Christina Collison shares how she has let go of fear, embraced joy, and rediscovered herself with every mile.
Running didn’t just change my body – it has transformed my mindset. Running is one of my favourite activities. It brings me true happiness, a freedom I don’t feel anywhere else. The mental health benefits are endless. When I run, my busy mind quietens, my body feels alive, and my confidence lifts. On a good run, I feel unstoppable. On a tough run, I find resilience I didn’t know I had. Every time I push through the moments I want to quit, I’m reminded that we all have far more strength than we give ourselves credit for. Running has taught me one of life’s greatest lessons: keep going – the reward is worth it.
In the past two years, running hasn’t just strengthened my mindset; it has changed my body. At 57, I’m in the best shape of my life, having lost two and a half stone through regular running. I’ve always been active – I joined my first gym at 22 and have worked out consistently ever since – but my weight still fluctuated. From 2018 onwards, it crept up, and I told myself it was menopause and an inevitable part of getting older.
In reality, I was setting myself up to fail with food. I kept chasing the “perfect diet,” forcing myself into restrictive plans built solely around bland lean protein, vegetables and deprivation. I’d be “good” for a few days, then frustration would set in, and I’d spiral. Everything changed when I stopped striving for perfection and chose to start eating foods I actually enjoy. I stopped banning treats. I allowed myself crisps, the occasional bar of chocolate, and foods that made me feel satisfied rather than trapped. I simply avoided big late-night meals. And with that mental shift, the weight started to fall off.
Pairing that approach with consistent running was the magic formula. Running is a fantastic calorie burner – but I’ve always known that. What I didn’t know was how to build a consistent, injury-free relationship with it. Over the years, my running highs were always interrupted by injuries, the main one being a torn cartilage in 2011. A knee surgeon told me I’d never run again. I believed it at first but then managed to get back into a gradual running routine after some suitable strength training.
For years, I ran with caution, expecting pain and setbacks. In reality, injuries had come because I’d pushed myself too hard. I’d overdone the frequency of my runs. I had no “off switch”. My body was simply trying to warn me to ease up and give myself time to recover. When I hadn’t listened, injuries would strike.
Yet my mindset became my biggest barrier. I’d talk myself out of runs before I’d even started. I would tell myself: My knee will hurt. It’s raining. The gym will be busy and there won’t be any treadmills free. Before long, I was talking about running as something I used to do – as if that version of me was gone.
Two years ago, I chose to rewrite my story. I reframed my relationship with running. I stopped talking about my past self and started speaking as the runner I was now. It was a game-changer. I built up a steady routine, logging 50–90 miles a month every month. I became consistent, strong, and – to my surprise – injury-free.
This festive season, I’m experiencing another rebirth as a runner. This time, it’s all about optimism. Not looking back. Not expecting injury. Not carrying the weight of old fears. I’m letting go of pressure, numbers, and rigid goals. No mileage targets. No big race ambitions. Just the joy of running. Just movement and freedom.
I’m now choosing to run for fun – when I want to, as far as I want to, at whatever pace feels good. I’m choosing to see myself as a fit, healthy, strong runner. Because that’s exactly who I am. Being able to run is a blessing, and I refuse to let limiting beliefs dim that truth in 2026.
This is my rebirth: an optimistic runner, living in the present, celebrating what my body can do. And the best part? I’m only just getting started.
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Christina Collison is a writer and editor and published author. She is the former Editor-in-Chief of Women’s Running and Women’s Fitness magazines, and the author of Run Yourself Fit and The World Marathon Book. Find her on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinacollison/
