For context, if you don't know me, my name is Susan, sometimes "No Strava Susan" or in my former online running club pre Harriers "Less is More Susan" and I love running. I love running for fun, with friends, at parkrun, cross country 100% and I really don't like running in the heat or on my own. I train minimally but I love to test my stamina with cross country and my comfort zone with the crazy track 800m & 1,500m races.
I did one marathon in 2006 - and now I have done 24. Be careful. This one, the Abingdon Marathon (done before in 2011) was a low key affair, a chance for Trevor (my marathon husband) to redeem himself for getting injured last year in the build up to the London Marathon 2023. But dammit those dancers' calves went again and I found myself looking at another marathon on my own, in the quiet roads round Abingdon.
As Trevor left me, at the entrance to Regents Park, to hobble home - 6 miles into our 17 mile run I had a word with myself - why was I running another marathon? It took a few moments but then (as it was October - Breast Cancer awareness month) I thought to myself - I am running it because I can. And in the next breath I knew I would run for Natalie & the Marsden if she wanted me to. Lots of you remember the wonderful, smiling, positive soul that is Natalie who has secondary breast cancer and is being looked after by the Marsden Hospital.
The charity has just emailed me and asked me to answer a couple of questions - so I thought I would share them in this report for what it's worth. I would highly recommend the Abingdon Marathon - so close to London and a small field of runners, and with changing rooms! It's pretty flat and the volunteers are brilliant and so encouraging. The only thing I would say is there is a fair bit of going up and down, on and off pavements - but otherwise a great place to run.
Thanks to many generous sponsors, including loads of Harriers, we have raised over £1,500 for The Marsden Hospital Charity. If you would like to donate, the link to the Just Giving page is here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/susan-kennedy-fornatalie
What inspired you to take on the run in aid of the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity?
I was training for this marathon when I heard that our running club friend Natalie had been diagnosed with secondary breast cancer. I had been diagnosed with breast cancer myself ten years ago, just before she had her primary diagnosis and was so sad to hear of her diagnosis. I often fundraise, and for this marathon I had thought I was going to leave my friends alone - not once again entreat them to sponsor me - but once I had spoken to Natalie I knew I could help her in some small way by giving back to the Marsden who have looked after her so brilliantly. The research being done there into these awful cancers is hugely important to Natalie and every penny raised will give her a little bit of joy. So I really had to do it.
How did you find the day itself? What was the atmosphere and experience like? Abingdon Marathon is a small local marathon, not a big fundraiser type event, mostly running club type runners but enormously friendly nonetheless. Despite having run quite a few marathons the day is always daunting. 26.2 miles is a long way to run. The weather forecast was awful - Storm Ashley was blowing a hooley further north and we were predicted heavy rain and gusty winds - but it was mostly drizzle and just a few gusts. The marshals were all so friendly and supportive, there are not great crowds but I like the chance to think and not be overwhelmed with loud noise. I thought of Natalie a lot - she is the most positive and smiley person you could ever meet. People often say that but with Natalie it's 100% true. In the midst of pain, fatigue and tiredness she will strike a pose and smile that smile. So I adopted her mindset and used it a lot.
Would you recommend someone take on this challenge, and do you have any advice? Running a marathon is a long way - if you are going to do your first one I would probably recommend a bigger marathon - more crowds and support - maybe join a running club for support. Go to your local Parkrun - a perfect place to start running with a friendly local supportive group. It's a brilliant challenge to take on and running is so good for your mental health. I have run for years for my own head, for anxiety and depression which sometimes come to visit. If you are supporting someone with cancer or even dealing with the effects of it yourself a gentle run can help enormously if you can manage it - and slowly it can evolve into something really good for you mentally and physically. I could not do without it. If you can raise money at the same time and help others it really is the best thing.