I was I was scared, I’d quit running like I had quit almost every other time. And I’m really good at quitting any kind of exercise I’ve ever tried. And so I decided to join the group that was training for a 10K never thinking that I would make the 10 kit was a 10k was the Tufts, you know, the charity race in Boston? And no, I’m not going to. I mean, for one thing, Boston, what I really go in there would be a big crowd, how would I do it? But again, because I had this group, there were just four of us that went from this particular group. And we went to the 10k. And I ran it and it was I we trained, you know, for the rest of the summer it was in the fall. And it was another great event because we ran along the Charles River and through the Boston Common and suddenly, miraculously, I was one of those runners I had always seen running on the Esplanade along the Charles River, which if you’ve ever driven along there, it’s really beautiful. And you always see these people running along the river and think Wow, that looks really fantastic. And I could never do it was my original thought.

Richard Conner 9:32

But you did it

Holly Robinson 9:32

I found out I could I did it. Yeah. And so and it all stuck. And so I’m still running now it’s been five years and I’m still running, you know, just I really run a lot on my own because I like I found out I also like running to podcasts and music and I really like the solitary running as much or more now than running in groups. But I still do the events so I still I still like to do events just to keep myself in there. Yeah. That’s how I started.

Richard Conner 10:00

Wow, what a story. So congratulations on your pre first 5k. I don’t know how to call that one. And then

Holly Robinson 10:10

My cheaters 5k.

Richard Conner 10:12

And five years later, here you are, I think that’s awesome. And you shared a lot with us. And I’d love to kind of unpack this a little bit and kind of go through, you know, step by step, and how you started and how you progress. So that, you know, the first thing that you mentioned was, when you join the group, how a lot of the folks there had their reasons why they had joined either, you mentioned one person was coming back from cancer, and then another one want to be fit for their wedding. And you know, that’s something we talked about on Inspire Virtual Runs all the time is really having that why and kind of setting your goal is something to look forward to or work towards. What was your Why? Because you talked about your youngest child going off to college, and then right to the couch of 5k ad. Like What went through your mind when you saw the ad?

Holly Robinson 11:00

Well, I think I think that Well, there’s two things that work there. I think when you see runners, you think, oh, that person is a runner, when you are not a runner, when you haven’t ever been a runner, you look at people who are running anything, oh, I could never do that. I could never be that person. I could never be that athletic, right? Because you think that looks really hard. And it is hard. When you start out it’s hard. Your body keeps saying quit, quit quit. This is awful. What are you doing? And and I think that doing this group, and with all these people, they’re different reasons sort of showed me Oh, well, there’s other reasons to run than just being fit for me, I wanted to get rid of the Homer Simpson thighs at least tone them down a little bit, and maybe, you know, fit into a slightly smaller pair of jeans. I’ve never been one of those, oh, I want to be thin kind of people. But it was kind of getting out of control. So I wanted to be more fit. But more importantly, I think that it was part of my identity. All of my life. Well, not all obviously not all of my life. But for for decades, I’d been a mother I have I you know, I have five children, they’re 10 years, 12 years apart in age, from youngest to oldest and so that’s a lot of time spent mothering. And when the last one went to college, I was not only sad, you know, missing them all. But I was also Okay, it’s the question a lot of mothers ask is Who am I when I’m not, you know, responsible for somebody else’s welfare every day? You know, you’re obviously you’re still in touch by whatever Phone Email, but what? Who am I and so that that kind of loss of identity means I had to kind of find another one, who am I going to be now that I don’t want to, you know, have to keep living through my children. So who am I going to be when I’m not living through my children? You know, what I mean? So it’s, it’s, I think, for me, it was that that search for a new identity in a way, and I think running was part of that.

