For the second year in a row Clare Johnson, a lecturer from Coleg Gwent’s Learn-IT Centre will be taking on the HSBC Cardiff 10k run, but this year it’ll be followed by an even bigger challenge – the Lloyds TSB Cardiff Half Marathon.
Clare, who will be competing in the first of her two races this weekend (Sunday 12 August), said: “I really enjoyed the 10k last year. It was my first ever race, and I beat my target time of 1 hour. When I started running, I’d have never thought I could have achieved this distance.”
This year, Clare decided to up the challenge by entering the Cardiff half marathon on Sunday 17 October in aid of children’s charity Barnardo’s: “At the end of last term I decided that with a bit of planning, I should be able to manage a half marathon in October – a week before my 40th birthday!” She said.
“I thought this would be a significant achievement to reach whilst still in my 30’s. Thinking of the 10k as a ‘warm up’ for the half marathon makes me realise how far I’ve come. This time last year, I wasn’t sure if I could manage 10k, now I’m using the 10k to warm up for just over 21k.”
Speaking about her training for the events, Clare said: “I’m running 3 to 4 times a week, clocking up between 15 and 20 miles each week. My training plan is stuck to the fridge as a constant reminder. It can be difficult to fit all the training in, as my longer runs take an hour and a half. In the summer holidays when my children were at home I sometimes got up very early to run before my husband went to work.
“I’m also trying to eat well and sleep enough – then I’ll have a great excuse to really enjoy my 40th birthday and I think I’ll deserve it!”
As well as juggling training, three children and a busy work schedule, Clare hopes to raise over £200 for Barnardo’s, the nominated charity for the half marathon. She said: “The next few weeks will be quite busy, as we’ve got some new and interesting courses starting at Cwmbran Learn IT Centre, and I’m also hoping to start an MA in Education, so there’s a lot to look forward to.
“I’m not raising money for the 10k as I didn’t want to ask people to sponsor me twice in such a short time, so I’m only asking for sponsorship for the half. Last year I raised over £200 for Kidney Wales, this year I’m going to aim for around the same amount for Barnardo’s.”
You can sponsor Clare by visiting her Just Giving page http://www.justgiving.com/Clare-Johnson2.
