I came to Jemma back in October 2021 when I was about to embark on my training for the Brighton Marathon. This was to be my last marathon and I wanted to give it my everything. After an initial chat with Jemma, I knew she was the right person. Immediately I trusted her plans and her sessions. The Marathon was a great success, I finished with a big smile on my face and was happy with how the training and the day went.
After a Marathon you can find yourself a bit lost, not knowing which direction to go in next. After my previous marathon in 2019 it took me months to run again. This time though, after adequate rest, we were straight on to another block. This time we were concentrating on the 10K time. It was exciting; it kept me focused and was completely different to my Marathon training. By October I got a 10K PB at the Brighton 10K. The weeks prior to this had been very difficult as my mum was in hospital. The running kept me focused. Jemma’s accountability was exactly what I needed at this time; she kept me going whilst appreciating that this was a difficult time. I dedicated that medal to my mum and felt incredibly proud when I rang that PB bell.
We then began a new block working towards a Half Marathon in January 2023. The training went really well, and I was pleased to be back running the longer distances. I was confident coming into this race that I could get the time that I was hoping for. However, I didn’t get the result I wanted; I didn’t get a PB and I was slower than my previous time. For the first time I hadn’t got the result I wanted and I remember thinking to myself that I’d let Jemma down. However Jemma was really pleased with what I’d achieved that day. She made me realise that I hadn’t let anyone down; I’d done my best and still completed a tough race in a respectable time and although the time wasn’t as quick as the previous year I was in the best shape ever. I learnt a lesson that day; not every race goes to plan but you pick yourself up and you move on.
After the Half, we have began some speed work. If you’d said to me this time last year that I would be doing speed work, I would have laughed! I have always said that I favour stamina over speed. I have always said this in a joking way because I have always considered myself to be ‘slow’. Jemma never viewed me as a slow runner. She always believed in me and saw my potential. I believed in her too and whatever session she gave me, I undertook it to the best of my ability. When I had my first ever chat with Jemma I told her how in 2018 I was proud of a Parkrun PB of 32:41. This had been one of the only times I’d shared my run on Instagram. So, as part of my speed work I began doing Parkrun every two weeks.
At the start of the block I was at the 35 minute mark. Jemma always said I could get sub 30. I don’t think I’d ever allowed myself to believe that it was possible – It was like a dream to me. However, as the training went on, I did become faster. Week after week I began knocking off minutes then seconds. I was finally down to 30:15 and that sub 30 was within my reach. Jemma was instrumental to my success; I wanted this so badly not only for me but for her too. At my last Parkrun I was really pushing for sub 30. Jemma’s voice was in my head telling me I had ‘one job’ to do. I completed that job and at the end I couldn’t wait to text and let her know the result, I’d done it… and not only that I’d knocked a minute off my time and had done it in 29:15!
Jemma is my biggest supporter, after myself, as I now believe in myself in a way I never did before. I have the confidence to go to Parkrun; to go near the front; to wear the shorts; to wear bright trainers. I was only ever looking to complete the Marathon when I started with Jemma but now I have a friend, someone to champion me and I really feel that this is only the beginning!