Kirstie's parkrun story

parkrun to marathon in the space of a year!

Kirstie's parkrun story started a year after the birth of her second child:

"I had completed c25k before I had kids, so knew I could run 5km if I put my mind to it! So I got down to my local parkrun and just went for it! It was a challenge, I was slow, but I went for it and made it all the way around! I don't think I would have done it if it hadn't been for the other people there spurring me on.

In the space of a year, I've gone from trying my first parkrun to running the London Marathon!

Bournemouth parkrun

Everyone at Bournemouth parkrun is so friendly. It's lovely to feel part of something so meaningful for my local community. I was in a coffee shop last week and I saw a familiar parkrun face - "oh, I saw you at parkrun last week!" I don't think I would have continued a weekly running habit if it hadn't been for parkrun. I've volunteered a few times. It's such a good opportunity for local communities. There's a tail walker too - no one comes last! You can walk parkrun. I know a few people who've started out walking and then at their own pace, warmed up to jogging.

"Having the weekly routine of parkrun is important for my mental health."

"At the start of my eldest's first summer holidays, the thought of six weeks' occupying my kids full time was daunting. I needed something to focus on, something that would give me a bit of 'me time'. This was the first thing I had done for myself in a long time. I started running to look after my mental health and certainly wouldn’t have carried on each week without parkrun each week! I LOVE IT!!

I turn 40 this year!

"Much of my thirties has been focused on other people. Doing something for myself felt good. Running gave me routine and focus. Soon, I found myself signing up for the Bournemouth 10k. And then the Great South Run. I put a training plan in place for these. The structure gave me head space and routine through the summer holidays.

"What's next?"

"What's next?" I asked myself close to Christmas. That's when I saw an advert for Help and Care's charity marathon places and thought I might just have a go! Before I knew it, I'd applied was granted a place and I was on track to run my first marathon! I love that I'm supporting a local charity that's close to my heart - it just feels right. Help and Care change peoples lives. That's something I've been able to do for myself through running. I'm a Slimming World consultant too, so I have the pleasure of being a part of changing peoples lives every day!

PARKRUN TO MARATHON IN A YEAR

28th of April is the date! I'm feeling excited! Last weekend, I ran to parkrun, completed parkrun, ran along the beach with a friend and then kept going further until I'd completed a 20-mile training run. Thinking back to life a year ago - it sounds ridiculous! But I'm so ready for the marathon now - let's do it!"

You can do it!

Do you want to try parkrun? Find your nearest using our Activity Finder.

How does this work?

The tailored approach LiveWell Dorset uses to come up with solutions to the things that are stopping us achieving our goals, is based upon work done by University College London developing the COM-B model of behaviour change. In this model, all behaviour is influenced by understanding a person’s capability to change, their opportunity to change and their motivation to change. By understanding which of these is the biggest barrier to change, we can tailor support accordingly. This model of behaviour change is at the centre of the support we offer, online and in person.

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