“Go at your pace, don’t worry!”

One of our members, Catrin Mair Griffiths describes how she found the confidence to run again with She Runs: Cardiff

“If you’ve put your trainers on and you are running, you are a runner!” 

These were some of the quotes that I heard on my first day running with She Runs: Cardiff.

I had not been for a run since I ran (or struggled through!) the race for life 5k in 2015, but I’d heard from a friend about She Runs and how amazing they were. So, on a cold but sunny November morning, I put on a pair of worn trainers, my running leggings and an old sports bra and headed out the door. 

In my mind, I was having an internal argument that almost made turn around and walk back home a couple of times: “I’m not kitted out, they will laugh at me!” “I can’t even run for the bus, what am I doing!?” “My water bottle is plastic, not a fancy sports bottle!” 

So many reasons were pushing me home – my anxiety was through the roof. I arrived 15 minutes early (typical me!), and I was so nervous that even  after getting there I turned around and walked half way home. But then I saw two girls running towards me and heading to the meeting place, and that made me go back and wait for everyone.

I am so glad I pushed through the anxiety and nerves because that was the best decision I’ve ever made.

I am telling you this because I am sure there are people out there feeling the same about running or joining She Runs (virtually for now), and I want to tell my story because… you can do it!

From the start, I was congratulated by all the running buddies for just coming out and reassured that I didn’t need to worry. That day, I ran with a running buddy, Samantha, and another girl who joined us at the party at the back.

We ran most of the way, stopping now and then to walk whenever I got a stitch. We finished, and I couldn’t belive I’d run 5km! I decided to go for tea and cake even though I didn’t know anyone apart from my friend Joanne. I couldn’t believe how good it felt after running, sitting there in Coffee Number One with these girls who I’d met just an hour before but who had made me feel so welcomed and confident.

I went home with a smile on my face, and bragged to my housemate that I’d just run 5km – I could not believe it! 

For about a month I was telling all of my friends to come running with She Runs (still waiting for someone to join me) and kept on raving to anyone who would listen to me.

Fast forward four months, and I had a 31minutes personal best and I was running 8km!

I have now gone back to basics due to not running during lockdown for mental health reasons, but I am getting back into running again with the help of all the buddies virtually (especially Tanya who offered to run the She Runs virtual relay with me) supporting me by believing in me and not judging that I can only run shorter distances currently.

I have never felt so welcome in any group. I had no self belief and was told that I wasn’t good enough in school. I believed it for so many years but She Runs has changed that for me, they believe in you when you don’t believe in yourself. They celebrate your highs and give you advice during your lows.

If you are reading this and you have identified with anything I’ve said, please join the Facebook group, get inspired and start running.

“No matter the distance, no matter the time. If you are running, you are a runner.”

Catrin Mair Griffiths, She Runs: Cardiff member.

“Ewch ar eich cyflymder chi, peidiwch â phoeni!”

Dyma geiriau Catrin Mair Griffiths am sut daeth hi nôl i rhedeg gyda help Mae Hi’n Rhedeg: Caerdydd.

“Os ydych chi wedi rhoi eich hyfforddwyr ymlaen a’ch bod chi’n rhedeg, rydych chi’n rhedwr!”

Dyma rai o’r dyfyniadau glywais y ddiwrnod cyntaf yn rhedeg gyda Mae hi’n Rhedeg: Caerdydd.

Doeddwn i ddim wedi bod yn redeg ers i mi redeg  Y ras am Bywyd 5k yn 2015, ond roeddwn i wedi clywed gan ffrind am She Runs a faint o anhygoel oedden nhw. Felly, ar un bore Tachwedd oer ond heulog, mi wnes i wisgo pâr o esgidiau ymarfer redeg hen, leggins a hen bra chwaraeon a eshi allan. 

Yn fy meddwl, roeddwn i’n cael dadl fewnol a oedd bron â gwneud i mi droi o gwmpas a cherdded yn ôl adra cwpl o weithiau: “Dydw i ddim yn edrych fel rhedwr, byddan nhw’n chwerthin arna i!” “Alla i ddim hyd yn oed redeg am y bws, beth ydw i’n ei wneud!?” “Mae fy mhotel ddŵr yn blastig, nid potel chwaraeon ffansi!”

