Charlie McCabe

Hello, thanks for taking the time to read my bio.

I've been running for over a decade, can't remember exactly when I started running but was sometime around the run up to the Olympics in London and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

I joined OTR Cumbernauld following "lockdown" in 2021. I'd never really considered myself as a "social runner" - running for me was always about clearing my head, trying to get (and then keep myself) fit enough to run for a bus, and it was definitely more of a chore than a pleasure - a means to an end.

I'll whisper this next bit… I never really liked running, and to a certain degree I'm still not that in love with it. If you're looking for inspiration from a "running evangelist" head over to a profile of one of the other Jog Leaders!

I ran because I wanted to get fit. Then I got fit. I kept running because (1) I now could, and (2) I wanted to continue to be able to do it.

I love the fact that I can go out the door and run a 10k without thinking about it, without it having any negative impact on the rest of my day. In the same way you put in the work to learn a musical instrument, and it's a slog getting to a decent level, but once you get there you practice to keep the learned ability. That's how I feel about running, I've put in "the practice" to get to a certain level and I want to sustain that level.

Back to why I joined OTR… When lockdown came around, and the races got cancelled, I found I didn't go out for a run - take away the goal and it took away my motivation. A colleague suggested I join a group... Not for me I said, not a social runner. But then I thought, it'll make me go out at least once a week and I'll not want to be the slowest so I'll go out through the week so I'm able to keep up on a Monday night. I was super nervous the first night I went along - hadn't joined "a club" in over 20 years and almost talked myself out of it many times in the lead up to my first night at the club. Spoiler alert - I went, and I've kept going back.

I became a jogLeader at the end of 2024. I'd been asked a few times but said no - not for me, happy to come and be part of the group, but I'm not that guy (see 'running evangelists' above for who I consider to be 'that guy'). But here we are… I changed my mind for two reasons:

- Firstly, without the Jog Leaders the club cannot function and so why should I be exempt from playing my part. Leading a group is not difficult for me (compared to sitting on a committee for example) - so for me, at this club, this was probably the best fit for me to play my part. 

 - Secondly, people need to know that we don't all love this insane pastime we participate in, going outside in driving wind, hail, and freezing temperatures to run round in a circle. For some of us, it's still quite often a chore…

Here's what I love….
- I love the people (turns out I'm more of a social runner than I thought). 

- I love how we all are the same - we've got people who are fast, people who are slow, people who are working towards their first 5k, people who've completed numerous marathons and "ultras" - but we're all "runners" and we treat each other as equals. It says it best on the website "…a mile's a mile". 

 - I love the fact that I can run, and try not to take it for granted. Before my 'running' days, I'd have marvelled at someone who could do a 5k "they must be super fit". I always found it fascinating how two people could run past me whilst having a conversation "they must be super fit". I have a sense of pride that I can now do that! 

- I love it when I go to parkrun, or an organised race, that there's likely to be friendly faces I know from the club. 

- I love running around Cumbernauld. I've lived here for over 50 years and it's got great routes for running.

So, if you're also one of those runners that sometimes struggles to get out for a run, that doesn't approach every run like you're Kimmy Schmidt, then feel free to reach out and we can moan about it together. We can also chat around the things you can do to keep going - joining the club is a good first step.

I'll finish with one of my own key motivations for getting out the door and going for a run. It's from an interview the comedian Jimmy Carr on "The Diary of a CEO" with Steven Bartlett. Jimmy basically said something along the lines of "picture yourself in 30 years time - and think about what you'd be willing to give up to have the health, fitness, and ability you have today. You'd give up almost anything to have that back". Well you have that health, fitness, and ability today, so appreciate it whilst you can, lace up those trainers and head out. I'd be very surprised if you regret it once you complete your run... Whether your run is fast, slow, long or short "…a mile's a mile".

Finally, as you'll find out if you ever run with the Advanced One group - I never write in three words what I can write in three chapters! So, thanks again for taking the time to read my bio.

Hopefully we'll have an opportunity to share a run and a chat at some point in the future.

Charlie x