Rebecca Glen has used running to help quit smoking. Photo: Jonty Dine.

Rebecca runs free from addiction

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Rebecca Glenn had not run since childhood when a friend asked her to take part in a 5km race.

She had to decline, but in her mind, she decided then and there that she did want to run to get healthier and stop smoking.

The mother of four started to get out in the evenings to see if she could do it.

“I wanted to quit to be a healthier, happier person and more positive role model for my children.”

Within a short distance, Rebecca was exhausted and feeling sick. But she persevered. She started running every second evening until she got up to completing about 4kms.

At that stage made the commitment. Rebecca took the plunge to take on the fun run.

She admits to being very nervous, having to push herself to complete the distance and collapsing in a “sweaty panting mess” at the end.

Over the next month, she improved her time over the 5km distance and then started out on the Saturday Pub Runs of about 7kms. Initially, she was unable to believe people got up at 6am to race for “fun”.

However, the feeling after completing the runs was amazing and she felt so much more productive afterwards.

By the second week of January, Rebecca had drastically reduced the number of cigarettes she was having and felt she was now ready to quit completely.

Rebecca had her last cigarette on January 14.

“I have never felt fitter or healthier in her life, I have met some lovely supportive people through running and will never look back.”

Rebecca has just entered her first half-marathon which she will run in May this year.

She intends to keep running and encourages anyone else to give running a go to help quit an unwanted addiction and to realise their capacity to push through difficult situations in their lives.

“I have never felt happier mentally, loved myself more physically and generally had more energy than I do now that I’m running. It really is addictive, a fantastic addiction.”