MY NURSING BACKGROUND LED TO ME BECOMING A RUN LEADER

Name: Sue Bennett
Age: 57
Role: Run Leader, RunTogether Monday Motivators

 Having previously been a runner at school, Sue had to put her love of running on hold when she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1997 and had to adapt to her new feelings of fatigue. However, working as a Games Maker at the London 2012 Olympics reignited Sue’s passion for running and she decided to give it another go. Alongside this, Sue’s career as a nurse meant that she was working with a group of people who had Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder who had begun exercising as a form of therapy. Inspired by their mental and physical improvements, Sue was determined to apply this to her own MS.

Having joined a running group in 2012 and thoroughly enjoyed training with others, Sue decided to undertake England Athletics’ Leadership in Running Fitness (LiRF) qualification to become a Run Leader herself. The qualification allows her to deliver safe and fun running sessions for others. Sue also used her nursing background to create a RunTogether group tailored for those wanting to improve their mental health.

 Sue has been thrilled at how powerful the effect of running has been uplifting the attitudes and wellbeing of her runners. “People tell me their lives have been turned around. Instead of focusing on illness and what a person perceives they cannot do, their dreams become full of crossing finishing lines and feeling like superstars.” Sue has seen runners come into the group that have suffered from mental health conditions, heart problems and fellow runners with MS. All have conquered their fears, pushed themselves past their own capabilities and proved to themselves that they can complete racing events. Sue concludes “RunTogether has bought people into my live who astound me. Those who run together will always run, and that is a success."