For as long as I can remember, I have hated running. I was never bad at it, I just never saw what people found enjoyable about running for no purpose other than to get fit, and surely you can do that in the safety of the nice warm gym? It was something I did because my school decided I was good enough at it to compete. Not the kind of person you would expect to want to run a half marathon then.

After my boyfriend died from cancer in June, I felt depressed all the time, and found sleep almost impossible. At the suggestion of my doctor, I decided to try some light exercise before I went to bed, to wear myself out. I started with some gentle gym work and swimming. I felt an almost instant change, both physically and mentally. I loved the endorphin rush exercise gave, and decided that I should use my new found addiction to do something worthwhile. Whilst researching possible events on the cancer research website, I stumbled across the Silverstone half marathon. My first thought was to skip through to the next article, it involved running. However, the more I looked for something else to do, the more I kept coming back to the half marathon. So I put my name down, deciding that the worst that could happen would be that I walked half of it on the day.

Training began about three days later, after some helpful tips from my uncle and a few other keen runners I know. I was going to aim to run 10 minutes three times a week, building up by 10 minutes every week. On Saturdays I would attempt my big run, aiming for an hour, building up by 30 minutes every other week. I stuck to this for the first day of my training, running from Glen to the Stags and back. Not terribly exciting, but I still felt a sense of achievement. The following day I was feeling a bit restless and decided that instead of going to the gym, I would go for a quick run. Before I knew it I was half way down Portswood High Street. I felt so proud, even more so when I arrived home and discovered after looking at a map that I’d actually run six and a bit miles in under an hour.

I’d finally discovered what it was that people love about running. You are completely alone with your thoughts, and the endorphins you get make the world seem somehow rose tinted. I don’t ever remember feeling as good as I do now - my fitness is a million times better than it was two weeks ago, and I feel so relaxed all the time, yet I have so much energy. A lot of people tell me I’m crazy for wanting to do this, but I know why they say that, I would have said the same thing two weeks ago. I know why I want to do it though, and the self satisfaction I get from knowing what all the other runners in the world know is so great. I’m seriously exited about the race and can’t wait to take my training to the next stage.

www.runningsponsorme.org/sallyford2