Guest Article: Overcoming Anxiety 6 Kilometres at a Time - How Running For Resilience Changed My Life

Guest Article #2: Brent Ford

Welcome to the second edition of Guest Articles, where we continue to be community-led by handing the reins of the Rag over to someone from our community and where they’ll write about a topic of their choosing. The only requirement is that it strengthens our community or helps us achieve our goal of making Canberra suicide-free.

This week, we’ve got the man behind the

Peak2Soon

podcast and R4R stalwart, Brent Ford!

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Overcoming Anxiety 6 Kilometres at a Time: How Running For Resilience Changed My Life

Brent Ford

Do you know those moments when anxiety takes over and stops you from doing things you would love to try?  

Yeah, I have been there too. It's like having a constant worry machine in your head that will not let you catch a break. You start imagining all the ways things could go wrong, and suddenly, you are stuck in a loop of self-doubt. 

I might chat away on the radio, talking to thousands of listeners, but guess what? Meeting new people used to scare the living daylights out of me. It sounds ridiculous, right? But that is the thing about anxiety – it does not always make sense.  

Let me take you back to when I moved schools and houses in Primary School. I was a mess of tears and nerves, imagining the worst in every scenario. 

Funny thing is that move turned out to be a game-changer. I had this awesome teacher, Cymantha Cantrill, who was like a burst of sunshine. She embraced my love of Aussie Rules even if she was a Swans supporter, and suddenly, I went from being the odd one out that played chess to a house captain. Who would have thought?  

Looking back, it is crazy how at the time I let my anxiety hold me back.  

"Why do you care so much about what people think?"  

I mean, don't we all want to be liked? But I did not realise how insignificant that question was until I started running, and it changed my perspective.  

See, I used to worry that people would judge me for being the bigger guy out there running. But running turned out to be my secret weapon against anxiety. 

It all started with shedding some kilograms and deciding that the scale was not going to define me. 140.8 kilograms might have been a wake-up call, I was told by a close friend if I continued down the path I was on I’d be dead, but it was also my starting point for change. Running became my escape, my time to clear my head and prove to myself that I could do more than I thought. 

But here is the kicker – I was still anxious about running in a group.  

I was convinced everyone would be thinking, "Why is that big guy here?" Funny thing is, most people I ran past while I was running solo did not even notice, and some even said a friendly "hi." It was a revelation – the fear of judgment was just in my head. 

Then came "Running for Resilience."  

The name alone spoke to me – battling my own mental health demons, I knew this was the place to be. Nervous as heck, I joined the group, surrounded by strangers and a few familiar faces from the online running community. It was like a breath of fresh air, a sense of belonging washing over me. 

As we hit the pavement together, something magical happened. It wasn't about the running or jogging or walking; it was about the shared journey, the collective spirit that pushed us forward. Matt Breen, the founder, sums it up perfectly each week in his welcome speech and suddenly, my anxiety started to melt away. 

Alongside my fellow runners, each week I faced challenges and embraced victories. Running became a symbol of resilience, a way to break free from the chains of self-doubt.  

My friend Emily Murphy soon asked me about joining, overcoming her own anxiety and suddenly we were on this adventure, and together, we conquered the pre-dawn runs, chasing extra kilometres and dreams. It's amazing how a shared goal can turn strangers into confidantes. She was my biggest training partner in the lead up to Ultra Trail Kosciuszko, to in turn help her get a half marathon goal was something special I will not forget. 

And let me tell you about Liam O'Rorke – a guy I never expected to connect with. We bonded over a beer mile competition, and suddenly, I had a running buddy who proved that elite athletes can also be down-to-earth and supportive. It was a lesson that shattered my preconceived notions. This year we ran a race together around a track with another legend Binh Dang, coming together to share our vulnerabilities, and shatter what we previous thought was possible for ourselves. 

Through Running for Resilience, I also discovered a community of elite runners who were the most giving and encouraging bunch. People like Mel, Scotty, Jin, Annabel, and Ania – they showed me that the running world was full of warm hearts, not judgment and competition. 

It’s also the everyday runners, my Elevate trail runners who I’ve grown closer to as a result of Running for Resilience, to the broader community with blokes like Simmo, Sunday, Murray, Cam and the like. 

But the journey did not stop there. Running for Resilience through the support of Benny A I discovered the courage to start my own podcast, Peak2Soon. I was finally speaking up, sharing stories of triumph and vulnerability. It felt amazing to have the support of this incredible community, a safety net that caught me whenever I felt doubt creeping in. 

So here I am, gearing up for the City to Surf race, and in recent times injuries have kept me down. The old anxiety is knocking on my door, but you know what? I'm not alone anymore. Singhy and the gang are there, ready to make me feel at home. Running for Resilience showed me that we are all in this together, no matter our backgrounds or fears. 

In the end, it's about taking that first step, breaking free from the grip of anxiety, and finding a tribe that lifts you up. Running for Resilience did that for me – it turned my anxious avoidance into a joyful stride, proving that with the right support, we can conquer anything, one run, jog or walk at a time. 

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