Liadán Hynes meets some of the amazing women taking part in this year’s event

Louise Kearney is a lifelong runner and found solace in the sport through grief, loss and now, perimenopause. She shares why she is looking forward to this year’s Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon.

Louise Kearney turns 53 the day after this year’s Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon. It is the first time she will run the event in years — she first ran the Mini Marathon in the mid-nineties — having at one time taken part annually. Her running career began in school, when she was a cross country runner.

“Running is my thing” Louise, who works in aviation as a cabin manager, but is also a life coach, with her own wellness business, says. “I did cross country in school. What I loved about it was challenging myself, and also it was my time to be in my own head I suppose. I was always setting myself goals, always trying to prove something. Of the appeal of running as an adult, she says; “It gave me the capacity to be outdoors.

Aviation is busy, indoors. It’s also a lifestyle where you need to be fit and healthy.” In the early noughties, Louise joined Sportsworld Running Club. They’re incredible, what an amazing community. They encourage but don’t judge if you can’t make it. They tap into your ability, your potential. They understand that I’m busy with a family, and if I can’t make it, I am still always welcome.” Joining the club encouraged Louise to push herself.

Spiral of grief

“I could hear the other members setting their own targets and the marathon was on the way and I thought, ‘my god, no better way’. She decided to run the New York marathon, and to take her parents, who had not travelled much, with her for the experience. But tragically, that same year, 2003, her father died of a heart attack. “I didn’t run that year. That sent me into a spiral of grief.”

There followed a difficult few years, with Louise experiencing two miscarriages in the year after her father’s death. “The thing that would have got me out of that was the running. Running is so powerful to put you back into that space, of visualising how you’d like to see your life play out, per se.”

As a distance runner who now has over 25 marathons under her belt, Louise has used the shorter 10k distance to help her increase her speed.

“I’m always trying to push it with times, to up it. Because I was a distance runner, speed was a big thing for me. So with the mini marathon, it was my goal to complete, and be continuous with speed. I went from participating to competing.” “You really can express your potential on that day,” she adds. “You’re like, ‘ok, wow, I can do this. Something I could never have done’, because I’ve always been a distance runner.”

Camaraderie

She also loves the camaraderie of the day. “It doesn’t really matter what pace you’re going at, it’s to get out there as a woman and give yourself the time. The amount of time you give to so many people, and how many women give that little bit of time to themselves?” says Louise, who is a mother of three, 17-year-old twin boys, and a 14-yearold daughter. In more recent years, Louise has struggled with her running. “Especially of late, with perimenopause and hormone changes, my body shape has changed; I talked myself out of running for some time.” She puts it down to perimenopause. “I didn’t respect my energies. I just kept pushing when really I should have sat. When I did sit and accept I should be celebrate my body changing, rather than becoming a victim of it, there was a change for me.

”Now, she tries not to judge the distance she runs, but rather focus on just getting out, and respecting what her energy levels might be on any given day. “I have accepted that I’m not 30 anymore. I’m not to feel guilty if I’m not at the side-line (of kids sport) because I need to run. I found myself thinking I’ll never get these years back with the children, so I was very consumed with the children.”

This year, she is back doing the Mini Marathon for the first time in several years, and her goal is to run the whole thing, rather than a “hybrid” approach of running and walking.

Changing the story she was telling herself has been the most impactful alteration to her approach. “I’ve booked for the marathon this year. I’m going to start with the mini marathon. And that’s the goal that I want to achieve; run the Mini Marathon without stopping.

Four years ago, I couldn’t walk down the road. Now here I am — running’

As we countdown the weeks to the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon on June 4, participants like Sorcha Ní Riain reveal their inspirational stories and preparations for the 2023 race, with Liadán Hynes.

Every time I set out, I kind of run for my 20-year-old self,” Sorcha smiles. “It’s always such a motivation to think four years ago, I couldn’t even walk down the road. Here I am, I’m outside, I’m in the fresh air. Doing my best.” Four years ago, Sorcha, originally from Tipperary and now living in Dublin, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Her treatment, chemotherapy, left her feeling dramatically weakened.

Training

“I started running to improve my fitness again. I was sick a few years ago and it really took a toll on my body. My heart, my lungs; they weren’t working how they used to. I was tired all the time, couldn’t walk even to the end of the street. I wanted to sleep all the time. I just didn’t really feel like myself anymore. I needed to get back into normal fitness, not even, like, elite fitness,” she laughs. Her boyfriend was training for a marathon, and in September 2022, asked Sorcha if she would like to run the Berlin half marathon with him, which took place on April 2. “That gave me about six months to train. I had never run a kilometre,” she laughs. But she felt confident. “I felt like I could do it. I feel like I have that mentality — a can-do attitude.”

This was four years on from when Sorcha began her treatment, in November 2018. And while her fitness levels had returned somewhat, she could not run any distance. Gradually though, she began to build up her running time.