Richard Conner 12:44

Okay, okay, that and you know, I think a lot of people can really relate to to your story. I mean, there’s a, there’s a lot of us that are raising families and family comes first and we spend a lot of time there and then work is also demanding so so you’re at a phase in your life where you know, kind of what’s next, right? Who am I going to become so that that’s really interesting, and I appreciate you sharing that and I know you had mentioned your age a couple of times and how you’re concerned about getting starting to run and the and the coaches will Don’t worry about it right? I’m older

Holly Robinson 13:21

well, because what you hear from so many people is oh running ruins your knees and you know you and I’ve talked about you know various struggles with knees and and a lot of people do experience some pain when they run injury for whatever reason wrong shoes wrong stride, twist your ankle off a curb running trails, you know, fall over a tree root, whatever. Yeah, it’s not a high risk activity. But you know, people say oh, especially older runners, watch your knees. In fact, there’s a lot of mixed research on it. And, and a lot of the research shows that running strengthens, you’re not your knees so much as the muscles around your knee so that you’re stronger. And I have found that to be true for me, because now that I’m in my 60s, I have no pain going up and down stairs and before I started running, and it might partly because I also lost weight but but I developed my the muscles around my knees and now when I go up and down stairs, I can run up and down the stairs, which I never and I my husband and I hiked El Camino which is the you know, the trail and in northern Spain and France and we were hiking, you know, up to 20 miles a day and and it was I could do it up the Pyrenees mountains, you know, because I had been running my knees didn’t bother me so so it’s Yeah, I would say for older runners, don’t be afraid to just check it out. Try it just start slowly. You just have to really I think that’s why the couch to 5k program was so good for me anyways, is it’s a really slow gradual way to build up your strength and your pacing and kind of learn your own body. I think there’s because there’s you know, very individual as you know, very individual techniques for running and you have to find the best one for you And plus, you know, checking out the right shoes, you know, making sure you have that that’s really important.

Richard Conner 15:04

You’d mentioned about the couch to 5K and a really good program. And that’s actually something that we recommend. I mean, you’re right, if you’ve never run before, or it’s been a long time, since you’ve ran, having that couch to 5k, or the walk, run walk method is really helpful to gradually get you back in because you can hurt yourself getting back into any activity without kind of preparing your body for for that kind of activity. So I definitely agree that that’s great for beginners or someone who hasn’t run in quite some time.

Holly Robinson 15:37

Yeah, and also, I think it’s also important for people to recognize that, what if you start out on your own, you will probably start out too fast, and you really will hate it and your body mind can also have problems, and you’ll probably end up quitting, it’s it’s hard to, you just can’t sprint out of the gate. Whereas if you give yourself permission to kind of do it slowly, it will, it will work. And it will end it’s a matter of I think you’ve had another person on your podcast, I can’t remember who it was who said this, but it’s a matter of getting enough in the routine for whatever, 60 days, 90 days, I can’t remember what she said. But for me, it was, you know, a couple of months of really solid, like sticking with it for you to realize that you feel worse when you don’t run, you know, and then your body kind of it’s like a switches turn, then you kind of your body wants to run you want that release, because there are so many benefits as you and I have talked about that or go way beyond the physical for running, I think

Richard Conner 16:34

Right, right. Absolutely. And you know, and I love to talk more about that. And let me just kind of go back to another point. And sure, before we get there. So just to kind of summarize some of the things that you’ve already mentioned. So number one, next chapter in your life, you’re looking to do something for you running was that next thing, and the ad in the paper had prompted you to do that. And then once you got into the group, it was not only the support of the coach, but also community was kind of my other key takeaway that then led you to continue on and go to the 10k. Kind of inadvertently, if you didn’t intend to do the 10k. But you did it to be part of the group, which I think is

Holly Robinson 17:12

the accidental 10K

Richard Conner 17:15

Awesome. Yeah. So I don’t I don’t know how many people accidentally run a 10k. But you did it. That’s great.

Holly Robinson 17:22

It’s easier than you think that’s what I would say.

Richard Conner 17:25

So like, you know, kind of thinking through your experiences there, starting with the 5k and 10k. And then beyond, what would you say was your biggest obstacle that you faced during that time?

