On Sunday a community came together proving that running and even walking can be good for you and raise thousands for charity.

What was the Paul Trigwell Island Run, the ten mile run or walk from Leysdown to Sheerness seemed set to come to an abrupt end after last year’s event, but the local Rotary Club stepped in to keep it going.

With a rich history spanning decades on the Isle of Sheppey, the Island Run also has given youngsters the chance to do their bit too with the staging of a two mile run from Minster along the beautiful seafront.

I was asked some months ago to support this great event and there was no hesitation on my part. Having taken part last year, just weeks after completing the London Marathon, I was keen to see this great run continue, but in the long term improve and see so many more people take part.

Without wishing to step on any toes, the Island Run has been very well run for a number of years, showing that the community and especially volunteers have a massive role to play in staging such events.

However, I feel it’s only just scratched the surface on what potential it could have in the locality and across the county.

Turning up on Sunday morning with hundreds of others at the ten mile start line, I knew we were going to be in for a tough run as the temperature soared.

Having persuaded Charlotte Evans MBE to be the official starter, we lined up with a sense of anticipation and dread.

Charlotte really should ask more questions before agreeing to anything I get her to do in the future. Having only accepted the chance of starting the race on Friday, she also agreed to run without knowing quite how far the Island Run was – now that’s commitment for you!

With our assembled team of Kent Sports Trust runners, accompanied by some lovely ladies from MoJo Runners, after the obligatory trips to the toilet and countless selfies, we were expertly set on our way by Charlotte and her air horn.

Setting off at an alarming pace was Lee Allen from our team, soon to be a figure in the distance for most of us as he shows his incredible journey is far from over.

Having committed to run at least 10km a day for a minimum of 365 days for Kent Sports Trust Foundation, Lee has shown how someone very ordinary can do something extraordinary.

Joined by his wife Nicola, who has been fantastic in running a minimum of 5km a day for a year, the Allen’s have shown that running really can change lives.

New to running in the past couple of years, the pair have completed marathons and raised thousands for our charity and I can never thank them enough for the support they have shown me in recent weeks and months.

My own running journey has trod a similar path, getting into it over the last couple of years, finding that a bloke in his forties can still have an active lifestyle.

This is where I have to confess I am competitive. Not necessarily with anyone else, but more myself. I like to see improvement in my times and would like to think I can always go quicker. The dream and reality are often very far apart.

That was shown on Sunday as I sped away from Nicola, Charlotte and good friend Brendon Davey (who I will come back to later). Thinking I could keep up with Lee over the 16 kilometres, I tried my best to claw back the 200 yard advantage he had over me. All was going so well as I sailed through Leysdown and up to our first real turn.

No sooner had we deviated off the main road and I felt like I’d been hit by a bolt of lightening. My calf! I think it’s fair to say I let out a few expletives at this point.

I tried everything I could to shake off the pain, but stopping, stretching, walking, you name it, didn’t seem to work.

Turning onto the lovely named Donkey Hill did little for my mood or my right calf. Knowing there was no chance of running up it, I elected to walk and try to get my head around the fact that my run may have been over a little over a mile in.

This is most runners’ worst nightmare. No one likes to pull out of a race, either at the start or with the finish line in sight. I’m no different. If nothing else, I possess a stack full of determination under my greying hair.

Just when I thought my day had been dashed, along came Charlotte and with some encouraging words, I was soon on my way again.

This is where thankfully I was distracted by needing a pee (yet again). Sometimes diverting your attention can have a positive impact and somehow I managed to tick off the miles with Charlotte, whilst thinking my bladder was about to explode.

Buoyed by Charlotte’s relentless determination, having gone into the race having hardly run in recent weeks, I just kept telling myself I could get through it.

Having made a quick pit stop in a bush, I was soon half a stone lighter and catching Charlotte up.

Both of us were delighted to see the five mile marker. Not only did it mean we were halfway, but we had beaten the horrible, relentless hills. I always thought Sheppey was flat, but having run it a number of times now, I have learnt the harsh lesson that it is far from it.

