I have always been a runner. It has been my go-to exercise since I was a teenager. I remember in PE even enjoying what most hated: the dreaded Bleep Test.

Since having two kids, I’ve struggled to find time to run or exercise. The year before last, while in my late 30s, I decided to make a conscious effort to carve out time and bring running back into my routine while my husband took our young boys to football training on a Saturday morning.

My first parkrun was in September 2024 in Harrogate, and I ran it in 27 minutes and 35 seconds. I was super happy. I quickly became a regular on the 9am start line every week, and then also tried other parkruns in the area, including Knaresborough, Fountains Abbey in Ripon, Skipton and Temple Newsam.

That weekly routine quickly became a habit – after all, it was a win-win: I got some exercise, it was free and I found that parkruns are an inclusive and supportive environment – I especially appreciate the volunteers and weekly spectators cheering me along the 5km route, and I have also made some friends along the way.

I even started to miss it if I couldn’t do a parkrun that week. So much so, that when we travelled down south, we got up super early so that we could combine our stop-off with a parkrun – Poolsbrook parkrun, just off the M1. It’s safe to say that I’m not alone in my parkrun addiction – there are plenty of online skits about it.

With this weekly exercise, I noticed that although my times initially gradually improved, they then plateaued. For some reason, my runs started to feel harder. It was as if my mind was telling me I could run faster, but my body hadn’t quite received the memo.

That’s when I started looking into strength training.

A few months ago, a good friend who is a fitness fanatic gently pointed out the toll running can take on joints as you get older. I’d been trying to push these thoughts aside, even though I was well aware of the issues runners can face. 

After all, I’ve seen it firsthand: my dad, who was a long-distance runner, put in the miles – completing the London Marathon in 1991 in 2 hours and 40 minutes – can no longer run due to osteoarthritis in both knees. Of course, this isn’t the fate of every runner – but it’s something I couldn’t ignore. Anyway, I digress. 

She suggested I try strength training, so I decided to give it a go. I signed up for weekly hot Pilates classes, and those first few weeks were brutal. I felt aches from muscles that I never knew existed before.

I mixed things up by using ClassPass and signing up for other nearby strength training classes at HG3 Sweat in Pannal, CrossFit in Hornbeam Park and FBC in Starbeck. I incorporated bodyweight exercises and stretching through hot vinyasa yoga, also at Ebru. Yes, these classes had a cost compared to the parkrun, but were worth the investment.

Week by week, I began noticing the changes. I could hold a plank for longer, roll-ups became easier, and my muscles felt stronger, more defined, and capable. I also felt more confident in what I could do. My body and mind thanked me for pushing myself out of my comfort zone, and I started to look forward to the classes.

Not only did strength training build my muscles, but it also complemented my cardio – this led to better endurance and faster recovery.

As a result, I have knocked almost two and a half minutes off my parkrun time, recently achieving a personal best of 25 minutes and 12 seconds. I believe this improvement is partly due to my new fitness routine.

So, for runners who focus only on running, I would strongly encourage adding strength training to your schedule.

I’d love to hear your thoughts – how have you improved your running time? Share your experiences in the comments below.