To mark RW’s 30th anniversary we wanted to celebrate the amazing community we’re proud to be part of by putting the nation’s runners in the spotlight. Our cover stars and their running stories (combined with the hard data provided by the nation’s runners through our recent in-depth survey) paint a fascinating picture of UK running today.
Meet the cover stars...
Tasha Thompson, 44, London
‘We realised how unusual it was to see two black women running a race, and we wanted to change that’
‘My first race was back in 1999. I used to run pretty good times, but I didn’t know it, because there was no one to compare to. When you are an adult, life can be quite mundane. But running makes life more fun – and I’ve always loved that. For most of those 24 years I was a solo runner, but since creating Black Girls Do Run just over four years ago that has changed. It started in 2019 when Linda [Agyemang} and I did a race together. We asked a marshal if we’d gone wrong, and she looked at us blankly. We realised how unusual it still was to see two black women running a race, and we wanted to change that. So we started an Instagram page. Now we have groups on social media, a monthly run club and we had 21 women doing the London Marathon this year.’
What everyone's reading
Arthur Whiston, 72, Colchester
‘I’m very lucky to have two running families’
‘I’ve been involved in the running community for 40 years and people call me a local legend now. People even come up and say that I inspire them, and that they want to be running like me when they are my age – even youngsters. I still race as a Masters runner, now I’m in the v70 category.
I was in the army, and always thought that mental fitness is key. So when I left, I joined the Colchester Harriers, who inspired me to run again. I’ve never stopped running since. I love running, I love the club and the camaraderie – I am devoted to them and they are devoted to me! I’ve coached and supported many local runners, of all ages. It’s a different kind of satisfaction to from running yourself. I’m also involved in another club called “Running Colchester” where I help with pacing and support. I’m very lucky to have two running families.’
Rachel Stevens, 41, Bolton
‘I’ve had cancer twice, and running helped me through’
‘I found running in my late 20s, about 13 years ago. I’ve had cancer twice, and running really helped me through, particularly when I was last diagnosed three years ago. I had radiotherapy treatments over lockdown - so it wasn’t a great time. The first mile back took me about 13 minutes, but then, as I was improving and getting back to my old speeds, it was making me feel stronger and better. I entered a virtual half marathon, just to prove to myself at I could bounce back. I did my first marathon this year as well. The whole experience has made me a stronger and more positive runner – and I didn’t expect that!
I started just to get my own headspace, and to put things into perspective. But then I joined a club, and that’s been fantastic. I love running with people. I'm much more of a social runner. I enjoy racing, but mainly just the experience, and seeing everyone and getting involved.’
Barinderjit Singh Cheema (aka Usingh Bolt), 47, Walsall
‘My motto is to run for the cause – and cake!’
‘As a kid, I was always fascinated by athletics, but I never ran myself. But I swore if I ever did a race, it would be the Great North Run. So I did, and that was supposed to be that. But then I did a marathon and was disappointed with how it went, so I was determined to nail one, and then it just sort of escalated. I’ve done 31 marathons in 31 days, and lots of other challenges.
For me, the biggest focus has always been fundraising for charity. My motto is to run for the cause – and cake! Now I’m really involved in my local community, I love parkrun and I’ve started getting into pacing recently. I’m a big believer in running for mental as well as physical health, and I’m the Run Leader for RunTalkRun Walsall. It was my cousin who gave me the nickname – he said, who do you think you are, Usingh Bolt? It was so brilliant it stuck. Having it on my top in races gives people a laugh and that’s wonderful to see.’
Fiona English, 34, London/Kendal
‘I feel I’m an ordinary runner, which is a wonderful thing’
‘I started running in 2011, following a plan in a book to run a marathon, then for a while mainly just parkrun. But about five years ago, I decided it would be fun to try new challenges. I feel I’m an ordinary runner, which is a wonderful, positive thing. I’ve never been excellent at sports, always felt like the back of the field, but I’ve been able to do some pretty cool things like ultras and getting a Boston Qualifier – and people have kindly said to me that it makes them feel possible for them to do them, too.
When I entered Boston, I knew there was no pregnancy deferral policy so I did take out the race insurance. It was finding out that wouldn’t pay out that made me angry. I wrote an open letter to Boston – it went viral, and within days they had changed their policy. It’s the thing I will always be proudest of as a runner – I’ll never be able to run anything that’s as significant as that. I’m just excited now to be on the start line for my deferred place in 2024.’
Craig Butterworth, 41, Stalybridge, Cheshire
‘Running has got me through’
‘I’ve been running for 20 years. Originally, it was purely as a means to keep weight off. That started to change over the years. Now, I run for my mental health, and just because I love it.
My wife was diagnosed with cancer in 2018 and then, in May of 2021, my 13-year-old son got leukaemia. Within a month he had died. I used to drink at weekends, but it got a bit excessive after he died, so I knew I had to stop. Everything that drink used to do for me, running now does, but more healthily. It’s a social thing, with my club, but also the endorphins it gives me. And because of it, I’m functioning. I’m still able to parent my younger kids. Running has got me through. I sit there and think, I can’t cope, then I put on my running shoes and when I come back, I can just deal with stuff. It releases something.’
