Hearing Pip Candrick share her love of trail running, it’s hard to believe she only took up the sport in her late 40s after being diagnosed with brain cancer.
To regain her health after treatment, Pip joined a gym that challenged her to set a goal.
She picked running a Half Marathon which, she says, ‘…was just ridiculous. I don’t know why it came out of my mouth’.
Pip quickly fell in the love with the sport, and discovered a surprising side effect of her long runs.
During a long run one day in preparation for her first Half Marathon, she suddenly had memories (she didn’t realise she’d lost) come flooding back. She credits her long runs with ‘restoring her brain’.
Since then, Pip’s gone onto finish multiple races including the 100km race at Ultra Trail Australia as well as the Husky Long Course triathlon (a Half Ironman/70.3 distance race).
Of course, her recovery and life haven’t been without challenges.
Pip experiences seizures and hasn’t (until only recently) been able to head out the door for a run by herself.
It’s a freedom she desperately misses. And I can’t help but think it’s something the rest of us - myself included - take for granted.
Pip’s story reminds me of the importance of not taking life for granted, of trusting your gut instinct and the power of sports as a vehicle for healing (physically, mentally and emotionally).
Get the full show notes for the episode here.
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