Running, walking, and resilience: My Movember challenge with a twist

So, here I am raising money for Movember. No moustache to grow, unfortunately or maybe fortunately, but I am giving it my all this month with a 60 kilometre running and walking challenge. I know the whole point of Movember is to bring awareness to men’s health, mental health, and suicide prevention and the moustaches are fun and all but I think you do not necessarily need a moustache to make an impact, right? Instead, I am lacing up my trainers and aiming to cover 60 kilometres across the month. It feels like a solid goal and an important cause so even if I cannot join the moustache-growing crew, this still feels right.

At first, things were off to a great start. I had mapped out the distance on a nice little calendar; the kind of plan where if I did a run or a brisk walk every few days, I would easily reach my goal without pushing too hard. I was feeling ready and actually pretty excited because I love running and the idea of running for a purpose added a new layer of motivation. But of course, life had other plans. Just as I was getting into a good rhythm, I ended up with a calf injury. A calf injury. In November. The one month I had committed to running regularly. It feels like a bit of a cruel joke to be honest, but here we are.

I had been feeling it coming on for a little while, that tight twinge after runs or on colder mornings, but thought it would ease up with some stretching and rest. But a few days into November, it really flared up, making even short runs uncomfortable. Anyone who loves running knows how frustrating it is to be held back by an injury. I love that sense of freedom when I am out there running, completely in the zone, just me and the open road. It is my time to clear my head, de-stress, and get that much-needed dose of fresh air. But now I have this injury slowing me down, which is frustrating when I am trying to raise money and awareness for a cause I care about.

But hey, if anything, Movember is all about resilience, right? It is about pushing through the tough times and showing up anyway. So I am adjusting. I am swapping out some runs for long walks instead, and I have promised myself that as soon as my calf is feeling up to it, I will ease back into some light jogging. It is not ideal, but it is still progress. And walking is still part of the 60 kilometre challenge, which means every step counts towards the goal. I am lucky that walking is something I can still manage without too much pain. I have also started to see these walks as little moments to slow down, to actually take in my surroundings rather than speeding past them. It is a different pace but one that is teaching me patience, which is something I sometimes need reminding of, especially when it comes to physical setbacks.

And, honestly, I have been touched by the response I have gotten from friends, family, and even colleagues. The donations are coming in, and people have been asking how my progress is going, checking in on the injury, and sharing words of encouragement. It is such a good feeling to know that people care and are willing to contribute, even if the journey is not turning out exactly as planned. It makes me want to keep going, to finish these 60 kilometres even if it means a few more walks than I would have preferred.

In a way, the injury is making me more determined to stick to this commitment. If I can push through and adapt, then I hope it sends a small message about resilience and self-care which are key aspects of the Movember cause, especially around mental health. Injuries are like that too; they are a reminder that sometimes you need to slow down, take care of yourself, and still find ways to keep moving forward even if it is at a different pace than you planned.

So here we are, one week into the month. The injury is still there, but I am finding ways to work around it and keep moving forward. I am not sure what the rest of the month will look like. Maybe the calf will heal enough for a few more gentle runs, or maybe it will be a whole lot more walking. Either way, I am determined to hit that 60 kilometre goal and raise as much as I can for a cause that is so important.

Movember is about more than just moustaches. It is about showing up, finding strength in tough times, and raising awareness for men’s health and mental health issues that so often go unspoken. If that means I spend November adjusting and pacing myself, then that is what I will do. Every step still counts towards the goal, and every kilometre is another chance to make a difference. Injury or not, I am in this for the long haul, and I am grateful for everyone who is supporting me along the way.

Donate to my efforts here: https://movember.com/m/14299605?mc=1