I decided to run this year to pay tribute to my best friend,  who suffered for many years in a desperate domestic situation where she was constantly scared, beaten, abused, told she was fat, ugly and worthless and is only now, ten years after she escaped, coming to terms with what this did to her identity and self worth.

I'm doing it as well because this is horrifically common,  in professional people as much as any other part of the community, and I want to help people understand that it's not a distant thing or a thing that happens to others but something that happens everywhere amongst the groups of friends we all interact within.  It's a failure of society and of each and everyone of us, myself as much if not more than others to imagine, or forget or assume this doesn't happen every day.

I'm also doing it because this year I'm fifty and it's about time I did something vaguely useful.   And because the sight of me trying to run will at least provide some amusement.

Oh and this is what I'm supposed to put ;-)

I've joined #TeamWomensAid to run the London Landmarks Half Marathon 2023 to help raise essential funds for survivors of domestic abuse.