I have always enjoyed keeping fit but whenever I was given a new workout at the gym I would always say I did not want to run until ....
In 2011 my friend was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Whilst sitting round hers one day I said I would do the 5k Race for Life on the understanding she fought the disease and was at the finish with pink champagne. Challenge accepted. Not only did I sign up for the race so did her Mum, daughters, my Mum, daughter, daughter in law and several other friends and so the training began. As I started training I remembered why it was I did not like running but a challenge is a challenge and so I persevered.
Christine (my friend) did not make it to the finish line as she sadly died a couple of weeks before race date. All us runners, however, turned up and ran the race and her husband brought along pink champagne and we all drank a toast to her. To put it mildly it was a very emotional time.
From there I figured if I can run 5k I can do 10k, if I can do 10k I can do a half marathon (Blenheim Palace being my first) and then a marathon (Edinburgh). Christine's parents along with my family came to support me at the marathon and to be fair I think I cried from about 25 miles thinking about Christine.
In my wildest dreams I would never have thought how a flippant comment made one afternoon would have led to me becoming a runner. I have gone on to run many other half and full marathons and to be honest every time I step outside on a cold morning I look up at the sky and curse Christine (just a little bit) lol.
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Well done Gill and thanks for contributing. We look forward to the next update.
Sam & Vicky xx
If you are looking to complete a 10k, you should check out our ongoing challenges and sign up to our flying feet 10k
