DON’T STOP ME NOW

Though she’s been running all her life, a marathon was never on the radar of clinical specialist, Clare McGrory. When her friends asked her to join them in the London Marathon her initial response was, “I’ll hold your coat.”

Yet after completing two half marathons, she saw a change in her attitude and her running. “My friend did a marathon and the look of serenity on her face after she finished ingrained itself in my brain,” explains Clare. “I knew I could do it too, so I took a leap of faith and applied.”

“I love running,” shares Clare. “It gets rid of my stresses and worries. I listen to my music and just turn off the world. “And my family are amazing, their support throughout this process means everything to me.”

Like many others, Clare’s journey hasn’t been smooth sailing and she’s faced setbacks. “I’ve struggled with pain in my legs and back. I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to do the marathon at one point, but I worked with a physiotherapist and focused on rest days and looking after my body.”

CLARE’S TOP TIPS

• Go at your own pace – whether that’s running, walking or cycling, you know your body best

• Don’t be hard on yourself – there’s no last place, be proud of yourself and celebrate your achievements

• Location, location, location – I’d recommend parkrun UK as they’re always in great locations, like Crosby beach. I also love the Albert Dock or Princes Park

• Make it enjoyable – I joined an international running event called Mikkeller last year – they start off at a brewery, run 5K, then treat everyone to a free drink!

• Food is your best friend – Clare’s love of running and health has fed into her eating habits. “I’m a good eater, I follow a vegetarian diet mostly, but I do eat fish as it has many benefits.” Check out Clare’s recipe for tuna nicoise salad on page 25.

Thomas Watson is a certified running coach and the founder of MarathonHandbook.com. He says that running is time well spent. “Let’s face it, most of us have busy lifestyles... we spend much of the day seated, in front of a screen, and when we go home, often we get caught up in the tiny distractions, rather than spending our free time wisely. Running is a good use of your time. Simple as that.”

If you’re not up for a marathon, walk, jog or run at a free parkrun UK 5k event in a park near you any Saturday morning. parkrun.org.uk