MARATHON EFFORT

MARATHON EFFORT

Kate Cooper first caught the running bug in 2012. It seemed like an easier hobby to take up than starting (and paying for) a gym membership or trying to get involved in team sports. Kate trained for four months to complete her first half marathon in Birmingham and she was hooked. It's a hobby that has continued for over a decade now and has lead to her running several times a week, taking part in lots of local races over the years and joining a local running club, The Shropshire Shufflers.

Lots of people who get the running bug also start to get the marathon itch too and the absolute pinnacle for lots of runners being The London Marathon. Kate applied for a place through the annual ballot without success for 8 years.

Kate had yet another rejection email last year in September. However, her running club had secured two highly coveted places and she was lucky enough to win one of those places.

Kate found out just before Christmas that she would finally get to run in London on 23rd April this year.

Kate allowed herself to rest and indulge over Christmas then the hard work began on the 1st January. Kate followed a structured training plan for 16 weeks which involved four runs a week with additional cross training sessions. The training really does test your commitment. Kate said “...It is incredibly time consuming and very hard to fit in around work commitments. Particularly hard for me being a busy criminal lawyer here in Shropshire so my weeknights and weekends are already often filled with late night trips to the police station...” As the training runs got longer, it got harder to fit them in but Kate said that she works with a very supportive team at Hatchers Solicitors who gave her plenty of encouragement and allowed her to work from home so she could more easily fit long training runs in before or after work.

After 16 long weeks, the day finally came and in true British style, it rained from the moment Kate arrived at the start area until around Mile 23. Kate completed the marathon in glorious sunshine and it was such an amazing moment for her. “It was one of the best things I have ever done”, says Kate Cooper from Hatchers Solicitors. Kate said the atmosphere was carnival like and to have so many strangers calling your name and cheering is the best feeling. To anyone who is contemplating running The London Marathon, whether that be for charity or for their own personal achievement, my advice is to 100% go for it.”