I started running over 4 years ago and it changed my life.

At the time I was battling with addictions and mental health issues and it's a fair assessment to say I was failing badly.

Having spent one particularly difficult grey January morning fighting the usual demons, I saw an old pair of trainers and thought 'I'll go for a run'. And I did. And it floored me - all lung bursting, no energy, heavy legged, five minutes of it.

Yet, later that evening I felt I had achieved something that day. Something just for me that made me feel good about myself. 

Fast forward 4 years and I was running for pleasure, with the odd 5k Parkrun thrown in, but always believed further was way out of my league

However, due to the inspiring people I work with at Nottingham YMCA I have decided to challenge myself and run the 13 mile half marathon to raise funds for YMCA Housing department to support the delivery of arts and cultural programmes for our hostel residents.