Your views Your World
A MARATHON JOURNEY
I featured in your July 2018 issue as one of the reader letters ( Running is Medicine). I had recently been discharged from Plymouth Hospital, following a road traffic accident. Reading a copy of Runner’s World during my time there gave me the hope that I may run again. With this in mind, I applied for a London Marathon ballot place soon after. Then, in October, I found out I had been successful. I will never forget April 28, 2019: it was magical. Thank you so very much.
Amy Redden, via email
FOREVER RUNNING
I wrote to you last year about my brother, who had suffered a stroke in 2017. I hoped he would recover, and that we would run together through the woods, like we did when we were children, but it wasn't to be. My beautiful brother lost his life in February this year. I read Jennifer Russell’s letter, Running to Recover ( RW, June). I was in tears reading about her losing her son and how she had found her purpose in life again through running. I didn’t get the chance to run through the woods with my brother again, but when I do head out of the door to run, I feel my brother, Michael, by my side holding my hand. Jennifer, from one runner to another, I'm sending my love to you and am so very glad you have found your purpose. Your son will be proud of you: you are still, and always will be, his mum.
Karen Edwards, via email
A CUT ABOVE
So cool to see your feature on ethical running gear ( Green Light, RW, May). Another major way runners can support climate action is considering travel to races. Lovely scenic trains to big European marathons. Car-sharing apps to local races etc. Ask your company to join climateperks.com and even get extra leave to take a train, not a plane. Patrik Ewe, Brixton
PRICED OUT
£2,075 – that’s effectively the price of a charity entry to the Virgin Money London Marathon. Am I alone in feeling that this is not particularly inclusive? Running should be for everyone but, unless one is lucky
Amy makes the letters pages again!
enough to gain a ballot entry or is a gifted runner already, this is the only way to enter the event. This sort of money is out of the reach of nearly anyone but the (primarily white) wealthy classes who have a social circle with the sort of cash to cover this. Running, as your magazine often points out, benefits people hugely (and cheaply), but it sometimes seems to exclude those to whom it could be of most help.
Steve Crowley, via email