Sometimes we all need help

After having a few days off to rest a sore muscle in my right leg I went for a really nice run around Regents Park after work yesterday.  It wasn't sunny but all the signs of spring were there from the colourful daffodils to the blossom which had appeared as if by magic on the trees.

Maybe because I'd come from work I was thinking about the targets we set ourselves.  My life seems full of targets; how much I can run? how fast can I do it? how much money can I bring in?  Those are just some of the ones surrounding the marathon but it struck me that runners have high expectations of themselves and sometimes it's hard to achieve everything you want.  Other times we might struggle to do it alone.  Runners have different solutions and ways of achieving their goals. We might join a club and run with company, we might get sports massages and specialist help if we get tragically injured (all injuries being tragic to a runner!).  When I was feeling down about it all at the week a helpful text from my running mentor made me feel heaps better.

Then I realised that the great expectations that runners have are much the same as those we all have when we embark upon relationships. Generally people enter into relationships hoping to be like the swans in the park and couple up for life.  We sometimes forget that relationships are hard and that we might need help when our relationships are tragically injured.  Sometimes people get help from their families and friends but like runners they may need to seek specialist help when things wrong to make things work better or to start again.

Relate do just this in lots of different ways. There is online advice and guidance through their websites, live chat through Relate for Parents and Families.  People can get counselling for adult relationships, families and young people and Sex Therapy.  We also have a range of courses for the public including those which help with parenting, moving on to new relationships when things have ended in separation or divorce and making commitments such as moving in together, getting married or having a child.  There are also books to help like "Baby Shock" which looks at what might happen when a baby comes along.and the recently published "Relate Guide to Finding Love".

So when I reach the finish line in 17 days time I'll have run every step with the support of all those who have helped me - my Relate London Marathon Family.

Coming soon to a blog near you - The Relate London Marathon Family Big T-Shirt!