Race For Life

Plagued with self-doubt, she just had to put one foot in front of the other…

- Gillian Harvey

You can’t go out looking like that!” Debbie looked at herself in the mirror. Her new tracksuit bottoms that had looked OK in the shop changing rooms now seemed to cling to her thighs. Her T-shirt was too short; too colourful. Maybe Steve was right? Maybe she was being ridiculous.

But she had to do something. She ignored his words and opened the latch, stepping out onto the cold, dark street.

Running was hard; it was only her third week, and she was still forced to drop into a walk after a few minutes – her breath coming in short, hot gasps. She caught a glimpse of herself in a shop window.

What do you think you look like? The words rang in her head. Angrily, she began again, feeling her muscles protest.

Back home, as she stepped on the scales, she could hear his voice. “I don’t know why you’re bothering.” She tuned him out and focused instead on the fact that she’d lost two pounds. The second week in a row. True, there were over twenty more to lose, but it was a start.

“Shut up, Steve,” she muttered and began to get ready for work.

So, you ran again this morning?” Jane said over lunch. “Good for you!” “Oh, it’s nothing – I’m practically walking!” Debbie replied. But she was pleased all the same.