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A KEEN runner and Seashell staff member is taking on her biggest fitness challenge to date – the London Marathon.
Michelle Jones, our Head of Sensory Services, will be lacing up her trainers for the iconic race on Sunday, 27th April and is hopeful she can raise £1,000 for Seashell.
Although she has run a few half marathons in the past, the London Marathon is 26.2 miles (42.2km) and is double her previous longest distance. But encouraging her on when the going gets tough will be the reminder she is raising money for a cause she is so passionate about.
She said: “I find my job very rewarding. You work very individually with the children in Sensory Services and they always make you think outside the box. They are all unique and that makes my job very special.”
About five years ago Michelle started her running journey with a Couch to 5K plan. When she became more confident she started doing a few Parkruns and eventually joined her local running group Brighouse Bees.
“I’ve done over 100 Parkruns now and I’ve loved running ever since that initial one,” said Michelle, who is 53. “I’ve run 10 half marathons all over the country. But I’m a very slow runner – I never enter them hoping for the best times, I just want to enjoy the experience.”
Michelle, who joined Seashell in 2017, was initially inspired to enter the London Marathon ballot after seeing fellow staff member and Seashell’s Royal College Manchester Principal Clare Sefton take on the challenge. To her surprise, she was successful on the first try but decided to defer her place a year to give herself enough time to build up her confidence and stamina.
“Giving myself 18 months meant I had more time to train,” said Michelle. “I only plan on doing it once so I want to do it right and enjoy it. I am nervous about the distance, but I can’t wait for the atmosphere and just the whole experience. I love the atmosphere at events.
“For me running is as much about mental health as it is about physical health.
“We’ve been launching a new MSI qualification and it’s been really full on, so getting out and going for a training run means I get that ‘me time’ and switch off.”
Michelle will be cheered on by her husband Tarquin and her two daughters and is hoping for a time between 5.5hours and 6hours.
She added: “I hope I can hit my £1,000 – Seashell is a great cause so it’s more about hitting my target than getting a specific time.”
To sponsor Michelle visit: https://www.justgiving.com/page/michelle-jones-1971
Check out Seashell’s challenge events here.