Holly Robinson 17:36

Ah, self doubt, I would think that me thinking I couldn’t do it, that I wasn’t an athlete. I think that was my biggest obstacle to overcome and moving Yeah, I’ll probably give up on this, like I’ve given up on tennis, or whatever else I’ve tried, you know, I I’ll never be able to do this. It was definitely the self doubt that crushing self doubt that and, and age, you know, I think that I was afraid that I was too old to be really active. I thought, Okay, I’m going to just have to, you know, walk the 10,000 steps that everybody tells you to walk, which is not no small goal. But I wanted to do more than that, because I wanted to go into my 60s, being able to still hike with my kids up a mountain, you know, or go with my husband on hiking trips to the Pyrenees, you know, those those kinds of goals I wanted to do.

Richard Conner 18:27

Mm hmm.

Holly Robinson 18:29

But yeah, I was really afraid I wouldn’t be able to do it. I think that, you know, one of the side benefits of running really, that I think you and I talked about a little bit in one of our previous conversations is that that kind of confidence that it gives you to try new things. And I had seen this in my children, like I think, I think running for especially, you know, middle school, high school, kids is so wonderful, like my kids are not the usual, you know, balanced tick mainstream sorts of athletes, and they didn’t have you know, they they didn’t think of themselves as athletes, you know, just just different kinds of kids. They were they never watch sports, they didn’t care about sports, but they had to do sports in high school as part of their school. And so of course, they they pick running because they have to try out, you know, the teams and what I saw the teams give them I think, especially for my daughter was this kind of the kind of community support I later found in the couch to 5k program, where everybody was so accepting of whatever you were whatever pace you ran, they were cheered you know, they were cheered on, okay, you’re supporting even though you’re not the fastest maybe on the team, you might be holding up the middle of the team and even if your last so what you’re still as my daughter the ultra marathoner said to me when I said I don’t know I’m so slow. I’m never gonna be good at this should it doesn’t matter. You’re still doing the miles you’re still doing the race. It doesn’t matter how slow you are. And that was the kind of attitude she picked up from high school running that she has carried through her life, which makes her confident about trying a lot of new things. And I have found that to be true for me too, that that it’s like that kind of community support. And then the self doubt kind of been erased by the, with the support means you go on and do other things with more confidence. Because you can do this thing. You know,

Richard Conner 20:17

That’s awesome. And I completely agree. And I can actually identify with that, that running is a confidence builder.

Holly Robinson 20:25

I think it even helped me in some ways with public speaking that sounds kind of weird, but, but how could running help you with pub, but I was always terrified of public speaking. And I have to do that a lot of innopolis in their book launches or you know, I speak to book clubs or whatever readings, I think they’re running well, I think for one thing it running really does focus your mind also and keeps you calm in a way you know, Buddhists talk about walking meditations, right to focus the mind and training the mind to be present by having your body engage in these repetitive motions. And I think there’s something similar to running where you you go out and you just even if you’re listening to music, which I I often do, but it’s you get into this rhythm, maybe not. I mean, the first model is always held for me. I don’t know how it is for you, but it’s just awful. I still start out thinking, oh, God first came alive. Yeah, yeah. And it’s just like, but the second mile you’re, you’re like, Okay, I’m here, I’m doing this, I’m in this and and your mind just kind of focuses on on your steps in a way. But it’s that rhythm. I think it’s just that rhythm that unleashes other things in your mind and sort of calms your body down, calms your mind down. And it’s a lot easier to be calm after you’ve been running and and they talk about the runner’s high, but I think about it as the runners calm, you know, it’s, it’s, it’s more like that for me. And as a novelist, that’s especially important because I have to, you know, do that, but it, it helps me the public speaking to, like, often, if I have an engagement, I’ll just go running that morning. And it is both energizing and calming and focusing, you know, said, so I’m just, I’m just more ready for whatever I have to do. And, and I really appreciate that.

Richard Conner 22:01

Okay. All right. That’s awesome. I definitely love your philosophy about running, you know, not only the physical benefits, but but those beyond I think that’s great. Any other benefits beyond like the confidence building? Bring the focus?

