'Start manageable and steady. Set yourself a realistic aim that fits into your life and try to stick to it.'

Creativity in Chaos' first guest post - and it's from a runner!

I found myself 18 miles into a 20 mile fell walk in the Peak District recently, trudging through mud and finding it tough. I was wondering why on earth I started, let alone why I had thought I could walk 20 miles across hilly terrain. The negative self-talk started in my mind, questioning my own ability to finish.

Then the realisation happened: this is what always happens. You always think you can’t do things right before the end. There are so many parallels between running, writing and any form of endeavour, and the feelings at the end of a run (for me at least!) are the same as those at creative crossroads. What am I thinking? I’m no good at this. Then all of a sudden it’s finished and it never seems as bad as it was in the moment and it was all worth it!

And so, to celebrate London Marathon weekend, I am delighted to introduce our first guest Q&A, Helena Butler, to share some of her top tips for resilience, planning and performance with you! As well as being an experienced runner, who last year ran a London Marathon personal best of 3.22m, she manages to juggle work and parenting alongside training, and she also happens to be my sister! I’ve always admired her dedication and have felt so proud to cheer her on during several marathons.

Hi Helena! How do you find time to fit running into your schedule?

With difficulty at times! It seemed easier before having the children, but then there was probably more time to procrastinate, too. After my first-born I started running at 5:30am to fit it in. I initially felt ridiculous, but this dug out some much-needed chunks of me-time without impacting too much on family life.

Planning runs over the week also helps. Pre-work short run, pre-work slightly longer run depending on who is taking the kids to school. Dropping my 6 year old at Beavers? Buys me another hour session before pick-up. I also have the luxury of a non-working Friday. Weekends are obviously easier but I still go early to make time for family stuff. 6.30am Sunday start, anyone?

Organising my running kit also makes a big difference. Running clothes in their own drawer, running socks kept together in a drawstring bag, headtorch/buffs/gloves/waterproof etc in a box, all ready to grab and go.

Do you have any mantras when times get hard?

‘You got this’ is one of my mantras. I know, it is super-cheesy.

But I’ve actually repeated it in my head towards the end of hard races (the ones when you could be sick on your shoes with the effort). My brother bought me a framed picture of this quote which hangs in my home office. It’s a mantra for life and not just running! You can do this is another one - I do love the positive self-talk when I can muster it. And sometimes just counting to 10 or 20 helps during maximum effort short runs or races.

What are your biggest triumphs and challenges?

My biggest triumphs have changed over time, but I try not to forget the feelings those early ones invoked.

My first 5K Race For Life, my first 10 mile training run. I actually felt like Super Woman! It was such a high, and that running could make me feel like that was a revelation. The first time running the London Marathon was overwhelming and emotional, having previously sat and watched it in my student house in Sheffield, eating a Mars bar and casually thinking ‘I’d like to do that one day’. A triumph can also be a great week of training or getting my kit on and out the door when I really can’t be bothered.

Consistency is a big challenge. Fitness is hard won and easily lost and that can be frustrating. Also, we all know that comparison is the thief of joy, and whilst I love Strava, I sometimes need to have a word with myself and use it for good rather than for a negative scroll-fest when I’ve not been out for a while.

Do you have a routine, or do you wing it? How do you juggle work, childcare and running?

I tend to have a running routine, though with the kids and family life it is never set in stone. Over a week I’ll try for a longer run, a recovery run, maybe a run with some efforts and I do like to do a track session when I’m marathon training. I’d like to say that I religiously mix in yoga and strength work, but those aspirational thoughts often don’t translate into action. I’m just not that disciplined. It is a juggle, and sometimes I do question why I bother (though once I’m out the door into nature, I know exactly why I do it). I’m trying to train for a longer fell race at the moment, and I have to remind myself ‘do what you can, when you can’. It’s supposed to be fun after all, and not one more thing to beat yourself up over.

What do you think about when you run?

Winning. Ha, only joking. Ooh, all sorts! Early morning running allows you to see all sorts of wildlife such as deer, owls, the odd badger, even a weasel once.

I notice the passage of the seasons. Spring brings the sight and sounds of lapwings and curlews, the arrival of bluebells in May, then the purple heather on the moors in the summer.

Thoughts of work, family and friends steadily float in and out like the blocks in a Tetris game. Often I’ll find myself subconsciously thinking through an issue, and afterwards the answer or my course of action will feel clearer without having thought too hard about it. And then on a more basic level, am I hungry? Do I need to eat? Do my feet hurt? Am I nearly home? I can’t wait for that coffee…

What advice would you give to someone just starting out? 

Start manageable and steady. Set yourself a realistic aim that fits into your life and try to stick to it. Three times a week for 20 minutes completing run/walk sessions might be more than enough to start with. A decent-ish pair of trainers will help, but I wouldn’t go berserk. Shoes are cheaper online, but I do like going to a shop to work out what suits my slim, flat feet (rather than going for what worked for my mate with super-wide neutral feet). Find your running tribe. Whether that’s a running club, your local parkrun, your gym friends, your mates or an online running community. Running with friends brings a whole new dimension and the running community is world-wide and awesome. And if you don’t love it, find something that you do love! Lots of people have told me pointedly over the years that they hate running. That’s ok too.

Best to find what you love, or at least like, and do that.

Helena Butler is a runner with 15 years’ experience, a 3:22 marathon PB and 5 marathons under her belt, as well as various fell runs such as the Three Peaks fell race. She is also parent to two sons, aged 6 and 11, and regularly does Junior Parkrun with them. She lives in Saddleworth.

Let me know if you’d like more guest Q&As in future, and good luck if you’re running in the London Marathon this weekend!