It’s time to run again - this year sees Stockholm marathon as the starting point to a couple of ventures over 26 miles, with Royal Parks and the Anna Verrico half in the mix.

Almost  everyone has or will experience the death of a loved one. It has had such a monumental impact on me. Grief took on many different forms. I hadn’t expected any of them and had nevertheless been going through various scenarios beforehand. 

The realisation that Anna is no longer around hits me again and again, as if it’s news. Things happen, and I want to tell her about it and then realise that I can’t talk to her ever again. I have no idea where else my grief will take me so I have given up spending time of trying to anticipate it but I have faith that I will manage.

We know we will die one day, yet we still generally live our lives as if we will be around forever. I have given up trying to be a people pleaser. So now I run. And that’s what I’m doing on this challenge.

If I got through the death of my wife, I will get through other stuff, too. Death is outside your control. You have no choice but to deal with it when it comes your way. You do have a choice how to deal with it though.

You can find the lesson in whatever life serves you. You can combine all of the above and be safe in the knowledge that you will be okay. I feel more resilient and I am confident that it will help me master the simple tasks of running a marathon or two in the future. It doesn’t mean that there won’t be pain. But I can handle it and bounce back.

#letsgo #teamverrico #nevergiveup