Marathon Mel Hits 300

2020 should have been a year to remember for Thetford runner Mel Sturman. A wedding, 50th birthday celebrations and date to complete her 300 marathon challenge all passed by due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Mel and her finance Richard (who she met through Parkrun) were forced to postpone their wedding until August next year and with 9 marathons to go, Mel thought she’d never make her 300 target this year. When the World Mega Marathon Club resumed validation at the beginning of July followed by the 100 Club at the end of that month, Mel grabbed the opportunity to complete her challenge. Celebrating her 300th marathon at Enigma Running in Milton Keynes on Sunday 13th September was a dream come true for nurse Mel, who has been working on the frontline since lockdown last March. Originally Mel should have completed her challenge on June 7th, “I wanted to finish before we got married and started a new chapter in our lives because I started this challenge as a singleton. Once the competition reopened I wanted to get finished as soon as possible as it’s such a rapidly changing environment we live in at the moment. I just didn’t want to finish on 299, so when the opportunity to complete the last 3 came up in September I went for it.” Mel has actually run 301 marathons over the last 9 years and over 8000 miles as she’s also completed 10 ultra marathon which are up to 100 miles each time.

Mel’s running story started when she was 40 after a regular check up with her GP, who advised her to improve her health. “I decided that for my 40th year I’d do the London Marathon,” said Mel “I couldn’t run a mile in October 2010, by Christmas I’d got up to 15 miles and followed a training programme. I raised £3,500 for Back Care, a charity I’d chosen because it was linked to my work as a nurse.”

Mel now had the bug and the advent of social media made it easier to keep in touch with people. “Lots of people I met at London were looking to do Liverpool in the autumn, so I decided to have a go and enjoy some social time whilst I was at it!” explained Mel. The following year she completed another 2 marathons and a further 3 in six weeks in the spring of 2012. Injury forced Mel to have 12 weeks out, but she was back to running another 3 marathons in that autumn. It was at one of these events Mel saw Rachel Smith being presented with her 100 marathon top. “I was awestruck, she was the first woman to do 52 marathons in 52 weeks.” Inspired, in 2013 Mel ran 27 of her first challenge

Mel celebrating achieving her 300 marathons milestone at Milton Keynes

to reach 30 marathons and reached gained her 100 top in 2015. In 2013 she also started Parkrun in Thetford with funding off the back of the London Olympics and the belief that no one should have to run on their own. On the 5th anniversary of the start of her running story Mel started organising her own events. During lockdown she’s created 4 virtual events and raised a staggering £8650.00 for local charities including Banham Zoo and Miniature Donkeys For Wellbeing. Highlights for Mel have included the marathon she ran through Walt Disney World in Florida, and all the world majors she has completed in London, Berlin, New York and Chicago. Her next challenge is to run the Boston and Tokyo marathons to complete the 6 star world series. Mel says that given the current situation with covid and with elderly parents to support, she’s not going to set a new target at this present time. “I’m going to continue to enjoy running and maybe support someone who wants to start marathon running by being their running buddy. Lots of people get nervous when they first start marathon running, you have to follow lots of signs and people worry that they’ll get lost so to have someone with you is a massive help. Running has helped me through some difficult times in my life. I’ve used exercise rather than medication and it’s been an emotional journey over the past 6 years.”

Mel’s latest fundraiser is called ‘12 days of Christmas’ participants run or walk 1 mile or km a day for the 12 days of Christmas in exchange for a medal. The money will be used to provide TADDS members with a Christmas hamper. For more information visit: www.facebook.com/ Thetford-Iceni-Marathon-and-Half-Marathon

Breckland Youth Advisory Board (YAB) recognise that young people can miss sport due to financial difficulties at home. They want to make it a bit easier for young people to get into sport and stay at the discretion of Breckland YAB and no further correspondence will be entered into. The closing

engaged. YAB recognises the benefits of sports to young people’s physical and mental health, so have set up a ‘Breckland Young People Sports Fund’. This is a one off fund, with one round of remember to send through any news updates

applications. Grants of up to £50 per person to young people in our target age range of 11-19 years and living in our geographical area, Breckland, are available. For sports clubs/groups within Breckland, YAB award grants of up to £250. The grant is to assist with taking up a sporting activity or to remain in one (for example towards kit or equipment, training or competition fees, facility or club fees). There is a limited amount of funding, once this is date for applications is 5th October 2020. Please apply via;

www.map.uk.net/breckland-youthadvisory-board-yab/

You will be notified via email on or before the 19th of October of the outcome of your application.

If you are a local sports group, please allocated then the YPSF will close.

to About Thetford magazine for inclusion in the magazine. E-mail: aboutthetfordmagazine@googlemail.com

The application must include the approval of an adult/senior person in charge or associated with the activity, e.g. coach). Only one application per young person/club/group is allowed. The decision as to whether an application is eligible is totally w It’s our 22nd birthday but we’d love to give YOU the presents!

Your hearing is our passion

If during lockdown you have become aware you need help, don’t let hearing loss prolong your isolation. Find us at:

■ THETFORD Healthy Living Centre ■ ATTLEBOROUGH Health Clinic

We want to assure you that when you visit us, your safety is our priority:

☑ Rigorous cleaning procedures ☑ Full use of PPE ☑ Staggered appointments to avoid patient contact

Book today! Call 01473 230330

Our birthday offers for you • FREE hearing tests (saving you £30) • Up to 30%* off the latest hearing systems