My running journey began on 21st November 2015… I was 4 stone overweight and had recently joined my local slimming world group to help me on my ‘size 10 wedding dress mission’

I’d already lost a stone but I felt I needed something else. I’d seen the phrase ‘parkrun’ thrown about, but never really took much notice as I hate exercise and have never been the least bit sporty.

However, I had my determined head on and an image of me looking beautiful in my size 10 wedding dress. How hard can it be? It’s only 5km! So off I went with my other half in tow (under protest) in the wind, rain, snow, hail, you name it!

On that day I actually felt it was the hardest thing I’d ever done. I couldn’t run a minute without stopping, I’d done no c25k (couch to 5k) and had never run before, it was horrible and my chest was on fire.

However.. I crossed the finish line in 39.40 minutes and at the same time making a promise to myself I would NEVER put myself through that again!

After a hot bath and a day on the sofa to recover, I decided that I’d give it another go the following week. My other half couldn’t make it which meant going on my own.. EEEEEK!!!

I managed to knock 2 minutes off my previous time and I think that’s when I got the ‘running bug’!

A couple of weeks later of turning up at parkrun on on my own, I was approached by a lady in a bright green shirt who asked me how long I’d been running, if I enjoyed parkrun etc… she said she was a member of a running club and would I like to come along to one of their team runs.

Rabbit in headlight alert look!!!!

I felt totally out of my depth but found myself agreeing to attend a Monday team run.

I was so nervous… what if I was too slow? What if I was too overweight? What if it’s really cliquey? What if I hold everyone up?

I turned up nevertheless and it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Yes, I was slow, yes it was hard, but the lady who approached me that day at parkrun ran with me and from that day was, and continues to be my inspiration, and now a friend.

Fast forward one year, I’ve lost 4.5 stone, I’ve completed 44 parkruns, 8 10k races and 2 half marathons.. I’m also now a run leader with the club trying to help and encourage others the same way I was helped when I joined… and yes I will be getting married in April in a size 10 wedding dress!!

The Rebel Runners gave me the confidence to believe in myself.. even my long suffering other half joined!

I’ve made lifelong friends and am now on a marathon training journey!!!