International Women's Day is on Sunday, March 8th this year — and it's a time to celebrate every woman in the world. When we look back in history we recognize there were leaders who paved the way for future generations, like Clara Zetkin who proposed at the 1910 International Socialist Women's Conference that 8 March be honored as the day annually in memory of the contributing women, but also for every ordinary but independent woman who was standing up and living her best extraordinary life. On Sunday, the 110th anniversary of this magnificent date, we give thanks to these women whilst recognizing there’s still change to be made ahead.
We’re sharing a story from one of our ShokzSquadUK, who, through perseverance, determination, and mental strength, crossed the finish line of her first marathon.
Sophia Spence-Cheng
Ins: sophiagoesrunning
I ran my first marathon, the Edinburgh Marathon, last May and I burst into tears when I crossed the finish line. I never thought I would be able to run a marathon but it turned out I could! Who'd have thought?
After Edinburgh, I scrolled through my messages with my husband and found my first ever run, which was on Christmas Eve 2017 (before I used an app to track my runs, I just ran and then spammed him with sweaty, post-run selfies). I remembered that run very well - I don’t know why running was the tool I opted for in my misery but it was probably because I wanted to literally run away from everything - my anxiety, my negative thoughts, my troubles. I'd struggled with depression and an eating disorder in the past, and recognized the signs in myself that I was entering a dark place again.
So I ran. Then I ran again for a second time a couple of days later. And again for a third time a couple of days later. And I found that my mind, which had been spiraling into a vortex of negativity, didn't have the capacity to do that, and also keep up with my body whilst I was running. It wasn't that I ran away from my anxiety and didn't deal with it; rather, the act of being able to concentrate on something purely for myself allowed my mind to quieten down and helped me manage my anxiety.
Now, my mental health ebbs and flows, but, crucially, it is manageable. And my journey brought me to the finish line of my first marathon - and I am now about to run my second.
My family and friends helped me emerge from that dark place - but running helped me even more, because, truthfully, it was an unexpected source of support and relief!
I'm looking forward to the future and what it'll bring - and seeing what else I'll be able to achieve.
As Michelle Obama said, “there is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish.”
We encourage everyone to embrace their own challenge and prepare to open their own possibilities.
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