Running a half marathon – how Charlie's Angels changed my life.

By Jane Comben

Much to my Mum's disappointment I'm not a natural athlete. My body works fine but I lack a competitive spirit and hand-to-eye coordination.

So how did I, and my team mates, make it smiling over the line in a tidy 2 hours 14 minutes?

Well, it's all down to Charlie. She's young, she's beautiful and like the 70s TV character, we've never met. She's also very sick.

Charlene (based in Scotland) changed my small corner of Aotearoa when I said "yes" to a walk.

The walk was the Cancer Society's Relay for Life and I joined a team of people I vaguely knew. Charlene's friend wanted to show her support from NZ so organized the "Charlie's Angels" team.

Two years on and those people are now good friends. Inspired by Charlene, we've challenged ourselves and grown in confidence. Confidence to raise money, complete a duathlon, shave our heads, run a half marathon and make a small difference to those around us.

Was it easy?
Yes and no.
Saying yes to the first walk was easy. I'd wanted to do the Relay and this opportunity saved me the hassle of organizing a team. Walking and talking through the night certainly helps you get to know new people. From there saying "yes" to the next incrementally mad idea was fine. We were growing together and that was fun.

And No, getting up on dark, cold, winter mornings at 5.45am to train was hard. Knowing someone else was waiting for me was the only thing that got me out of bed. We also knew that our challenge was nothing compared to what Charlene was going through.

Would I have done it by myself?
Nope! Like I said, personal competitiveness does not drive me. Whereas being part of a team does. For me, getting across the line together was the prize. Having our children watch us do it was even better.

Strategies for success

• A great team of different personalities that compliment each other.
  We relied on our different strengths to pull us through.
• A plan.
  We blindly followed this training schedule, although there are many other options to try.
• Finding the right motivation.
  It's a mind game and what stops us is mostly in our head.

And now?
I'm really glad I ran a half marathon but I'm in no rush to do another. I'd walk one maybe. Most of that hard-earned fitness faded fast. We still meet for walks and we're working on finding the next challenge that inspires us.
In fact, the biggest reward has been friendship and knowing that we're actually far more capable than we might believe.

Thank you Charlie!