Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, the Bath Half Marathon – or ‘Bath Half’ - is one of the longest established and most popular city centre road events in the UK. It is also one of the largest fundraisers in the South West, raising over £1.3 million for charity in 2010. This year I wanted to make sure some of that money goes towards Doorway – so I am taking part in this year’s race and hope to be raising lots of money for Doorway in the process.

 

You may wonder how this came about? Back in 2007 I started running again after a 30 year layoff. I was a keen runner in my twenties and completed several half marathons in under 2 hours. Several years ago, finding myself in my fifties and overweight, I was looking for a way of getting fitter and losing weight. Taking up running again seemed the natural choice and having been fitted with some new running shoes, I tentatively set off on my first run. To be honest, there was as much walking going on as running in those early days. But bit by bit I managed to run further and faster. Since then there have been some periods when I’ve not been able to run due to various injuries, but each time I have bounced back and taken up running again. Last year I entered the Bath Half and completed the course last year in 2hrs 32mins – this was despite my getting a cramp in my calf in the finishing straight which meant I had to hobble over the finishing line. This year I would like to complete the course free of any problems like cramp and see if I can’t better my time.

 

I took part in the Doorway Sleep Out in 2009 and trying to keep warm and sleep in those freezing temperatures, with just a cardboard box and a sleeping bag, really brought home to me how difficult it can be to be homeless. Having experienced what sleeping rough is like for myself, I wanted to do what I could to raise money to support Doorway’s guests. I like a challenge and entering the Bath Half 2011 is just that. I have been training all Winter and it has proved difficult at times with all the snow and ice. But the training for the half marathon isn’t supposed to be easy. So I hope that friends, family and work colleagues will appreciate the effort I have put into this event and dig deep to help me in supporting the work that Doorway does.

Mel Harris January 2011

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