Runner profile: Danny Fletcher

Danny Fletcher provides our next runner’s profile. A brutally honest account at times, but ultimately an up-lifting tale of how running, and running with friends and team members, can be life-changing.

 

I’ve suffered with depression on and off since my late teens, I have self harmed, had unhealthy obsessions with food and spoken to numerous people with lots of letters after their names, all in an effort to feel better in myself. I battled through without medication, be it brave or stupid, I don’t know? I do know that running, and latterly joining Tyne Bridge Harriers has done wonders for me. There are probably hundreds of articles online about mental health and the benefits of exercise, but here is a little piece about my journey.

I’ve never been good at sport. I never lacked enthusiasm at school, but I was always the one picked last. I have never been confident with the way I look, I can assure you its not just women that have body issues. When I am low I will eat, and then this is followed by a feeling of guilt so I eat some more. Its a vicious circle. When I left home and didn’t have any proper structure my weight went up and up and I eventually tipped the scales at just short of 18 stone. I managed to get some weight off using various methods that were both dangerous and stupid, but for whatever reason exercise and running never crossed my mind. When I’m low its hard enough to leave the house, and looking back at my school days I struggled to run from one end of the football field to the next, so I’d think, what’s the point as I am only going to fail. Only thin people run and go to the gym.  

Fast forward a few years and I did try running. I remember seeing a bigger person on television taking part in The Great North Run, and I think it was this that made me think that if they could do it, I could at least give it a go.

Being self conscious I really struggled to begin with. Somebody shouted something about me wobbling when I ran, so I stopped and walked home. I did give it a go again, but I would get out very early in the morning and wear numerous layers of clothing to hide my body. I still had thoughts that every person passing in their car was staring at me, if I saw somebody laughing I assumed it was me they were laughing at, and a car horn was not sounded in anger at other drivers, it was mocking me. I still have these thoughts, but now I can put these to the back of my mind and feel smug that I am the one running a 5k,10k, half marathon etc and they are not.

My distances slowly increased. I started doing the same loop twice, then three times and more until I got bored and thought I’d explore further a field. I signed up for my first 10k, which at the time felt like an ultra marathon. It was a cold, damp and foggy Memorial Day 10K, which was two 5k laps of the town moor. I can’t remember much about the race itself, but I can remember that I ached for days after and the sense of achievement was something that I had never felt before. The high was amazing. Finishing those 6.2 miles made me feel better than any talking therapy or food binge ever could.

The running and racing continued. I learned to run longer, and I gained some extra pace when my weight dropped. A friend suggested joining a running group, and initially I laughed it off. I was now ok running by myself, but had the feeling that  the skinny runners in their stripy vests would take one look at me and shake their heads in disgust and disappointment. I initially joined The Sweatshop Running Community as I didn’t see this a formal running club, and I knew it was open to people of all ages, shapes and sizes. There were incentives to run every week, collecting stamps in a book that added up to various prizes. 5 weeks and you get an Adidas running top, right up to 50 weeks and you got a Garmin. There’s not much I won’t do for free running top. We met each week and ran a 5k loop of the quayside and town moor. There weren’t any structured sessions or warm ups, it was more of a social run and incentive to get out and keep fit. My confidence grew massively during this time and I met some fantastic people, some who now run with TBH and probably don’t realise how much I appreciate their friendship and words of encouragement when needed.

A few people from Sweatshop took the leap to join a ‘proper’ running club, and although I wasn’t sure to begin with, still having the same thoughts I had before joining Sweatshop, I decided I may as well give it a go. Louise [Kelly] mentioned in her piece that the TBH website jumped out her, and the same happened with me. There are running clubs closer to where I live, but the websites used words like ‘competitive’ where as TBH used words like ‘friendly’. Instead of endless pictures of skinny people running cross country it had people smiling, race reports and people of all shapes, sizes and backgrounds. So, a year ago I officially became a member of Tyne Bridge Harriers.

Danny-Fletcher

Danny after the 2015 Manchester Marathon

I was amazed that on my first session I wasn’t right at the back of the group, desperately trying to keep up. I was running alongside other people who had run marathons, and on occasion I could even hold a conversation. I have continued to improve in the time I have been with TBH. I am pushing myself harder, enjoying the challenges set and just as importantly made some great friends. I’ll never be a fast runner, but I am becoming a faster runner. I’m becoming more confident and now when I am running I am focused on what I am doing, rather than the negative thoughts about the way I look etc.

