Exclusive:
With 2024 seeing a running boom across the UK, I got swept into the craze and decided to give it a go, signing up for my first half marathon having never even run 5k.
If you had told me a year ago that I’d be running a half marathon in 2024, I would have burst out laughing. Me? Running? Absolutely not.
But, how things can change. 2024 saw an unexpected running boom sweep across the UK.
Run clubs were popping up in every corner of the country, as young people started trading pints at the pub for 5ks with their friends.
Before I knew it, I was swept into the craze.
I have never been particularly unfit, but I definitely wasn’t the sporty kid in class. In fact, I remember pretending to be sick on sports day to get out of having to compete in any kind of activity.
But since moving to London in 2023, I was blessed with some of the best running routes the UK has to offer and started thinking more about my health and fitness.
Prior to moving, I was living life as a normal person in their 20s. Going out regularly at the weekend, drinking far too much and suffering from the so-called ‘hangxiety’ the next day.
In February 2024, I decided to dip my toes into the world of running.
I remember downloading the NHS’ ‘Couch to 5k app’ and thinking, “how hard can this be?” Spoiler alert: pretty hard!
Week one was a rude awakening when I struggled to run for longer than one minute – yes, one minute.
Despite my regular Pilates sessions and occasional gym visits, my cardio and stamina were embarrassingly lacking.
But, I stuck with it. I had the right mindset, and I knew I could do it.
Before I knew it, I had completed all nine weeks and was running a 5k.
During this time, I was offered a place to run in the Royal Parks Half Marathon. This was around April time, and with the race being in October, I thought it was the perfect amount of time to start training.
I started taking running more seriously and began training with the Nike Run Club plan, investing in an Apple Watch to track every run.
What I hadn’t predicted was a number of setbacks that would occur.
I was quickly struck down with runner’s knee – a common but frustrating injury.
I thought this would eventually resolve itself, but I had to take a solid month off running and focus on physio and rehabilitation to get back to hitting the tracks.
This was not only physically challenging, but mentally too. Having worked so hard to get to where I was, it was a big setback in my training plan and I was terrified I wouldn’t be able to run the half marathon.
Realising that five runs a week wasn’t sustainable for me, I switched things up. I found a plan that worked for my body, with two runs a week and plenty of cross-training in between to stay injury free.
Finally, race day arrived on October 13. The atmosphere was incredible, with 16,000 runners and thousands of supporters cheering on from the sidelines.
The Royal Parks Half Marathon is often called “the most picturesque half marathon in the world,” and I couldn’t agree more.
As I laced up my trusty New Balance FuelCell v4 shoes and set off at the pace I had been training with, I felt a mix of nerves and excitement.
Two hours and 36 minutes later, I crossed the finish line – without stopping once.
If you had told me at the start of my journey that I’d run 13.1 miles straight, I would never have believed it would be achievable within a matter of months.
But the experience taught me that with the right mindset, anything is possible.
For someone who used to say, “I hate running,” I can now proudly say this is just the beginning of my running journey.
If you’re thinking about starting, take it from me, just give it a go. You might surprise yourself.
