The beauty of our virtual run is that you can complete it any way you like. You don’t have to run it at all if running is not your thing. To give you a bit of inspiration for our Mums Milk Run 2018, we have interviewed two of our supporters who did the Mums Milk Run a different way last year
Sukie is Vice-Chair of the BfN board, and last year did the Mums Milk Run through spinning.
I don’t like running, I’m not built to run, and I find it boring! But I’m a member of my local YMCA gym, and they do spinning classes every day, which I love. I do six of those a week. So last year, I decided to do 20 spins in a week for the Mums Milk Run.
I really wanted to be part of the Mums Milk Run because I’m the Vice-Chair of the BfN board, and the longer I’m involved with the organisation, the more I see the inequalities in breastfeeding support, and I really want to help do something about that. I did it because I know we need the funding, and we need to raise awareness.
So I decided on 20 spins in a week, because that seemed like a good challenge compared to my usual six, and I thought it was something people might give me money for. And last year was the 20th anniversary of BfN so 20 seemed like a good amount.
The main challenge was that I couldn’t wash my gym kit quickly enough! It’s an average of three spinning classes a day. Towards the end I was wearing really unflattering mis-matched cobbled together outfits!
I felt extra fit by the end of it. My clothes started to feel loser, and I felt so good about myself, it really helped my self-esteem.
I definitely would recommend spinning to others – I think it is great fun. The music is great, there are some great instructors, and we have a laugh, it’s not too serious. And it’s a great community of all ages. There’s a couple who regularly sit next to me who are 82. They always save me the bike they know I like! I always say I see more of my spinning friends than I see of my husband!
Nina is Programme Manager for BfN and last year did part of her Mums Milk Run in Lake Windermere!
I am a keen runner, I’ve been running for a long time, and I love long distance running. I’ve done marathons and ultra-marathons. Last year I had to have a knee operation, and by the time the Mums Milk Run came around, the doctors said I could only do a short slow run – 1 mile at the most – because I had to build back up slowly. So I thought ‘OK I will do my Mums Milk run in 20 short little physio runs, getting my strength back’. I really wanted to be part of the Mums Milk Run if I could, because I’ve received so much support from BfN, and I want other people to be able to experience that support.
When all my other running friends were doing spring marathons, for me it was getting back to running after the operation. It could have been quite a lonely time for me, as running is a big part of my social life. But instead of feeling like I was missing out on all the long runs, I became part of such a lovely group of BfN ladies supporting each other through the Mums Milk Run.
That year I even swam part of the Mums Milk Run. I always enjoyed swimming before I was a runner, particularly outdoor swimming. That May I was supposed to run a marathon around Lake Windermere, but I had to defer. I still went anyway to cheer my friends on. Whilst they ran around Windermere, I went and swam the last mile of my 20 miles across the lake. As I was swimming I could see the runners running by, it was lovely, and I felt like I’d achieved something that day.
I do love outdoor swimming. It’s peaceful and calm. When you’re running you can hear other runners, chatting, pounding of footsteps, panting and grunting. In the lake it’s absolutely quiet and peaceful. I regularly just stop and float on my back, because it’s not about the swimming for me, it’s about the quiet and the beautiful views. It’s invigorating. You come out the other end and feel amazing.
Registration is still open for our Mums Milk Run 2018. If you fancy doing it, but don’t like running, why not do some exercise you do like. It all counts and every registration raises much needed funds for BfN’s work providing independent evidence-based support about breastfeeding. This is all about raising funds and having FUN, plus you will get a unique BfN medal at the end!