Samaritans

Samaritans offer listening and support to people and communities in times of need.  They are there, day or night, for anyone who’s struggling to cope, who needs someone to listen without judgement or pressure.

Samaritans is not only for the moment of crisis, they are taking action to prevent the crisis. They  give people ways to cope and the skills to be there for others. And they encourage, promote and celebrate those moments of connection between people that can save lives.

Every 10 seconds, Samaritans responds to a call for help.

My colleague's family are volunteers for Oxford Samaritans, so I know about their work through them, and I've been learning more through talking to other volunteers. I've learned that Samaritans isn't just about urgent care for those on the edge- they provide very valuable listening to all manner of people who need support coping with life.  This includes people with psychological challenges or with recurring problems in many elements of their family or personal situations.

Why London... 

My dad ran London three times when I was a child and I remember the excitement, the trips to the capital, and most importantly all the fundraising he did.  I also remember the TV theme tune, which is so inspirational and evokes memories of his efforts and those of thousands of other runners.  Jen also ran it a few years ago.  When I started running four years ago I wouldn't have imagined being in a position to complete a marathon, but I built up my fitness, strength and experience really gradually until I felt ready to give it a go last year at Southampton.  Then at Christmas a colleague approached me and asked if I'd like to run London for the Samaritans.  I jumped at the chance of emulating Jen and Dad by running the big one for a good cause.  

About my running experience

Last spring I completed my first marathon in Southampton.  I finished in four and half hours, on a hilly course and a warm day (these are my excuses for some walking in the last few miles).  I'm using that experience to plan my training and the event... so I anticipate there will be a few bumps along the way but I hope for a slight improvement on last year's time.  I'm looking forward to a more exciting and encouraging atmosphere, and a flatter course!

My training so far (mid Feb)

After a slow start thanks to covid at New Year, I'm now in the swing of things.  I'm running 2-3 times per week (I'm up to 14 miles for my weekend long run), plus some walking, yoga and swimming.  For me, the biggest challenge is worrying about getting injured- I'm prone to 'maranoia' where every little tweak feels like the end of the road!  But if I'm careful, confident, and don't overdo anything, I'll be lining up in my Samaritans vest on the big day.