My running story articles

2023 Reflections

2023 Reflections

Three reflections on 2023 – Katie Holmes reflects on positive moments, grief and loss, and her attitude to running.

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A parkrun anniversary

A parkrun anniversary

Ten years ago, on 7th January 2012, I went to parkrun for the first time. I had been running for less than a year. I'd heard of parkrun but had only found out a few weeks before that there was a parkrun in Nottingham. I remember not being sure where to park or where...

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Taking a Tumble – Running Hazards

Taking a Tumble – Running Hazards

After thousands of miles, runs in the dark, runs on icy pavements, dozens of muddy, slippery cross country races, tens of thousands of kerbs and almost ten years of running, today was the day when I took a tumble. Three miles into my run, I was on a riverside path...

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Too old for track?

Too old for track?

On 9th August, I competed in an open track and field event for the first time. I ran a 1500 metre race for the first time. But just a few days before I almost pulled out of it.  At 54, was I too old for track? First forays into track running I was not a complete track...

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London Marathon 2017

London Marathon 2017

In May 2016 I applied in the ballot for a place in the Virgin Money London Marathon 2017. It was the second time I'd applied having failed to get a place the year before for the 2016 race. It was a record year for applications with 253,930 UK runners entering the...

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“Jeffing” the Yorkshire Marathon

“Jeffing” the Yorkshire Marathon

This is the story of how I got to the starting line of my first marathon and what happened on the day. Getting ready for the Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon on Sunday 9th October 2016 I thought about the interview I had done with Sandy Poole in January that year. Sandy had...

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Will I run a marathon?

Will I run a marathon?

I've been running for over five years. Thanks to my half marathon challenge I've run 15 half marathons since turning 50 in 2013. After completing that challenge it felt like time to have a go at the full 26.2 mile distance. I've always felt ambivalent about the...

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Half marathon reviews

Half marathon reviews

Today it is one year since I completed the slightly mad challenge of running 12 half marathons in 12 months. Here are my two sentence race reviews and ten things I've learned. September 2014 - Robin Hood Half Marathon, Nottingham “The one that nearly got away.” My...

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