When I started running five years ago it was hard and definitely wasn’t something I’d call fun. But I carried on doing it because there was an image in the back of my mind of me running barefoot down a beach smiling. That was what I wanted.Somewhere along the line, as I trained for my first marathon, running stopped being something that was endured and started to be something I enjoyed. I liked the feeling of the ground beneath my feet and the breeze in my hair. I liked moving my body and seeing how far it could go.

I became evangelical about running, probably a bit of a running bore. I was the exercise equivalent of the ex-smoker who becomes the most vocal about why all their friends should give up smoking immediately. I’d seen the light and I wanted everyone to join me.

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I’ve stopped banging my drum so loudly in the past couple of years. I know that people have to come to the decision to start exercising themselves. But along the way a few friends have expressed a desire to have a go at this thing we call running. And I’ve been there to help and encourage them.

I went out running with a friend who hadn’t run in more than 10 years. We headed to Finsbury Park where his aim was to complete one 1.5 mile lap – we ran two. I’ve helped four friends to the finish line of their first marathon. More important than the finish line glory is the fact that they’ve carried on running. They’ve become runners and learnt to love it.

Last year I trained as a UK Athletics Leader in Running Fitness which means I’m insured and qualified to lead groups of runners. I’ve been doing this a bit through my running club for the past couple of months and have been a ‘mentor’ to other club members taking on their first marathon.

Now, though, I’m starting my own running group. It’s a beginners’ running group taking people from 0 to 5k. People who are just like I was five years ago – who like the idea of running but find it all a bit hard. I want to show them that running can be fun and it can be something they can do.

So if you know anyone in North London who wants to start running, send them my way.