Back in January 2013 I made a New Year’s resolution to run four races in the four countries of the United Kingdom, all in aid of Mind– the mental health charity.
My magnificent dad and me
My wonderful dad became increasing unwell in 2012 with severe depression and running lots of miles helped to channel my uselessness, increase awareness for the 1-in-4 of us that will suffer a mental health problem in any given year and raise money for a charity I was finding useful for support and advice.
Running 39.3 miles over three races, and countless hours and miles of training, was a huge physical and mental challenge. I found I was both weaker and stronger than I had imagined. A 5k fun run with friends saw me walking the last kilometre, but another day I ran a solo sixteen miles and had enough left in the tank afterwards to put on a party dress and head out to a summer barbecue. I gave up Pilates after one class when the teacher nearly reduced to me tears with her scolding, but forced myself through painful rehabilitation exercises with watery eyes and gritted teeth.
And with every long run, there was the Emotional Mile to contend with. There is a lot out there about running psychology and endorphins and you could spend days reading about how running is 90% mental. All I know is, whenever I was on a long run, at some point I would find myself running the Emotional Mile. For me this meant getting teary and thoughtful and thinking about my lovely dad (his illness), my amazing mum (her strength), my wonderful siblings, my beautiful nephews and all my supporters for giving their money, time, driving, cooking, encouragement.. After that I would progress from teary thoughtfulness to chanting all their names as a sort of encouraging mantra, John-and-Claire-and-Beth-and-Jon, Mar-i-an-and-Andy; Callum-Luke-and-Ste-phen, and-my-twin-Tim-my and so on until the emotions evened out and I got my game-face back on.
So thanks to the people who supported me- whilst I didn’t quite fulfil my resolution (having to back out of one race, taking up another and then having to back out of that race too), I did raise a whole heap of money for Mind! I had set myself what I thought of as a rather ambitious target and am astounded at surpassing it to raise a staggering £1,358.00.
Even better, in December I was emailed by JustGiving, telling me I was one of the top 5% of fundraisers in 2013- I couldn’t have done it without you. And even better still, my top-notch super Daddy is much improved and generally very well these days- hurray!
* This is not an exhaustive list, but is a summary from JustGiving of all the lovely people whom donated to me through their site. There are lots of others who’ve helped me in lots of other ways, I know you and you know you have my gratitude for years to come xx
| Ailsa Adams |
| Graeme Bigg |
| Paul & Christine |
| Cerys Galbraith |
| Piotr |
| Emma |
| Anonymous |
| Charlie Burns |
| Catherine & Schmalex |
| Laura Clark |
| Laura Waters |
| Androulla Michael |
| Big Daddy |
| Laura Ashford |
| Claire McCall |
| Chris Tracey |
| Janet Colquhoun |
| Ewa |
| Carmel |
| Rob Holmes |
| Kiera & Trevor |
| Laura Lanceley |
| Anonymous |
| Claire McCall |
| Jeanette Kazoka |
| Jo Raven |
| Jeff Nelley |
| Amy Fewkes |
| Mouse |
| Haff Robertson |
| Laura Simmonds |
| Panayiota Konstantopoulou |
| Stacey Douglas |
| Catherine Bulpitt |
| John Orr |
| Jo Chiu |
| Abbi Tracey |
| Laura Ashford |
| Carmel Young |
| Danielle Mercey |
| Diana Aldam |
| Beth Bradley |
| Elaine Woodhouse |
| Ma.Carmela Popanes |
| Claire Kelly |
| Natalie Hurley |
| Maurice |
| Lisa B |
| Lottie |
| Steve Davis |
| Keith & Rosemary x |
| Calum Dyke |
| patricia flynn |
| Ijeoma |
| Zol |
RUNNING RACES, IN DIFFERENT PLACES 