I didnât start running to get fit. I started running because teaching was breaking me.
I was a primary school teacher doing my best, showing up every day, caring deeply â and slowly feeling like I was disappearing. I was exhausted, overwhelmed, and stuck in a cycle of stress that I could no longer think my way out of.
I didnât want a dramatic quit-the-job moment.
I didnât want hustle culture or âjust manifest a new life.â
I just wanted to breathe again.
So I started running.
Nothing impressive.
No fancy plan.
Sometimes only 7 minutes.
Sometimes slow.
Sometimes messy.
But running became the only place where:
- My nervous system could settle
- My thoughts could line up
- I could hear myself again
Somewhere between those quiet runs, something shifted.
I realised I wasnât just running away from teaching â I was slowly running towards clarity.
Towards the idea that:
- I donât have to stay stuck to be responsible
- Iâm allowed to want a different life
- Small, consistent steps matter more than big dramatic decisions
Running gave me space that led to clarity.
Clarity led to the question I couldnât ignore anymore: âWhat if I donât stay in the classroom forever?â
This space exists for teachers who feel that question stirring too.
Not for elite runners.
Not for people who have it all figured out.
But for burnt-out teachers who want:
- Gentle movement
- Emotional regulation
- Consistency without pressure
- And a supportive path toward life beyond the classroom
If youâre running to survive teachingâŚ
If movement is the only thing keeping you grounded right nowâŚ
If you know you canât do this forever but donât know whatâs nextâŚ
You belong here.
This isnât about quitting overnight. It's about taking one run, one breath, one step closer to yourself.
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