Miles six, seven and eight are a bit of a blur if I’m honest. When you tend to struggle as a runner, your head drops and you spend a lot of time looking at your feet. I looked at my feet a lot on Sunday.

I’ve often been told to pick my head up and watch where I’m going. Not only does it mean you can actually see where you’re going, but you also get to see some incredible views and it allows more air into the system. Air is vital for running!

Those last two miles from Minster into Sheerness weren’t exactly inspiring or enjoyable, but we did it.

Seeing the relief on Charlotte’s face when we crossed the finish line, cheered by Diane, Caitlin, Lucy and co. that had been there to support us, was well worth the pain of the previous ten miles.

That’s what I love so much about running. Seeing someone else succeed. This is where I need to mention how well Lee had got on. Coming home in 20th place in an incredible time of 1 hour and 16 minutes fills me with pride. I’ve seen Lee grow so much as a runner, but also as a person.

Next home from our group was Brendon and yet again I have to use the word proud as that’s exactly what I am of Brendon.

He’s battled his demons in recent weeks, beating himself up for his performance at the Brighton Marathon – not that he needed to. We’re all so proud of what he has achvieved with limited training time and having battled the heat on the South coast those few short weeks ago.

Completing The Island Run in a great time was just the tonic the doctor ordered and he really has got his mojo back.

The tangible link between a good run and someone’s mental health is clear for all to see and I know I couldn’t have coped with all the things going on in my life these past few years without running.

It really has helped me beyond belief. My mood lifts after a run, good or bad and I start to see things a lot more clearly.

Some would say I’m running away from my problems and a shrink is bound to over analyse my attempts to get out the front door and run.

Brendon is living proof of how someone can use running as a force for good. Yes it’s hard some days and sometimes you hate it with a passion, but once you are a runner, you’re always a runner. It’s something in your DNA.

Next home from our team was Nicola sporting two lovely knee patches. After a brief consultation after finishing, it transpires Nicola came a cropper about mile six, trying to get onto a pavement with a car coming at her.

Thanks to the support of Jo, Donna et al, Nicola showed that she has determination in spades, running the last four miles all bumped, bruised and bleeding.

With the team reassembled, pictures taken, running stories told and times assessed, I reflected on what had been largely individual runs, but as a team.

We really have turned into the most incredible, supportive team. Whether it be training runs, parkruns, events, races, we’re all there for one another.

Those not running are always there to support, either in person or by messages of support. Again, you can’t underestimate quite how supportive a message of encouragement can be to a runner. We’re only human after all!

With medals around our necks and pride swelling through our vains, along with the hundreds of others that took part in The Island Run, we left to reflect on a tough, but enjoyable day.

Some fantastic pictures of the day always give you chance to look back on a run. When the pain subsides over the coming days, you soon forget how hard a run really was and you’re left with just the overwhelming thought of when is the next big run.

Maybe as runners we have a screw loose, but I am happy with that.

I’d urge anyone to give running a go if they’ve not tried it lately.

I was a “non runner” a few years back, afraid of just how hard it could be and use to tell anyone that would listen that running wasn’t for me.

At the end of the day, I was only denying myself the chance of getting fit, but most of all I was being a terrible role model to my daughter.

If we’re ever to cut obesity and drive down the amount of people suffering with diabetes, we need to get more people, more active.

I’m immensely proud of what we are achieving with the Kent Sports Trust Foundation, supporting so many people begin their journey, taking that first step out the front door.

For Lee, Nicola, myself and others, this is day 144 of our challenge.

You too could join us and begin running everyday for a year. Here’s all the details: http://www.kentsportstrust.org/events/5k-a-day-for-365-days/

In the meantime, you can support us here:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/lee-allen13

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Nicola-Allen16

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Steve-Wolfe2

 

Finally, I must pass on my thanks to the Rotary Club of Minster and all of the volunteers for putting on such a great event.

I’m hoping they will allow me to shape The Island Run in the future and we can take this great event onto the next level. Watch this space….