BalanceJuneIssue2017 - 33

R EA L LIFE

MY
TURNING
POINT

RUNNING HAS
HELPED ME SLEEP
BETTER, AND I
NO LONGER NEED
MEDICATION TO
KEEP MY BLOOD
GLUCOSE LEVELS
WITHIN MY
TARGET RANGE

From
bystander to
marathon man
Bob Swindell, 48, first
discovered running after
being diagnosed with
Type 2 diabetes - and
has never looked back
words by
TR IS H LE S S LIE

*BEFORE TAKING UP ANY NEW FORM OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, IT'S BEST TO SPEAK TO YOUR GP

B

ack in the spring of 2013, I left my
GP's surgery feeling confused, upset
and lacking information or support
after being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.
It was a huge shock.
I'd been feeling run down, was unfit and
had been putting on weight for years, but
the diagnosis still came as a bolt from the
blue. Desperate, I called the Diabetes UK
helpline, which pointed out that changes
to my diet and becoming more active would
help me manage the condition and may
avoid potential complications such as
kidney disease, amputations and blindness.
But, with being overweight, I was intensely
sensitive about being seen exercising.

FIRST STEPS
After a few false starts I discovered the
Couch to 5K course (C25K) on NHS Choices
website. It's designed to get you off the sofa
and gradually work you up to running 5K
or for half an hour at a time, in just nine
weeks. I downloaded the podcasts to my
phone and completed the plan over the
summer, furtively running late at night

or very early in the morning, so no one
would see me. This just added to the
toughness of it all. Even in summer, it's
hard to drag yourself out of bed! At first,
the thought of running for just a couple
of minutes seemed extreme, and I
struggled to believe running 5K
continuously was even possible for me.
By the autumn, my secretive solo
running was stalling. I was still very
conscious about my weight and being
slow. My motivation just seemed to drift
away because I lacked a target. Then a
friend suggested I try Parkrun, free
running events that take place across
the country every week. Honestly, I lost
count of the number of times I put on my
trainers on a Saturday morning, only to
decide to do something else instead. I
just didn't think I was up to it.
Once I finally summoned the courage
to go, I knew Parkrun was something
special. From the first day, I found that
running with others really inspired me
to keep it up - I've been a regular ever
since. I'm now a Run Director of my local
meeting and a Parkrun ambassador. My
Parkrun 'family' have encouraged me to

June 2017 BALANCE

Bob was overweight
with Type 2
diabetes before he
took up running

push my boundaries and I've gone from
running 5K to 10K to half and then full
marathons, running roads, track, beaches
and a bit of cross country along the way.

GET INTO YOUR STRIDE
Last year I also took part in the first
1 Million Step Challenge. It's a Diabetes
UK initiative that encourages people to
take a million steps between 1 July and
30 September and get sponsored.
Running has helped me sleep better and
lose 50kg*. As a result, I no longer need
medication to keep my blood glucose levels
within my target range. It's also provided
me with amazing opportunities and some
wonderful new friends. I wouldn't choose to
have Type 2 diabetes but running has been
my silver lining. B
To take part in the 1 Million Step challenge,
visit diabetes.org.uk/million-step

31
http://diabetes.org.uk/million-step
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of BalanceJuneIssue2017
