My First Half Marathon

30th September 2024.

That morning I woke up with a knott in my stomach and the anxiety was a strong 10/10. The thought of running for this distance with so many other people and the doubt that I wouldn't be able to reach the finish line was almost unbearable. This was so far out my comfort zone. I have never been a runner, only 4 months ago I had never ran more than 5k and here I was about to run my first half marathon.

I was anxiously waiting for my yearly scan results which fuelled this need to challenge myself. I need to prove to myself that my body could do this. It became an outlet that I soon began to love, running on my own without headphones just listening to the waves along by the sea soon became my kind of therapy.

The build up to race day I had weirdly started to really enjoy. Something inside me needed this more than ever.

Leaving the start line full of nerves and self doubt quickly passed as something inside me snapped, and I needed to run. It felt good. More than good, it felt pretty amazing. Thoughts flashed back to me being stuck sat in that big blue ugly chemo chair hooked up to beeping machines staring out of the window wanting nothing more in the world to be able to be outside running. Nothing makes you want something more when you can't do it. And now today I was able to take back the control.

Sprinting through the finish line in just under 2 hours was the most incredible feeling. Finally feeling more like myself again, and if not fitter than I'd ever been before. How truly incredible are our bodies are. Everything really does come down to mindset.