When I grew up I loved collecting things.
I would be the girl with 10 Tamagotchis. I had more pogs than I knew what to do with. I loved those rubber wrist bands (especially the ones filled with sparkly liquid). I had the Pokemon cards. Spice Girl photos. Gel pens. You name it, I collected it.
As I grew up (have I grown up? I don’t think so…), I stopped collecting things as much in that kind of childhood sense, but I still did things that allowed me to get my kick as a teenager. I played on game consoles and the computer, leveling up and collecting special items. Oh man I was a cool kid.
But then since going to university and then starting a Big Person Job though you just don’t do that sort of thing anymore really. No time, no space, no money. Oh hey adult life.
Then I started running. And my passion for collecting began once again. Races…medals…experiences. I’m not a race fanatic but I do enjoy doing different races about the place – enjoying new areas, seeing different places, meeting new people, getting a nice medal. It’s all good fun. I tend to dislike doing the same races over and over (though some are clearly worth it, hello Romsey Beer and Cake Race) because I like doing different ones. Collecting new ones, if you like.
And marathons. Ahh marathons. Doing the Marathon Majors is collecting game for me. It’s a long game, don’t get me wrong, but ticking each one of the list is just something that I love to do. I don’t necessarily care about the times I get or if I break my PB. Nope. I just want to collect each medal and earn my bigger Six Star Medal at the end.
And alongside that I’ve been trying to complete different parkrun challenges… get to 50, get to 100, get to 150, now get 20 different ones, now get all the letters of the alphabet, get to 200…250… tick off all the local ones, the Brighton ones, the Bristol ones, the Birmingham ones. Ahh call me a loser, call me a weirdo, but I so enjoy this kind of thing.
Most importantly, it keeps me motivated to run – and with that to be healthy and uninjured, work hard at the gym, take rest seriously, eat a balanced diet. It keeps me mentally healthy as well to not focus on smashing myself at every parkrun or race. It’s been a long while since I’ve felt disappointed about a parkun time. I remember when I first started running and every race I had to beat my last time, every parkrun had to be faster – and if not, why not? Could I justify why I’d run so slowly? It really ground me down.
But now I’m happy to plod along, get my barcode scanned and add another one to my list. I see progress in a different way. Yes of course I want PB’s and fast times (damnit I want that sub-20 parkrun!) but it’s not everything for me. It’s not why I put my trainers on. Yes maybe this has been somewhat to my detriment when I’m not making “omg amazing” gains in my speed and I’m still no faster than I was when I started but I’m 100% happier with where I am, both body and mind.
I’ll make my progress in the ways that I enjoy. Alongside that I’ll pepper it with the occasional “hard goal” of a certain time but it won’t break my spirit if it doesn’t happen right away (or at all!), because along the way I’ll have other fun goals to tick off as I go that really only mean something to me.
And I’ve found as an adult you can still collect things. Don’t even get me started on my new found love of geocaching… ;-P
Do you collect anything?
Why do you run?
Have you ever done geocaching? I’ve just gotten into it and I quite enjoy hunting around and trying to find different ones – the app is great!
I am with you 100% on the collecting things, I am such a hoarder too (although I try really hard not to be- so many cookery books, teapots and mugs…). Collecting medals is great, and I enjoy visiting new places to run, which is why races are so good, but then parkrun has sort of overtaken this and it means I can collect things without the clutter. Have you looked at that chrome thing yet? There are so many other challenges on there to get going with (many will be achieved before the alphabet for me!).
The marathon majors is such a brilliant thing to work towards (and you do have to be a bit fast to get the Boston one)- something like that is so worth it as it will take so much time and effort to achieve it.
Running is great for fresh air, time for me, time to listen to a podcast or to catch up with running friends, and of course an excuse for a weekend away somewhere!
Maria @ Maria runs recently posted…Portmouth Lakeside parkrun- tourism but not where I originally planned…
thank you so much for mentioning the Chrome thing – I AM SO EXCITED hehe. So many challenges! I’m also really far through the bingo one which I didn’t realise… I think I have 4 or 5 left!
AnnaTheApple recently posted…Collecting things
Yes I only have 5 left for the bingo but I have no idea how you aim for that as even if you pressed go as the RD said go you would not really know your finish time until the results come through.
I think I am going to have a little adventure tomorrow so that I can finish the compass challenge! 🙂
Also, you can look at other people’s eg if I look at my dad’s results I can click on the chrome thing and see how far he is (he’s one away from tourist!). It’s a bit addictive!
Maria @ Maria runs recently posted…A brilliant running movie and lots of blog-min
Can you?? Didn’t know you could look at others… will definitely have a sneaky nose around.
Oh I’m with you too. I collected all kinds of things as a kid and I’m still a bit of a hoarder (although I had a really good clear out when we moved). I currently seem to be collecting medals, race shirts and awesome experiences.
My original motivation to start running was to fundraise. Now I run because I love how it makes me feel. I love the time to myself, listening to podcasts and getting stronger. I love noticing the improvements in my own running and I love helping others by pacing at parkrun. The running community is amazing.
Allison recently posted…Weekly Photo Challenge – Rise/Set
Nothing like moving house to get you to clear stuff out…I did a lot of that when I moved!!
AnnaTheApple recently posted…Collecting things
As a kid I collected Brownie swimming and gymnastics badges, rubbers, stickers (I think I finished the Care Bears album), Care Bears, My Little Ponies, Sylvanian(?) Families and ‘roadkill’ I was apparently always finding and picking up dropped coins.
Even now, I’m a bit of a hoarder and recently found wage slips going back to 1996. After double-checking I didn’t need them I had a great shredding session. I also found every single birthday/Christmas card from 1990 onwards. I couldn’t bring myself to part with them so they went back in a huge box.
Now I ‘only’ seem to collect medals and injuries.
Although I’ve always been a runner, I now run mainly as a way of ‘switching off’ and having some thinking time after work. I also run to keep myself reasonably fit.
I’ve never done geocaching but it’s popular with people in my office so I suspect it’s only a matter of time!
Emma recently posted…A parkrun, a nemesis hill and some laps
Haha I did thew same with my pay slips! I didn’t know I didn’t need to keep them all…
AnnaTheApple recently posted…Collecting things
We have done a lot of geocaching – some in our area are in tricky places and hard to find even with the app and clues.
Ahh well i will definitely have to do some geocaching when I’m next up 🙂
AnnaTheApple recently posted…Collecting things
I have a huge collection of 1920s-30s children’s books. Turns out I have three copies of ‘A Harum Scarum Schoolgirl’ which is a tad excessive. Then there’s the epic collection of cloth patch badges sewn to blankets. And a lot of yarn….. I am having a pre-Thing1 clear out. Several Ikea bags have been filled so far. My study is still chaos.
Haha I bet! Sounds like quite the collection!
I’ve tried Geocaching but never managed to find one yet! Hahaha I must be pretty bad at it. There’s a few in Lee apparently.
The parkrun in your picture looks like a nice parkrun 😉
Rebecca recently posted…A Bit of a Catch Up!
Oooh really? I’ll check them out…
I’ve had a few failed ones too!
I was literally just thinking about this topic yesterday. It’s awesome that you collect- I collect race bibs and medals!!
Elizabeth C. recently posted…Boston Bound. . . and a 5K
Definitely good things to collect 🙂
Wish you win the race
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Thank you for sharing your thoughts on collecting things in this thought-provoking blog post. It’s fascinating to delve into the world of collecting and understand the joys and challenges that come with it. Your personal insights and experiences shed light on the passion and dedication that collectors invest in their chosen pursuits.