Member story, with Haris Kokkinos.
You'll usually find Haris Kokkinos running in Hyde Park, Regent's Park or along the canal. At the weekend he's normally out with friends, and the run tends to end with lunch or coffee together. Three years ago, though, running had dropped out of his life completely, and how it found its way back is quite a story.
Finding running, then finding it again
Haris first started running after moving to the Surrey countryside, where he fell in love with being outdoors. "That's when I slowly started running," he says. He then stopped for several years. Then, after a health issue three years ago, he decided to get back into it, and this time it stuck. "Since then, I've really enjoyed running again. It helps me stay active and clear my mind."
A different kind of weekend
The change running has made goes well beyond fitness. "Running has changed everything for me," Haris says. "A few years ago, I used to be out drinking after work almost every day with colleagues and friends, and weekends were usually spent partying. Over the last three years, things have completely changed. I now celebrate my birthday with a run followed by dinner, and honestly, I've had an amazing time doing it."
A lot of his friends run too, which makes it easy to spend time together. As for the ones who don't, "they just have to put up with me talking about running all the time anyway!"
"Running has given me a healthier lifestyle, helped me meet some fantastic people, and become something I genuinely look forward to every day. I never imagined I'd enjoy it this much."
Running through his dad's village
Haris's proudest moment came at his very first marathon, in Cyprus. By complete coincidence, part of the route passed through his dad's village. His dad had died only a few months earlier.
"Finishing my first full marathon in Cyprus was one of the most emotional and meaningful moments of my life," he says. "Running through the place where he grew up while achieving something I had worked so hard for felt incredibly powerful."
Friends were a big part of how he got through that time. "When my dad passed away, running with friends helped me enormously. We'd be running and chatting at the same time, and it almost felt like a therapy session. Being able to talk openly while doing something positive for my physical and mental health made a huge difference." Whenever he's going through a difficult period, he prefers to run with other people rather than alone.
The voice at the start line
For all the miles he's run, Haris is honest that the hardest part isn't physical. "Whenever I arrive at a race, my anxiety goes through the roof. There's always a voice in my head telling me to go back home, that I'm not ready, or that I can't do it. It takes a lot of strength just to stand on that start line. People often think the hardest part is the running itself, but for me, the biggest challenge has always been overcoming that fear and self-doubt before the race even begins."
If you've ever felt that way before a race, or before your first group run, it's worth knowing that someone who's crossed a marathon finish line and has four more booked still feels it too.
Alone in the week, together at the weekend
During the week, Haris tends to run on his own, fitting it in around work. Weekends are different. "I love running with friends. It's much more social, and we usually end up spending the whole morning together. We'll go for a run, have a good chat, and then grab lunch or coffee after."
His favourite route takes him from home to Regent's Park, through the West End and back via Hyde Park, and his favourite distance is the half marathon. The kit he couldn't run without is his Apple Watch Ultra 3 and his AirPods, and music plays a big part in his running, not always to his advantage.
The extra 4k
"At my last marathon, I was listening to my music so loudly and singing along, and my voice is horrible, that I completely missed the marshals telling me to stop and change direction." The result was an extra four kilometres on the trail route. It's probably the best argument for one earbud out we've heard.
The advice he'd pass on
The best advice Haris has been given is about pacing in a marathon, and he learnt it the hard way: "not to go all out at the beginning. I made that mistake myself and nearly didn't finish. Pace yourself, trust your training, and save some energy for the end. You will need it, believe me."
And for anyone nervous about joining a group run for the first time? "Just go for it. The running community is full of amazing people with the best attitudes, and they always seem to know the best places to eat afterwards!"
What's next
Haris has four marathons booked for next year, so there are plenty of miles ahead. His message to other members is simple: "Let's do a run together sometime. I'm always out running, and let's eat after."
I can vouch for that. Haris and I connected through Run Love Sprint and met up for a run around Regent's Park. We spent the 2 loops sharing life stories and laughing, finished with a strong coffee, and it was a much better run than it would have been if I'd gone out on my own.
I'll leave the last word to Haris. "Honestly, running saved my life. It has helped me through some of the most difficult times, improved my physical and mental health, introduced me to amazing people, and given me experiences and memories I'll never forget."
