WH PROMOTION
Want to run for charity but don’t know where to begin? Read on...
TIME TO TAKE
THE LEAP
s someone who’s set
herself a target of running
six half-marathons
in 2019, it’s surprising
to hear Jess Leung, 28,
declare that she was
‘never really a runner’. But the strategy
consultant from Bristol says it’s true.
‘I wasn’t fit at all a few years ago,’ she
admits. ‘Even running 100 metres – I just
couldn’t do it.’ Her top tip for any would-be
runners is to ‘just sign up’.
GETTING STARTED
Having something to work towards, Jess
explains, is motivation in itself. As is
telling anyone and everyone you know
that you’re planning to race – and not just
because ‘then you’re accountable’. You
might also be pleasantly surprised to find
kindred spirits among your friendship
group, as she did, building an immediate
network for sharing knowledge and support
as you train. And all with the awareness
that you’re raising funds for a good cause.
Jess had run several times for various
charities before she signed up to her
year-long challenge but, while she sings
the praises of them all, it was through her
involvement with the NSPCC that she
really found her focus. ‘It actually wasn’t
until I started fundraising for the NSPCC
that I discovered more about the charity,
which then inspired me to do more for it,’
she explains.
RUNNING WITH
YOUR PACK
Jess draws a lot of support from the
NSPCC’s Facebook group, many of whom
she only met face to face at her first race
for the charity, the Bath Half, earlier this
year. ‘The charity gives you regular updates
about where the money you raise is going,’
she says. ‘They’re constantly in touch with
you and support you the whole way along,
not just on race day.’
Of course, the race itself is what it’s all
about. With supporters and well-wishers For more information, visit nspcc.org.uk/
womenshealth‘The NSPCC
genuinely
looks after its
runners and is
interested in
their stories.
I’m proud to
race for them’
lining the route and a positive camaraderie
among the runners, Jess says there’s
nothing quite like the atmosphere of
running in aid of a charity.
‘The race environment feels completely
different to just going out for a run,’ she
says. ‘I’d never be the sort of person to
take up running if I didn’t have something
to work for.’ALL-ROUND BENEFITS
At the time of writing, Jess has already
completed two of her six half-marathons
for 2019 and is preparing for her next
challenge: a seven-day trek of the Great
Wall of China. None of this just happens- it takes a lot of hard work.
Although Jess says she’s motivated by
the atmosphere of the day more than her
race time, the training itself has brought
a lot of positive improvements to her
lifestyle. She went into her first race, she
says, ‘completely blind’, but has since
learnt a lot about health and nutrition.
As a result, she eats better, sleeps better
and is fitter than she’s ever been.
Even potential setbacks have become
opportunities to learn. A hip issue that
threatened her fitness last year, for
example, was resolved by taking up
weight training and core strengthening - practices that she’s continued with since.
So – the small matter of a week-long trek
at high altitudes and four more half-
marathons aside – what will Jess take on
next? ‘I’m not sure,’ she says. ‘One day I’d
love to run a marathon, but for me that’s
a massive step up, so I need to think about
that.’ Still, given that just a couple of years
ago she was ‘embarrassed’ by the fact
that she could barely run for the bus,
it’s a challenge that Jess will surely have
no trouble rising to.