Encouraging

As the evenings became shorter, Sorcha decided to join a running club. “I didn’t feel safe running after work, so I joined a running club DSD AC (Dundrum South Dublin Athletics Club). I wanted to be able to run in the evenings with people around me, feel safe, feel motivated, and feel this sense of community as well.” For a lot of people, the thought of joining a running club, especially at the start of a fitness journey, might be intimidating. “Absolutely, I was petrified to start,” Sorcha smiles. “I wasn’t even fit enough to join, I’d say, but I went anyway.” The group were extremely encouraging, prioritising enjoyment rather than ability. Her first run was the club’s long Sunday run.

“I completely struggled. I had to drop out about halfway through. But I was chatting to everybody, everyone was so lovely, I thought, ‘I really want to come back next week’.” She has been attending ever since, taking part in three runs a week. Everyone has their own goals, Sorcha explains. “In the beginning, I was definitely comparing myself to other people.

I’m the resident slow coach,” she laughs. “And I don’t care. I’ll be at the back of the group. I’m slow but I’m doing my best, and that’s good enough for anyone.”

Sorcha began setting herself targets early this year, first running a half marathon (privately, and with several coffee breaks, she smiles) with her boyfriend across Dublin, then a 10-mile run in Kinsale, where, to her surprise and delight, she realised she had made great advances in her speed. “It gave me a boost to keep going. That was another push to keep going for Berlin.” On April 5, she “flew” through the course in the half marathon. “I couldn’t have been happier when I crossed the line.”

Treatment

In the aftermath of her cancer treatment, Sorcha experienced significant anxiety. “Things happen so quickly when you’re diagnosed, and it’s such a rush to start treatment. You don’t have time to process anything. It was like a whole load of stress and anxiety came upon me. I felt overwhelmed, I started to suffer with anxiety attacks.” Running has been very helpful in managing this kind of thing. “It is a really great way to build your confidence, and also deal with any challenges that you’re facing at the time.” It is time alone with your thoughts that otherwise is rare, she points out. “Time to think. Especially when you feel under pressure, or your legs hurt, or you’re out of breath.

You’re kind of vulnerable in that moment, and that also leads to you dealing with some issues that you might have in your head. You have time to work through things. “Every day that I show up, I’m challenging myself, that’s really what’s most important. Even if you have a bad run, just the fact that you’ve shown up and you’re outside, and you’re trying to be a better person and improve yourself, that’s why I do it.”

Sharon Felton isn’t exactly sure how many times she has run the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon it’s been so often, but she thinks it is probably around fifteen. Nearly 44 and living in Greystones, the first time she took part was when her mum had breast cancer, and Sharon raised funds for the hospital where her mother received treatment. Another year, she took part in aid of Blackrock Hospice, where her father received care before he died.

“Both my parents have passed away,” she says now. “I pick different charities each year. On the day, even though it’s very emotional, but there’s a great sense of achievement.” You are raising money for the charity of your choice, but you are also doing it in memory of a loved one, Sharon points out. “You’re doing something that you’re proud of, and also that you hope the person that you’re doing it for would be proud of. Going over that finish line, there’s a feeling of, ‘oh my god, I’ve just done this’.”

Rewarding

Even though there can be sadness on the day, it is a hugely happy occasion, Sharon continues. “I probably have cried on every occasion. It’s really rewarding. When you get over that finish line, you’re already thinking about the next one. ‘I can’t wait, what charity am I going to do it for next year?’ I love getting to the end but at the same time you don’t want it to end, because it’s such a good day. I describe it as one of the best events I could do in the year.”

Sharon, who has two children, a nine-yearold daughter and 12-year-old son, doesn’t drive and averages around 20,000 steps a day. She walks, and possibly jogs, the Mini Marathon. “Even if it’s just walking around the green, I think it’s so good for your mental health,” she says of walking. “It has helped me along the way because of the grief. I love going out with a group, but I also love going out on my own, so you can gather your own thoughts.”

Sharon’s father died almost ten years ago, when her own daughter was only two weeks old. Her mum passed away four years later. “Walking has got me through a lot,” she says now. “It has saved me. If I want to walk, and I put on a song, and I cry, it’s OK. That’s fine.”

We’re proud to partner with GivenGain, the world’s leading not-for-profit fundraising platform. Meet some of the charities benefitting from this year’s VhiWMM.

AsIAm Charity

Over the past 9 years AsIAm have been working towards a vision of an Ireland where every Autistic person is accepted “As They Are” – equal, valued and respected. Their purpose is to advocate for an inclusive society for Autistic people that is accessible, accepting and affirming. They work to support the Autistic community and our families to fully engage in Irish life and to build the capacity of society to facilitate true inclusion.

Raising approximately €2,000,000 per year just to maintain their current activity, this is your chance to make a difference and support AsIAm by taking on the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon.

So far, this year they have a team of 11 fundraisers taking on the race to raise vital funds for their work. The team has already raised over €2,600. Could you be AsIAm’s next Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon fundraising hero?

Join their team and start your fundraising journey today.

Speaking today, Dick White, AsIAm, Fundraising Manager stated

Every year thousands of people participate in the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon. It is a wonderful way to reach a goal, and to give back to the community. Our work across Ireland makes a real difference to family and individual peoples lives. With your support this June we can do so much more. Your support would be greatly appreciated.