A runner replicated the London Marathon on her driveway recently as she raised thousands of pounds for a mental health charity.
Sam Hall is still hoping to run the re-scheduled race in October after the April event’s cancellation due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
But determined to not let her sponsors for the Mental Health Foundation down and to put in to use her training, she instead ran the equivalent of 26.2 miles on a treadmill outside her Spalding home.
Sam said: “I was a bit worried about the charity losing money and wondered what I could do to help them out.
“Initially I was just going to run as far as I could. Then I’d done 13.1 miles and carried on to 20, and then I thought I might as well carry on and do the rest.”
Hairdresser Sam, who has not run in a marathon before, completed the mileage in a time of 5hrs 37mins.
That’s despite the fact she’d also not ran on a treadmill much and the one she used was set to a slight incline.
“It felt strange running on a treadmill, then weird being back on the floor afterwards,” Sam continued. “Because of the slight incline the effect running had on my muscles felt slightly different, but it probably helped me being at home as I didn’t over extend myself at the start as runners tend to do.
“It was a very hot day though and we had to keep moving the treadmill around the drive to where the shade was.
“My Halmer Harriers Running Club colleagues have been brilliant with their support. Those who were on runs on the day I did my run dropped by the house to have a chat to me from the drive.
“My husband Richard too was talking to me, so I didn’t get bored.”
Sam started running with the Halmer Harriers as part of the Couch to 5k initiative and is continuing to go from strength to strength.
She has already raised over £3,000 but the Virgin Money Giving page will remain open as she sets her sights back on the real London Marathon which it’s hoped will now take place on October 4.
The total includes roller disco nights that were held by Leo Promotions at the Castle Sports Complex in Spalding.
She said: “I’m already back training for the marathon in the hope it goes ahead.
“I’ve got to do this for the charity and everyone who’s sponsored me.”
You can donate to Sam’s cause here.
