BELIEVING YOU CAN DO SOMETHING IS YOUR SUPERPOWER
I’m Jo Moseley a 54, mother of two – we live on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales in the north of England.
One day in May 2013, I burst into tears in the biscuit aisle of Tesco’s. I was tired, anxious and stressed. I felt totally overwhelmed by life.
Both my parents were going through chemotherapy, I was a working Mum flying solo with my boys and in the early stages of the peri-menopause – although at the time I didn’t realise.
The biggest impact of the menopause for me was increased feelings of anxiety. I’m a natural worrier but it became worse. At the time I rarely exercised other than walking, on my own or with my sons, and swimming on holiday.
I made a decision to change this when I was 48 and I haven’t looked back since!
A friend lent me an old indoor rowing machine, suggesting it might help me sleep. Within two weeks, I was feeling brighter and better.
A year later, I began an 8 month fundraising challenge to row a million metres and marathon in memory of my Mum who had died of Lymphoma at Christmas 2013.
Rowing 10,000m every other night for 200 days I completed the project with a marathon (yes, 26.2 miles) on 21st December 2014. The 1st anniversary of Mum’s death and 5 days before my 50th birthday.
My shattered self confidence had been renewed by the challenge. I also realised that being active had really helped me physically, mentally and emotionally through my menopause.
In October 2017, I started running and finishing the “Couch to 5k” programme just before my 53rd birthday. I take part in Parkrun as often as possible and I have started Plogging (litter picking while jogging).
Two or three times a week I can be found at our local gym and have recently discovered kettlebells classes. They are great fun, hard work but rewarding and I love chatting to my class mates afterward. Post menopause weight training is great for improving bone density and helps to prevent osteoporosis. I also go to yoga classes which help to strengthen my core.
I also love riding my bike along the country lanes through the seasons. It’s great to notice the wildlife, watch the lambs grow & hear the birds sing. I also make sure I pick up litter as I cycle too. It’s easy to pop on my bike handles in my bag. I’m also trying to incorporate cycling more into my daily life whilst running errands.
I swim and do deep-water running as I love the classes – so much so that I became an instructor and teach two classes a week.
The journey of training and learning more about myself is all part of the challenge and something I really enjoy.
My first love is the sea where wild swimming, bodyboarding and stand up paddleboarding are my passions.
Starting 27th July, I will aim to SUP 16 – 18 miles each day coast to coast encountering 105 locks and 57 swing bridges.
I will SUP (stand up paddle board) from Liverpool to Goole along the Desmond Family Canoe Trail, incorporating the Leeds & Liverpool Canal and Aire & Calder Navigation. The trail is a project run by the waterways and wellbeing charity the Canal and River Trust. I am fundraising for two important causes : The Wave Project & 2MinuteBeachClean.
Trail running, paddleboarding, bodyboarding, wild swimming and learning to surf have helped me to find peace, courage and happiness after some difficult times. Having been inactive for over 25 years I cherish these tiny adventures and am grateful for every one.
