Wild Strides Running Coaching in Lacey Green

Timea Jones, a Human Resources professional and the driving force behind Wild Strides Running Coaching in Lacey Green, balances the demands of being a busy working parent with her passion for adventure. As a trail runner, she thrives on tackling everything from casual parkruns to gruelling ultra-marathons. Her love for discovering new places transforms each run into a mini-adventure, making running not just a workout but her therapy – with a little more sweat and far fewer couches!

For Timea, running is a lifeline in a busy world, connecting her with nature, herself, and others. If this resonates with you or if you’re eager to explore the beautiful countryside right outside your door, consider joining her growing Strava community for local runners at www.strava.com/runaway-villagers. Because, after all, running is about building connections – with nature, with ourselves, and with each other.

If you need help with your running - be it training for a new race PB, conquering a new distance or injury proofing yourself, please reach out to Timea on timea.garai@gmail.com

Hallmark December 2024. Runaway Mum by Timea Jones

It’s 6 a.m. I step out the door, my belly still warm from coffee, leaving behind the comforting embrace of my home. Darkness envelops me as I take my first step, with only the blinking stars and a silver moon hanging above my head. A thick veil of fog hovers over the dewy grass, and the silence is broken only by the faint call of an owl echoing in the distance. The world around me is still, wrapped in slumber, safe and cozy in their beds.

I inhale deeply, savouring the crisp air as I exhale, watching my breath form a delicate mist in front of me. With a quick reach, I flick on my headtorch, casting a beam into the early morning shadows. Across the field, a pair of shining eyes reflect back at me – fox or muntjac? It seems I have company.

For a moment, I hesitate as the cold cuts right through me - the warmth of my bed beckons, urging me to retreat, to cocoon myself beneath the blankets. But I glance at my sports watch. It’s time to seize the day. I press "go", feel my legs respond, and I’m off. The trails are calling.

At the start of the run, my body feels like a cold engine, each stride weighed down by the fatigue of yet another restless night spent trying to locate teddies gone AWOL, and cuddling an unsettled baby back to sleep.

My breathing is rugged, and my heart starts pounding firmly against my chest. My mind buzzes like a crowded beehive, full with thoughts of all I need to do today, the deadlines I can’t forget, the places I need to be, the endless juggling act to keep it all together.

My heart gradually settles into a smooth rhythm, my body feels lighter, and my mind slowly releases its anxious, hurried thoughts, surrendering to peace.

Suddenly, I'm fully present, soaking in my surroundings. I hear the crunch of autumn leaves beneath my feet, the soft rustle of branches as I brush past overgrown hedges, the flutter of birds’ wings overhead. The earth gives a gentle squelch under my weight, and the cold air kisses my cheeks, waking me up. In the corner of my eye, I catch a frisky bat darting above, a pair of playful squirrels racing through the branches, and a shy muntjac watching me from the undergrowth. The raw, earthy scent of autumn fills my nostrils.

I’m finally starting to enjoy the run. Out here on the trails, I’m wrestling rolling hills instead of endless to-do lists, trading the messy chaos of life for a simple rhythm under my feet. Here, decisions are straightforward: left or right, up or down - no tough calls and ‘grown up’ responsibilities to weigh. Each stride forward is a break from the unrelenting pace of being a busy working parent. Instead of chasing my own tail, I’m chasing speed along the open flats.

After a miscalculated step that nearly cost me a shoe to a pool of soft mud, followed by expertly dodging a flock of fluffy sheep, and navigating my way around a field of curious cows, I feel invincible - ready to tackle whatever the day will throw my way.

The weariness lifts with the fog, and energy courses through my veins. In the stillness and the shadows, I slip into a state of flow, everything feels effortless and pure. Just as I approach the home stretch, dawn begins to break and I spot the familiar silhouette of the windmill in the distance. Moments later, the soft glow of the rising sun illuminates the horizon, bathing everything in hues of soft pink and orange as the world slowly stirs. A profound sense of freedom, wonder, and gratitude fills me.

By the time I step through the door, covered in sweat and satisfaction (carefully leaving muddy footprints outside), I am renewed. The smell of my husband’s freshly made pancakes is wafting through the house. My son shows up in his cosy pyjamas and wraps his little arms around me and my baby girl’s smile outshines the rising sun as she notices me. And as I breathe in the warmth of home, I realize: the run didn’t just bring me back to my door - it brought me back to myself. I’m ready to embrace my family and the new day.

Timea Jones