For many people, running is not just a beautiful figure. Running is almost a new life. It has a good effect not only on physical, but also psychological health, allows you to rethink values, dream and, of course, as a bonus – to become more beautiful and healthier.
We spoke with Irina Malukhina, a runner, NRC MSK pacer and a successful PR man, about her love of running and how it can change your life.
Healthy Food Near Me: Irina, tell us about who you work? What do you do? How did running come into your life?
Irina Malukhina:
I work as a PR specialist in a small marketing communications agency and oversee the beauty department. We work a lot – we create trends in PR and organize various events, we try to make sure that as many people as possible know about them.
Running came into my life thanks to my sister Marina. In 2015, she persuaded me to go to a training session at one of the Moscow running clubs. Since then, this place has become practically my second home.
Irina is a pacer (a runner who sets the pace for a whole group of runners)
Healthy Food Near Me: How did your jogging begin? Do you remember how your first workout went?
Irina Malukhina:
The first workout was not easy for me. Despite the choice of the initial group, I still turned out to be the “weak link”. It was quite difficult to run for a long time without stopping: at first, the legs did not obey, the muscles ached. But I must say that the difficulties did me only good. At first, it shocked me, hurt my pride, and I set a goal for myself – to improve my athletic performance. And since then I am not going to stop.
Jogging can be done anywhere
Healthy Food Near Me: How many years have you been running and how many times do you train a week?
Irina Malukhina:
I have been actively running for 4 years now. Now I train 1-3 times a week, it all depends on my free time and mood. In addition to personal jogging, I help other people love jogging and am one of the pacers at the Nike Running Club. We help runners cover the distance at a specific pace, avoid injury and improve their performance. Running with a pacer is also more fun and mentally easier – keeping up with the pacer means that you can stop looking at your watch every 5 minutes and just enjoy the process.
Healthy Food Near Me: How has running changed you and your life? What changes can you highlight in particular?
Irina Malukhina:
Now I enjoy running. It not only inspires me to new victories, but also helps me make the right decisions and cope with stress – in any incomprehensible situation, I put on sneakers and go for a run. It helps a lot to sort your thoughts on the shelves. Running for me is an integral part of life, which helps me to become better and believe in myself. And running gives me health, endurance, well-being and physical fitness. This allowed me to fulfill one of my most important dreams – to climb the peaks of Mount Elbrus in 2016.
Healthy Food Near Me: What are your main “running” achievements? What races are you planning to take part in next season?
Irina Malukhina:
Of course, this is a marathon. I ran three Moscow Marathons in 2015, 2016 and 2017. If earlier for beckoning marathon runners were “alien” people, now I myself proudly note that I am a marathon runner. The Moscow Marathon is a real celebration of sports, running, a healthy lifestyle and it is a great joy to be a part of such an event.
As for the plans for the next season, I plan to run a half marathon in St. Petersburg (St. Petersburg Severnaya Stolitsa half marathon), a Night Run and, of course, the Moscow Marathon!