Holly Robinson 22:17

Yeah, yeah, I think just kind of the joy of being outside which, you know, so more of us have been outside during the pandemic, right, of course, you know, because everything’s in, you can’t be inside. When I started running outside, I was, you know, like I said, spending hours a day, you know, writing, so that’s mostly an indoor activity. You know, I grew up on a horse farm, and I was outside every day in every kind of weather, cleaning the bar and riding my horse, you know, and you had to be outside, right. But then as an adult, you don’t always have to be outside. In fact, you’re expected to be inside because you’re working or you’re taking care of your children or you’re driving carpool, or your whatever you’re doing, it’s often inside and running once you commit to running, even through the year, which I also didn’t think I could do, like, how could I run in the winter in Massachusetts. But once you start doing it, you realize that it’s, it’s fun, it’s invigorating again, but but it’s kind of fun to run in snow. And there’s something wonderful about running on trails, like I just started running on trails, and you know, just kind of Yeah, you know, you have to be careful the roots and the rocks, but you’re outside, you’re doing the forest bathing that, you know, everybody talks about is so helpful as forest bathing. And I think I think that’s part of that part of the joy of it, just that connection without being outside that we don’t really have enough of in our lives in our particular society. And I don’t think we’ve ever needed, you know, a calmer mind or a more joyful spirit than during this past. Really difficult, crazy pandemic year. So, I’ve really appreciated running for that.

Richard Conner 23:51

Sure, sure. And definitely agree it’s been definitely a challenging year. I know that this time, last year, gyms closed, couldn’t work out, didn’t really have a setup at home, needed to do something. And the first thing I decided to do is just start running outdoors, which I hadn’t really done a lot other than training for for the Spartan Race.

Holly Robinson 24:13

So where are you mostly running inside on a treadmill?

Richard Conner 24:16

Mostly running inside on the treadmill? Other than races.

Holly Robinson 24:18

Oh, wow.

Richard Conner 24:19

And mostly because I didn’t like the cold. And you know, New England, whether it’s, it feels like a cold six months out of the year. So

Holly Robinson 24:28

You and I both know that? Yes.

Richard Conner 24:30

I was running in the gym and I had to venture out and run outdoors and just, you know, like you said, the joy of being outside definitely experienced that and really kind of enjoyed nature and just noticed all the things that I think I’ve been missing all these years I even met neighbors I didn’t know I had so it was it was really nice.

Holly Robinson 24:51

Right, right. And as my daughter says, you know, there’s, I’m sure you’ve heard this before, too is there’s no such thing as bad weather only bad outer clothing, you know, and so you know, you quickly learned about layers and little tiny jackets that you can put on as a backpack if it stops raining while you’re out there, and there’s just all kinds of really cool inventions, inventions for running outside, which I had no idea existed until I started running in New England winters. And, and now Yeah, yeah, other than ice on the road, I always run outside, it doesn’t matter how cold it is, to me, I just do it just go outside. And you think you can’t do it, but you can. And in fact, you’ll not only get used to it, but you’ll start liking it because of being outside.

Richard Conner 25:32

Right. Right, that that’s fantastic. So you talked about a lot of things that you that you love about running, and they will, what would you say would be like that one thing that you enjoy most about running, maybe something you’ve mentioned, or something you haven’t mentioned yet?

Holly Robinson 25:46

I actually think the thing I love most about it is that it no matter how worried I am about something, or how hard I’m working on a project, how stressed I am about children or the political news cycle, whatever is really causing my mind to you know, talk about the top of my head to fly right off, because I’m stressed, I would say that running puts me back in my body. And lets me have a broader perspective on everything, to sort of accept what’s happening and and sort of deal with it more calmly. And that I think is that being back in your body instead of only in your tiny, crazy mind, is a huge, huge benefit. And probably my favorite one, about running.

