EVERYBODY WANTS TO RUN THE WORLD!
TE colleagues are donning their trainers in 2025 to train for marathons and other sporting events. We catch up with some of them to hear their inspiring stories.
STUART PENNEY – NEW THEATRE CARDIFF
Having not done any sort of sports running since P.E in school, in 2017 I completed the Cardiff Half Marathon. I loved the training towards a goal, the atmosphere on the day and sense of achievement so much that I then completed it another 3 times. With the law of diminishing returns and wanting to chase that high, it was probably inevitable that I would want to push further and go for a full marathon. After unsuccessfully applying for the London Marathon in 2022 and 2023, I received an email from the organisers this year saying “Sorry, you haven’t been successful in the ballot, but we do organise other marathons and there’s a place for you on one of those”. This is why I’ll be lining up in Preston Park in Brighton on a Sunday morning this April.
For the half marathons I was able to create my own informal training plans, 3 times a week running increasing distances, usually using the 10km route around Cardiff Bay. Unsurprisingly for a Marathon, it needs to be a bit more structured, and I’ve had to research and build my own plan. Having started training last year then stopping in December for a knee injury, the Mince Pie & Christmas Cake Recovery Programme (patent pending) has worked and I’m back up and training. I’m now using the Taff Trail for my training routes. This is a footpath that goes from Cardiff Bay all the way up into the Valleys and Bannau Brycheiniog (the Brecon Beacons)
following the river Taff.
I have to do different distances over the course of a week with different intensities, high, medium and low. For low intensity you should be able to finish your run and carrying on with other activities with little to no recovery, Medium you should be out of breathe and having to pause between words as you speak at the end, and high, you should be unable to speak at all and need to do a full warm down (and with the weather this cold, your lungs are burning by the end).
I’m really looking forward to the Brighton Marathon. I’ve been to Brighton before, and it is a lovely place. My main concern is a lot of the course involves running up the seafront in one direction, then having to go back on yourself again. I’m hoping I won’t find this too depressing, especially if I hit the wall during this section. It is probably the biggest physical challenge I have done and I‘m looking forward to the excitement on the day and the feeling once I’ve completed the race. Until then, it’s just getting through the miles in the training, and planning on how I can avoid stairs in the week after the race.
CONNOR HARPER – G LIVE GUILDFORD
I am running the London Marathon in April 2025… Yes, you read that right! After the buzz of my first as a spectator last year, I jumped at the chance to apply. I’ll be running for Treloar’s Trust, which you may recall I spoke about at a Town Hall meeting last year. Treloar’s School provides education, care, therapy, medical support and independence training to young people with physical disabilities. They were initially sceptical about their participation in a dance competition at G Live, however the team and I ensured that the building was not a physical barrier to their participation. They managed to create an action plan for the 20 wheelchair users evacuation, so that they could showcase their dance on the Guildford stage!
As a novice runner, I dived straight in and ran a half marathon in September to test the waters, and I’ve since been training to increase the length. Just two of those though, right? Easy!
If you are able to donate, anything is greatly appreciated, as I have a target of £2,000. https://2025tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/connor-harper
Stay tuned for some comical training updates along the way!
HOLLIE WILLIAMS – PEOPLE TEAM
I will be running the Barcelona Marathon in March! I signed up purely for the personal challenge and achievement as well as having something to work towards including a paella and a sangria at the finish line! There is no fundraising or sponsorship. Training is going well, but tough at times.
ELEANOR WEMYSS – DRAMA KIDS
This year I am planning on doing Tough Mudder again with my Dad and brother (pictured) and we’ve roped the rest of the family in! My key take-away from doing the first one was, I didn’t realise how muddy it would be when you’re not even on the course! The start line is like a festival, the mud is all churned up and slippery with so many people falling before we’d even started. We signed up for the 5 mile challenge but accidentally went the wrong way and ended up doing the 10 mile.
KAY HADLEY – ORCHARD THEATRE DARTFORD
I’m planning to run the Spartan Race again in May. Last year, I did the 5k “Sprint”. This year I’m doing the “Super” 10k complete with 25 obstacles!
EMMA GOODRIDGE – IMAGINE THEATRE
I’m raising money for Macmillan by hiking 13 miles as part of the Jurassic Coast Mighty Hike Half Marathon. The hike starts in Wareham and takes you around the hilly terrain of the South West coastal path. I love walking, I love the coast and having had knee issues previously, I’m doing it to challenge myself physically, and to raise money for Macmillan. The cause means a lot to me because my Dad, is affected by leukaemia and my friend James and his family are currently living with a terminal cancer diagnosis so I wanted to do something positive for the charity. Here’s my charity fundraising link, if you are able to support me in any way. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you. https://www.justgiving.com/page/emma-goodridge-1736960078697?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL
Good luck everyone! We’ll bring you updates from this fearless lot later in the year!
