was a tough decision, but I wanted to
set a good example for my kids and
I couldn’t do that if I was unhappy, so
I decided to end my marriage.
I spent fi ve years happily alone.
I went to night school to qualify as a
teacher, paid my own mortgage, and
kept on eating less and doing more,
just as the doctor ordered. Then, on
a rare night out with friends in 2004,
I met Ian. He was kind, funny, full of
energy and two years later we
married. He was, and still is, a
wonderful stepdad to the kids.
But while my personal life was on
track, I began to tire of the gym. It felt
sterile and stuffy and I yearned to get
outdoors. Then, in 2011, I saw an
advert for a beginners’ running course
with a local running club, the Slinn
allstars (facebook.com/slinnallstars). It
was a £30, 10-week course and I liked
the idea of running with other people.
I nervously went along. At fi rst I could
only run for a few minutes before
I needed to walk again. I was paired
with a runner called Karen who was
fi tter and faster than me, but always
happy to run alongside me. Together,
we ran a 5k that December and I was
awarded my fi rst medal. I’d never
achieved anything like that before.
Chloe had played netball, while Jack
and Ian both loved ice-hockey. Their
medals and trophies fi lled our home.
Now, aged 40, I fi nally had a medal of
my own. After that, I started collecting
them. Karen ran with me on my fi rst
10k. She wrote the training plan for
my fi rst half marathon, too, and she
remains a great friend and an
inspiration to me.BRING ON THE BLING!
These days, I don’t even enter races
unless there’s bling at the end! I have
100 medals and each one reminds me
of how much I’ve changed over the
years. I’ve completed three marathons
and 21 half-marathons. At a recent
Park Run, I spotted the doctor who’d
been so short with me years before.I sprinted off to catch up with her and
beat her over the fi nish line. She gave
me a wry smile as I passed her.
I run four times a week and always
attend Park Run on Saturdays. I also
do weight training, circuit classes and
Pilates to improve my posture.
At 5ft6ins, I’m now a size 10 and
weigh 10st7lbs. Of all my friends, I’m
the only one never on a diet. I run
because it makes me happy and I eat
well to fuel my runs – I no longer eat
watching TV, but sit at the table,
without distractions. Whereas I used
to feel lethargic and lazy, now I feel
strong and capable. And when it’s cold
outside or I’m tried, my running
buddies are my motivation. They’re
relying on me to turn up and I don’t
want to let them down. I always get
back from a run buzzing with energy
and feeling grateful towards my body.
I no longer feel invisible – I feel
confi dent, valued, healthy and happy. TSSarah’s die t before
Breakfast: 2 slices of white
bread with jam.
Snack: Chocolate buttons and
large bags of crisps.
Lunch: A shop-bought
sandwich, crisps, chocolate bar
and fi zzy drink.
Dinner: Battered fi sh and chips.
More snacks: Penguins and Kit
Kats. Lots of tea with biscuits.
Drinks: Fizzy drinks and black
coffee.Sarah’s die t now
Breakfast: Scrambled egg with
steamed broccoli and beetroot,
or porridge.
Lunch: Chicken breast and
broccoli salad with chickpeas
and couscous.
Dinner: Homemade
vegetable curry.
Drinks: Green tea, peppermint
tea and still water.50 TOPSANTÉ Facebook.com/ TopSanteMagazine @ TopS a nt eUK
Sarah’s fi tness routine
Monday: Pilates class
in the evening.
Tuesday: BodyPump
in the morning, then a
3.5-mile club run in
the evening.
Wednesday: Spin
class in the morning,circuits in the evening.
Thursday: Interval
running session at the
local track in the
morning; a 3.5-mile run
in the evening.
Friday: Rest day or
BodyPump class.Saturday: Park Run for
three miles.
Sunday: A run of 6 to
10 miles depending on
my event schedule.
■ Find out more on
Sarah’s Instagram
page @iansarahclarkwas a tough decision, but I wanted to
I couldn’t do that if I was unhappy, so
I met Ian. He was kind, funny, full of
track, I began to tire of the gym. It felt
sterile and stuffy and I yearned to get
advert for a beginners’ running course
allstars (facebook.com/slinnallstars). It
Sarah on holiday in Devon, in July 1998 Proudly displaying her
medal after a 10k run in
Palma, Majorca.