I’m a different person when I run on a regular basis. Although I love running, prior to joining TBH there were regular occasions when it was hard to force myself out of the door. The structure of a running club really helps and now without fail I take my running gear to work every Tuesday and Thursday, knowing that I’ll go out after work. If its part of my routine I don’t even think about doing it. No matter how hard a day it has been at work I know that after running with the club I’ll be on a high by the time I get home for the night.

Recently I undertook the Leadership In Running Fitness course. It felt great to be asked by Davy Anderson to undertake the course, especially after only a year of joining the club. Every leader I have had since joining have been fantastic and really enthused me. I hope that I can have the same effect on club members, both old and new and help them achieve their goals, whatever they may be.

Danny (2nd left) and TBH team-mates

Danny (2nd left) and TBH team-mates

So, that’s a bit about my journey. I hope I haven’t bored you too much :-) I’m not going to lie and say the black dog doesn’t continue to creep up on me, but the episodes I do have are milder and shorter and I do feel that this it mostly down to running and my TBH family.

If there is anybody reading this who is thinking about joining a running club, but is plagued with the same thoughts and feeling I had, come along, I promise it will be the best decision you will ever make.

Danny

Permanent link to this article: https://www.tynebridgeharriers.com/2015/07/24/runner-profile-danny-fletcher/

14 comments

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    • Si on 24th July 2015 at 11:56
    • Reply

    Inspiring read Danny! It gave me chills down my back (just like when the All Blacks beat Australia!) ;)

    It’s great to see you come through and now leading by example and helping others to improve.

    Sport is a great way of improving health – I call it ‘Health by Stealth’. And what better and cheaper sport could we possibly have than chucking on a pair of trainers and heading out for a jog! #freshairtherapy

    Keep up the great work :)

      • Danny F on 24th July 2015 at 12:51
      • Reply

      Thanks Si,

      I have tried to write this on more than one occasion and really wasnt sure if i should have shared it or not. The finger was hovering over the delete key more than once. It’s certainly helped getting it all out.

      I’m interested in this #freshairtherapy. I read it as fresh hair therapy. I could definitly do with some of that.

    • Russell Deane on 24th July 2015 at 13:40
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    Danny that is a really positive story. I work with several runners who have mental health issues and the running really does seem to help. I guess it’s a mixture of having a reason to go out, giving a structure to your day, having goals to aim for, and having people around you. Thanks for sharing this, I hope it will help others too.

    • Lysanne Jurriansen on 24th July 2015 at 14:12
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    Amazing story Danny! So much of it I recognize (food and mental issues, argh!!) and you have done absolutely brilliantly to come this far, well done! :D Keep it up, you’re helping yourself and so many others by doing so :)

    • Sue Walton on 24th July 2015 at 14:21
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    Thank you for sharing this Danny, you made me cry and I admire your honesty.

    • Maggie Davison on 24th July 2015 at 14:28
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    I was very interested to read your story. I am really glad you didn’t delete it. I identify with so many aspects of your journey. I have thought and felt many of the things that you describe. The friendliness and support of the TBH family really does make a difference.

    • Dave Anderson on 24th July 2015 at 15:16
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    What a smashing write up Danny and such a positive outlook as well, I think with an attitude like that things can only get better and better for you well done.

  1. great, honest post, Danny, lovely to read and so good to see the value of running in your life. Keep it up.

    • Danny Fletcher on 24th July 2015 at 15:32
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    As runners we love to talk about our injuries and ailments, yet mental health is one of those things that people feel they can’t talk about. I’m sure every one of us has been affected by it, be it personally or via a friend or family member.

    Thanks for the positive comments and messages.

    TBH – Friends and Family.

    • Sara on 24th July 2015 at 15:58
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    Danny – what an inspirational read and a very personal account. I feel honoured that you shared it. Keep running! You’ll be showing that dog the dust from your heels ;) x

    • kevin cheetham on 25th July 2015 at 07:15
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    Danny you should be so proud of yourself not only for being so open and honest in posting your story but the way you have tackled the obstacles put in front of you keep up the good work kidda

    • Deb Airey on 25th July 2015 at 10:32
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    Well done Danny for a honest and open account if your journey. I’m glad to have met you along the way. Sweat shop was a great start for me and I remember just how much you and rob Clarke helped drag me around on some if the nights. Keep up the good work, your a valued member if the club. X

    • Ian on 25th July 2015 at 14:37
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    Great post Danny. I think we sometimes forget why we run and this is a great reminder on what a positive effect it has.

    • Neil Middleton on 27th July 2015 at 10:43
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    We’ll done Danny,
    Your words are honest, brave and full of self-effacing determination (as is your running!).
    No doubt you will run past me in York this weekend just as you did in Leeds.
    See you at the club.
    Neil :)

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