Celebrating 30 Years of Running: A Journey
of Miles, Medals, and Meaning
What started as a moment of madness in 1995 has become a three-decade love affair with
running. Looking for a new challenge that year, I entered the ballot for the 1996 London Marathon
with little expectation.
To my surprise, I secured a place, and from that point forward my love for
running began.
For me, running has always been as much about mental health as physical fitness, offering a
precious escape from daily troubles while keeping me connected to the world around me.
Since 1995, I have run the London Marathon four times and as I got older I switched to the less
challenging distance of a half-marathon. I am not the fastest runner but my main reason for
running has always been to raise money for people less fortunate than myself. I have raised
thousands of pounds over the years for various charities such Mind, MacMillan, and Cancer
Research.
The Great North Run became my annual pilgrimage after discovering it in 2009. Billed as the
world’s largest half-marathon, it lived up to its reputation with an atmosphere unlike any other race.
The energy was so infectious that I returned in 2010, 2011, and 2013, each time soaking up the
atmosphere as I ran the 13.1-mile route from Newcastle to South Shields.
Since 2013, my love for running has remained constant. The Lichfield to Tamworth Cathedral to
Castle 10-mile run became my new annual tradition, a beautiful route I have now completed four
times.
In 2023, health concerns within my family opened my eyes to the extraordinary work of the British
Heart Foundation. On 7th September after a twelve-year hiatus, I returned to the streets of
Newcastle joining approximately 60,000 runners for my fifth Great North Run. Every step was
dedicated to the British Heart Foundation, and I am proud to share that I have raised just over
£700 for their vital work. It took me a little longer than my previous attempts, but I am not as young
as I used to be!
While this chapter closes, my running story is far from over. My running days will continue and at
some point I am hoping that I will be able to run the London Marathon for that fifth and final time!
Mr Sneary
