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Brent Godfrey, 37, co-owner of local business Forty Thieves is a keen runner, with many large events under his belt, but he also remembers what it’s like to put on your trainers and head out for that very first run.
He began running in 2008.
“My background was in surf lifesaving and swimming, so I was always fit,” he says. “I started running with co-workers and at first I was quite slow and at the back of the pack. It took me about three months to get to the front of the pack.”
He says the hardest part is building that habit.
“It takes a couple of months for your body to become conditioned and the habit to develop. You feel so good after a run, with all those endorphins, your fitness improves and you’ll find yourself actually wanting to go for a run,” he says.
In the five years that Brent has lived on the Coast with his family, he’s clocked up nearly 12,000km on foot and run through around 10 pairs of running shoes.
He joined an exclusive Coastie running group, the Night Ninjas, in 2016. Made up of around 30 long-distance runners, the group meets most Saturdays for the Parkrun in Ōrewa and on Sundays runs the 28km Waiwera loop – provided alert levels allow.
Although running events and races are currently on hold, Brent reckons it is a fantastic time to start running, as there’s not a lot else to do and you can simply head out your front door and get going.
Note: Before starting any new physical exercise regime, check with your GP.
Brent’s tips to get started:
Invest in a good pair of shoes that are designed for running. Unlike most other sports, there’s no other expensive gear needed so spending $150 on shoes is totally worth it to avoid injury. • Commit to an achievable distance goal such as 5km then slowly build up over 2-3 months. Combine short bursts of running and brisk walking to slowly increase longer running periods. There’s a great programme called Couch to 5km (look for this online). • Connect with other runners in your neighbourhood and share your runs, progress and run-related questions – this will need to be online depending on alert levels. • Download Strava, a social media app that records and posts each time you go for a run. I am pretty competitive and if I see my friends have been out that day, I’ll make sure to hit the pavement too, even if I’m feeling really tired. • Create an upbeat playlist to listen to while running. It can definitely help to keep you motivated. • Remember pre-workout nutrition. I grab a couple of scoops of nut butter and a banana before I head out. You need something that’s not too heavy and won’t give you a stitch, while still being nutrient-dense to keep you energised. • Trust in the process. It takes at least two months to turn running into a habit. Persevere and it will become a great way to switch off from everything else that’s going on.
