Pleasure in Pain

I rarely give anything less than an emphatic affirmation.

The subject at hand is as innocuous as masochism is provocative; running.

It's amongst the simplest and most effective forms of exercise, requiring little more than a pair of shoes - nonetheless optional - a location, and just a smidgen of determination. And few things will ever feel quite so sensual, so very invigorating, for what is, after some initial perseverance, not much of an effort at all.

It used to be hell on earth, at least for me. Being unfit didn't help much, nor the fact that I had done virtually no distance running before. That and the fact that at thirteen, I was not quite the six footer that adulthood was to see in. What I did have was dedicated friends, to whom I owe a good deal of thanks. One in particular, had the patience to see me through the earlier days, when running three miles under twenty minutes was a struggle for me.

He was of national quality in his native Thailand, but was happy enough to spread the news to the uninitiated with constant guidance and encouragement.
In time, he was forced to leave the country for reasons extraordinary, but not without having passed on his pain-loving distemper. By this time, we were doing seven miles, three times a week, and it felt tremendous to have gone from nothing to all that in a relatively short time.

That was how it remained until I left school for a London University at eighteen, at which point life became so busy that it was nigh on impossible to keep up such a rigorous routine. Time for rediscovery. Now that I'm doing my Ph.D. at Cambridge, things are a little different; greater flexibility to plan my schedule, a tremendous expanse of beautiful, open countryside, a plenitude of paths and pavements to explore. What can I say?  I'm in love again.

And so the obvious incredulity that underlies that question certainly tickles my sense of humour.

Running brings back many fond memories, still brings me the same rush it used to, and the fitness just returns so quickly. It is hard to believe how much antipathy I had for the whole thing when first taking it on - it can hurt like the blazes - but until you give it a chance, and take the time to persevere until you notice improvement, it's hard to empathise. Now, in that ever curious fashion, I am once again experiencing pleasure in pain; yes, I really enjoy doing this, and one day, you may well understand why.