‘It honestly feels like last week that the four of us walked out of the Hodson Hall for the final time, trying not to cry, surrounded by the many familiar faces we had spent the last 7 years with. It is tough to believe a year has passed since. Tougher still to believe – had you told us then – would be that in a year’s time we would be running a marathon together.
The amazing work Breast Cancer Now did supporting Joe’s Mum, Kate – who is a teaching assistant at Fairfield – had left us keen to do something charitable.
A combination of some rather generous university work deadlines and many more conversations in the pub where we told each other we ‘could definitely manage a marathon’ led us to sign up for the 2025 Leeds Marathon at 2.5 month’s notice.
Upon reflection, simply choosing the marathon closest to where two of us are at University, without prior research, was a regrettable decision, as the Leeds marathon happens to be really hilly. But as we’d booked our places and started receiving donations on JustGiving we didn’t have much choice other than to get training.
10 weeks (and varied amounts of training) later, we found ourselves at the start line, having raised over £3,000 between us thanks to some very generous family and friends. The main aim was finishing, though preferably before the guy in front of us with a washing machine on his back.
It was a nasty 4.5 hours on the road, especially given the 24°C weather. The 5km long hill at the 19 mile mark was a low point for morale but we managed to plough* (plod) on and reach Headingley Stadium, where we saw Kate at the finish line. It was an emotional moment, and not one we are likely to forget for some time.
We are hugely grateful to everyone who donated.’
Freddie Waterland (LGS 2024)
Joe Wells (LGS 2024)
Oli Watson (LGS 2024)
Harry Slaughter (LGS 2024)
