Possessed Magazine Running Blog

THE FIRSTS ISSUE

JANUARY 2024

Welcome to POSSESSED

First things first, this is not our first issue. I say that because you might be seeing this magazine for the first time, and we want to make sure you know this isn’t our first crack at publishing. In fact, this is issue number 49: The FIRSTS issue, an issue that is all about things that happen, come, or otherwise occur first.

I was almost first once. I was six years old and miles ahead in a running race at the school sports. I remember it vividly. I was out front, a good ten metres ahead of the pack, and when I crossed the finish line, I threw my arms up in the universal sign of victory and began weeping tears of joy. Unfortunately, I had mistaken a different chalk line for the finish line and stopped five meters short of completing the race. Everyone streaked past me. I came dead last. My tears of glory turned to tears of shame and self-loathing, and I haven’t stopped hating God since. Isn’t that a sad little story?

But that’s the only sad story you’ll read in this issue of POSSESSED because all the other first-related things we’ve cobbled together for you are happy and good! For example, this month, we chat with Darcy Budworth, founder of Take The Bridge, about how she organized the first of many wildly successful unsanctioned foot races. Then we call up Daniel Fang, drummer of hardcore gods Turnstile, to talk about his first half marathon (which came within 90 days of his first run). After that, we explain how you non-runner readers can dust off the Dorito crumbs and go for your first-ever run (LFG!), and then we look at the things you should eat after finishing your first race. Also, we’ve got a new collection of running playlists for you to check out, a guide to post-race nutrition, we fix your aching groin, call shit on pre-run stretching, and meet with the latest Satisfy pro athlete: Matt Lenehan. All that and much, much more.

Welcome to POSSESSED #49: The FIRSTS Issue.