Richard Conner 26:34

That’s fantastic. Thank you so much for sharing that. So So yeah, so you know, Holly, this has been such a great conversation. And you know, kind of as we wrap things up, like what would be like the one thing you would say to our Inspire Virtual Runs community on to either start running, or if they’ve started how to, you know, stick with it,

Holly Robinson 26:55

I would definitely stay say, find a community if you can, to get you started and keep you going. I feel like having those other people. Even even now, like there are runners in my neighborhood who I’ve met because of running and we say hello, and we talk and and now when I see them, we talk about our runs and knowing that I might see this woman on her right, we don’t actually run together most of the time, but but knowing that they’re out there, and I’m out there like having that community and that discussion and kind of sharing “Boy, that wind was icy along the marsh today”. Whatever it is, you know, it really, it really helps to know that other people are out there doing it. And so I’d say find your community if you can, if there if you can’t, if you if it’s too hard, because the pandemic, I would definitely encourage people to check out the various apps for couch to 5k programs are so many running apps, I also discovered runkeeper, which I really like and not not a big deal. I mean, a lot of people use it, but I was very late to add it to my phone. And and it’s been a real help, because it’s started to help me, you know, with my pacing, and you know, keep me going like my mild times. You know, I just I’m very more aware of that now, but I wasn’t ready before. So I think I think first things first, I think you’re just starting out, find your community who will help you keep going and, and will keep you going and you’re setting goals, setting 5k goals. That’s also you know, that’s also helpful if you know, you’re going to run a 5k in August, you know, if you sign up for it, you will think about training more than you would if you hadn’t signed up for that 5k. So I’ve even signed up for 5K’s that I’m so so like, maybe I’ll make it maybe not, but I’ll train for it. You know, and then you know, if it’s convenient, I might go and it’s a charity, so it’s good to give money anyway. So yeah, that’s gonna be the two things I would suggest.

Richard Conner 28:48

Thank you so much, Holly, this has been awesome. And I love the stories that you shared.

Holly Robinson 28:52

It’s really fun.

Richard Conner 28:54

And also love the fact that you highlight, it’s not too late to start running. You know, I don’t I know this old saying I don’t I don’t know if it applies all the way here. But like the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. And the second best time is now so you know, exactly never too late to start running. So I love that you kind of shared your story around that. And also the benefits, you know, beyond the physical benefits that we gain from running. So I really appreciate that. So like how can the Inspire Virtual Runs community like finds you and kind of follow your work and in your journey online?

Holly Robinson 29:25

I think the best thing is probably my website, which is authorhollyrobinson.com. And I’m also on Twitter and Instagram, you know you can I’m pretty easy to find online. So yeah,

Richard Conner 29:39

That sounds good. And also, I’ll put this in the show notes and make it easier for our listeners to find and also include the link to the article that I found that I love this article. I love the way you write and I think it would be interesting for listeners to read that as well. So put that in the show notes.

Holly Robinson 29:56

Thank you so much.

Richard Conner 29:57

Alright well thank you again, Holly and have a great day.

Holly Robinson 30:01

Okay, you too. Take care. Bye.

Richard Conner 30:03

I’d like to take a moment to thank Holly for coming on the show. And I’d also like to share my three key takeaways from the conversation. The first one was about the benefits of running beyond the physical ones. Holly talked about how running calms her mind. And she also talked about how running can give you confidence. So it’s really nice to see some of those benefits that you get other than what we normally talk about, which are the physical ones. The second takeaway was about having that self doubt or fear. Holly talked about all the excuses that she already had in her mind when she was checking into the couch to 5k program. And when in reality, it was really just kind of fear just holding her back at first, but she moved forward and she found out that running was something that she number one could do, as well as enjoy. The third takeaway is about the importance of community. So Holly talked about having the couch to 5k coach help her along her journey, but also the community that group of runners that she would have have missed once she graduated from that couch to 5k program. And then she went on to the 10k program. So just really appreciative of Holly coming on the show and sharing her journey with us. I hope you enjoyed it. Please go to Apple Podcasts and leave us a review. It would really mean a lot to us. So with that. Thanks again for listening, and have a great day.

Intro/Outro 31:30

That’s it for this episode of Inspire Virtual Runs Podcast. If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a review. Also, be sure to click the subscribe button so you don’t miss an episode. Thanks for listening.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai