Back in October 2024 I did a wild and reckless thing. James circulated a text in the school WhatsApp groups about putting together a team of runners to run the Bath Half and fundraise for the school and like most normal people I swiped it off my screen but by the end of the day I had responded that ‘if there was still a place, I’d like to join’. The fact that I had literally never gone for a run in my life, unless you count the mad dash of the school run nor the fact that I didn’t even own any trainers (having given them away a few months before) seemed but minor details in a grand far off scheme... and now that scheme is only two weeks away! Eeeek!

I kept my running a secret from most at first, quietly panicking at the magnitude of the distance and worrying that I might not be able to do it. When my father was first told that I had signed up to run the Bath Half, and in fact had run 10KM that very morning, he screwed up his face in confusion and didn’t speak for fully five minutes. I don’t think anyone in my family saw this as an overreaction. I have never been very athletic, much less a regular runner. My legs are sturdy but not sporty and even have their own unflattering family nickname. I have worked hard to control the voice in my head that often tells me I can’t do this. When overtaken (and sometimes even lapped!) by other runners young and old alike and once someone jogging with a pram, I try to keep positive. Some people weigh no more than a paperclip and have the legs of a giraffe. That is not my body type. I am grateful for the body I have; it has carried my babies and every day it grows a little bit older, wiser and better at running! I am even grateful for the discipline of training which has led to the discovery of new routes near to our house, the joy of running through the countryside at dusk including the fleeting beauty of a midge as the low sun shines through it the second before it hits your eye or lodges in the back of your throat!

This challenge is definitely one that has tested me to my limits, but I am proud to have tried, and I am proud to raise funds for the school where my children spend their days. Knowing that my efforts will help enrich their days and be part of a larger project for their school is a great motivator! I just hope they don’t have to stand and wait too long for me to finish!

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Hello wonderful people - thank you for visiting our fundraising page. We are thrilled to share that St Andrew's is entering a team of runners into the Bath Half Marathon, for most of whom, this will be the furthest they have ever run...we are going to need all the encouragement we can get!

We are raising funds for a new outdoor learning space at the wonderful St. Andrew's Church School in Bath. The space will provide an engaging environment for children, which will have a lasting impact on their education and development.

Every donation will be a significant contribution, so thank you for giving to this wonderful cause and providing the additional motivation we need during the following months.