ATHLETE STORIES
"PICTURE A GROUP OF MUMS MEETING UP AT A WEEKLY PLAYGROUP SESSION WITH THEIR CHILDREN. IN THESE SESSIONS, WE TALK ABOUT THE UPS AND DOWNS OF PARENTHOOD, MOTHERHOOD, RELATIONSHIPS AND BEING A WOMAN."
"FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, I WAS DEALING WITH THE REALITY OF NOT ONLY THE LOSS OF MY HEALTH AND WELL-BEING BUT ALSO THE HARD FACT THAT I DIDN'T RECOGNISE THE PERSON I HAD BECOME, AND I HAD NO IDEA HOW TO MOVE PAST THAT. I CERTAINLY DIDN'T HAVE THE CONFIDENCE TO MARCH INTO A GYM OR EXERCISE CLASS. SADLY DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES COMPLETELY OUT OF MY CONTROL, I HAD LOST THE EMMA L ONCE KNEW AND LOVED, AND IN HER PLACE WAS A GIRL FIGHTING FOR HER LIFE DAILY FOR THE SAKE OF HER CHILDREN AND HUSBAND. IT'S SO STRANGE TO THINK A SMALL AMOUNT OF KINDNESS AND ENCOURAGEMENT IN THE RIGHT SETTING CAN SET A PERSON ON A COURSE TO BETTER THINGS, BUT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO ME WHEN A GROUP OF MUMS AGREED TO MEET AND TRAIN WITH MATT AND JON ONCE A WEEK IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER ON A MUDDY ROAD OVERLOOKING WOOLACOMBE BEACH."
"HOWEVER, SOMETHING IN ME STOPPED THAT FROM HAPPENING. I REALISED IT WAS THE JERK IN ME. ALL THOSE WEEKS AND MONTHS OF TRAINING HAD BROUGHT ME TO THIS MOMENT. THE MOMENT WHERE I'M ON MY OWN WITH NOWHERE TO HIDE, AND I CAN SEE FULLY FOR MYSELF THE GROWTH THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE WITHIN ME. YES, I'M LAST, YES, I HAVE A LONG ROAD AHEAD OF ME, AND STILL SO MUCH WORK TO BE DONE, BUT L'M HERE, L'VE TAKEN SOME STEPS, AND I'M FINALLY OFF THE STARTING LINE!! AFTER SO MANY FAILED ATTEMPTS, IT CLICKED THAT I WAS MAKING PROGRESS AND SHOWING UP FOR MYSELF AND, IN TURN, FOR MY FAMILY."
"I WAS ABLE TO SEE HOW FAR I HAD ACTUALLY COME AND HOW NO MATTER WHAT LIFE HAD THROWN AT ME, THERE WAS A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL AND A WAY TO OVERCOME IT IF I CONTINUED TO SHOW UP FOR MYSELF AND CONTINUED TO PUT MYSELF IN THOSE UNCOMFORTABLE PLACES IN LIFE. BECAUSE AFTER ALL BEING IN THESE PLACES PRESENTS US AN OPPORTUNITY FOR TRUE GROWTH TO HAPPEN."
EMMA X