Roedd cymaint o resymau yn fy ngwthio adref – roedd fy mhryder trwy’r tô. Cyrhaeddais 15 munud yn gynnar, Ac roeddwn i mor nerfus nes i mi droi o gwmpas a cherdded hanner ffordd adra hyd yn oed ar ôl cyrraedd yno. Ond yna gwelais ddwy ferch yn rhedeg tuag ata fi, a gwnaeth hynny i mi fynd yn ôl ac aros am bawb.

Rwyf mor falch fy mod wedi gwthio trwy’r pryder a’r nerfau oherwydd dyna’r penderfyniad gorau i mi ei wneud erioed.

Rwy’n dweud hyn wrth a chi oherwydd rwy’n siŵr bod pobl allan yna yn teimlo’r un peth am redeg neu ymuno  She Runs, ac rydw i eisiau dweud fy stori … I helpu chi. 

O’r dechrau, cefais fy llongyfarch gan yr holl buddies rhedeg am ddod allan a rhoi sicrwydd i mi nad oedd angen i mi boeni. Y diwrnod gynta, neshi redeg gyda running buddy, Samantha, a merch arall a ymunodd â ni yn y parti yn y cefn.

Naetho ni redeg y rhan fwyaf o’r ffordd, gan stopio nawr ac yn y man i gerdded pryd bynnag oni agen brec. Fe wnaethon ni orffen, a doeddwn i ddim yn gallu credu bod oni wedi rhedeg 5km! Penderfynais fynd am de a chacen gyda pawb. Doeddwn i ddim yn gallu credu pa mor dda oedd yn teimlo ar ôl rhedeg, eistedd yna yn Coffee numbe one gyda’r merched oni Dimon wedi cwrdd awr yn nol ond oedd nw wedi gwneud i mi deimlo bod cymaint o groeso a hyder i mi.

Es i adref gyda gwên ar fy wyneb, a ddeud wrth frind fi bod i newydd redeg 5km – allwn i ddim credu’r peth!

Am  misoedd oni yn dweud wrth fy holl ffrindiau i ddod i redeg gyda She Runs (yn dal i aros i rywun ymuno) a dal ati i ruthro at unrhyw un bysa yn gwrando arnaf.

Hedfan 3 mis, a chefais amser orau personol o 31 munud ar gyfer 5k ac roeddwn i’n rhedeg 8km!

Erbyn hyn, dwi wedi mynd nol i’r cychwun achos dwi heb redeg ers lockdown achos o iechyd meddwl, ond dwi’n redeg eto diolch i’r cefnogaeth gan pawb (yn enwedig Tanya a gynigiodd redeg ras gyfnewid rithwir She Runs gyda mi) yn cefnogi fi trwy gredu ynof a peidio a barnu mai dim ond pellteroedd byrrach y gallaf eu rhedeg ar hyn o bryd.

Nid wyf erioed wedi teimlo cymaint o groeso mewn unrhyw grwp. Doedd gen i ddim hunan gred a dywedwyd wrthyf nad oeddwn yn ddigon da yn yr ysgol. Roeddwn i’n ei gredu ers cymaint o flynyddoedd ond mae She Runs wedi newid hynny i mi, maen nhw’n credu ynoch chi pan nad ydych chi’n credu ynoch chi’ch hun. Maen nhw’n dathlu’ch uchafbwyntiau ac yn rhoi cyngor i chi yn ystod eich isafbwyntiau.

Os ydych chi’n darllen hwn a’ch bod wedi uniaethu ag unrhyw beth rydw i wedi’i ddweud, ymunwch â’r grwp Facebook, cael eich ysbrydoli a dechrau rhedeg.

“Waeth beth yw’r pellter, waeth beth yw’r amser. Os ydych chi’n rhedeg, rydych chi’n rhedwr.”

Catrin Mair Griffiths, aelod Mae Hi’n Rhedeg: Caerdydd.