Ruth, of Ballymena Runners, at Glenariff Forest, Northern Ireland. Photo 0595.

Lived all around the world.

I used to be a sprinter at quite a high level, with Ballymena and Antrim Athletics Club. Endurance didn’t come naturally to me, so I jogged a bit.

 

When I had my son, Ballymena Runners were quite active around Ballymena, and I gathered up the courage to go along and they were such a group of encouraging people.

I was born in Ballymena. When I was five, my parents moved to America and I lived in Wisconsin for quite a few years. Then we came back to Ballymena for a while, before moving to Thailand where I was brought up with a tribe, my parents are missionaries.

When I was in Thailand I didn’t really fit in, as I was a white kid among tribal children. Back home, I was very swarthy and skinny, with an American accent, and didn’t really fit in here, either.

Then I joined the Ballymena Runners, and very quickly found the mountain runners, where everyone is so different, quirky and has their own little ways, and everyone is accepted.

And that’s where I became myself. I love the open outlook of fell and mountain runners, who appreciate what’s around them.

I have a five year old child, Jacob, and I hope that he will grow up to be kind and supportive and, I guess, that would be my mark on the world.

 

Story by Bout Yeh photographers Belfast

Ruth, of Ballymena Runners, at Glenariff Forest, Northern Ireland. Photo 0605.
Ruth, of Ballymena Runners, at Glenariff Forest, Northern Ireland. Photo 0598.
Ruth, of Ballymena Runners, at Glenariff Forest, Northern Ireland. Photo 0597.

Share YOUR STORY!

What makes you happy | What makes you sad | What’s on your mind

0 Comments

More stories below

about humans of Belfast

white down arrow illustration