Half marathons & 10k road races Experiences

Running for Roy

I casually mentioned to a friend of mine that I wouldn’t mind doing a run for the Foundation – well I’d walked 33 miles and played Santa so how hard could it be to run a 10K race?

I picked up a running magazine and logged on to a website for some training plans for beginners, 1 minute run, 1 min walk, for 10 minutes –easy! Having got some kit together off I went. In running terms I was already a veteran having started at 45 years of age. A few minutes later completely out of gas and legs like lead I realised this wasn’t a piece of cake! If I couldn’t run for 10 minutes how can I run for 60?

It did get easier, I gradually built up the minutes and entered my first 10K at Bolton in 2004. Together with my friend (who happens to be a former Olympic athlete!) we finished in just under 56 minutes, and raised a few hundred quid for the Foundation.

Shortly after that I joined Bolton Harriers and although I hadn’t considered myself as a natural runner I quickly became hooked. I became more ambitious and ran the Wilmslow Half Marathon in 2005 and 2006, again as a fundraiser.

I’ve now ran many 10K races which is my favourite race and recently set a new personal best time of 50:45 at the Trafford 10K. I often proudly wear the Foundation’s yellow vest at races which a great way of keeping our name in the public eye. I never forget that I am fortunate enough to be able to run for all those people affected by lung cancer who would love to do the same if they had the chance.

You don’t have to run the expensive mass participation events if you don’t want to. There are hundreds of smaller races countrywide which you can take part in and raise money.

So there – if I can do it the so can you! Become one of Roy’s regular runners and a running advert for the Foundation.

Geoff Knowles West Pennine Support Group

The Bay To Breakers 12K in San Francisco 07

My team and I were very happy to be raising money for The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation. When my dad was diagnosed with lung cancer our entire family felt helpless. We were even more upset to learn that his chances of survival were slim at best.

My dad fought hard and we had him with us for nearly a year longer than we thought we would but to me it wasn't enough. After we lost him I wanted desperately to help, to do anything I could to stop other families from having to face the same thing.

I started raising money for Cancer Research UK after entering one of their Race For Life runs. Then I became aware of the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation and decided it was time I help raise money that would go specifically to lung cancer.

I have always wanted to run in the Bay To Breakers. I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and the race is a BIG deal over there, they show it on TV every year. I decided to encourage my friends and family to join me as part of a team and with my mom and sister on the team.

The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation was the perfect choice as a charity to support!

Teresa Beech

The Great Eastern Run

It all started innocently enough, jogging twice a week for half an hour, with a friend Deborah. Trying to keep the middle age spread at bay. We had just finished our weekly run when Deborah said lets do a half marathon and before I came too, I said yes!

We signed up to the Great Eastern Run in Peterborough taking place in October. I would like to say that we chose this race for the challenge but basically it is near where we live, Cambridge, and is the flattest half marathon course in Britain - extremely important! This was July. I had registered and paid up. I could run 4 miles at this time without passing out. Only another 9 to go…!

Training started in earnest. Running three times a week, one long run and two short runs of about 4-5 miles. Then the school and summer holidays took their toll. Trying to persuade two children to cycle for four miles while you jog along didn’t work. So it meant getting up early and running before my husband left for work. He was very good at pushing me out of bed at 6am….

I hadn’t thought about running for a cause and doing some fundraising but all that changed when I heard about an old friend who had been diagnosed with lung cancer. She has two young children and is 42 years old. She is not a smoker and looks after herself. None of us could believe what was happening to her and how it would affect her family. As we live quite far apart there was little we could offer them in terms of practical support. But I felt very strongly that I should try and do something.

Using the Just Giving website I found out about The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation. As the only charity in the UK wholly dedicated to fighting lung cancer I was shocked to learn that they don’t receive any government money for their research work. Everything they do from patient support through to raising awareness about lung cancer is funded from charitable donations and lottery grants. The staff at the Liverpool centre who contacted me were very encouraging and sent me a t-shirt and sponsor forms to get me started.

My friend has just finished four bouts of chemotherapy and this has reduced her tumour by 70%, an amazing result. This means that she can now move on to a new drug with fewer side effects and good efficacy. For her and her children it means more time together. Hearing about what she was going through spurred me on. So far I have raised £388 through the Just Giving website. I can’t recommend it highly enough. It was easy to set up and friends and family from all over the UK were able to donate securely.

Race day arrived. Nerves were getting the better of me and visits to the toilets frequent! Peterborough centre had a carnival feel to it as runners jostled with friends and supporters at the start. There were around 3000 runners for the half marathon and a further 1000 for a fun run. The local radio station provided entertainment and a warm up to get everyone in the mood. Stationing ourselves near the back we awaited the starting gun.

Family waved us off as we walked and then jogged over the starting line. The sun was out, there was little wind and the streets were packed with spectators. My tummy was turning cartwheels but we were here and running and our worst nightmares hadn’t come true. Dreaming the night before that we missed the starting gun and forgot our trainers and clothes we pushed through the streets fully dressed. Phew! However there were other runners in fancy dress, one man in a school girl outfit complete with pigtails who had also taken the time to shave his legs!

We finished in 2hours and 22 minutes, sprinting over the finish line after 2hours and 20mins of solid plodding. What a great feeling to complete something so challenging and to have competed in a race in which proper athletes take part. Every shape, size, age and ability was represented from the retired 70 year olds to the new young runners in the fun run at age 7, and the wheelchair runners with their specially adapted kit who took part. Many people were running for their chosen charity and the added bonus for me is an even greater feeling of satisfaction when you finish knowing that you have helped others.

Joann Leeding