Yesterday (Sunday 8 March) I ran the Paddock Wood half-marathon. It wasn’t my fastest, in fact, it was probably my slowest, but it might just be the run I’m most proud of.
Not long ago I wasn’t sure when, or if, I’d be standing on a start line again. The last few months have included brain surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and a diagnosis that changes how you think about a lot of things.
So this race was never really about the finishing time; just standing on the start line felt like an achievement.
A few months ago, when the call went out, I put myself down as a tentative yes to help marshal the event. But at that time I had no idea whether I would even be up to that, I certainly was not contemplating running it.
But as the days and weeks went past I continued to feel ok, I continued to stay active and I realised the best way to enjoy the event might be to actually run it!
Back on the Start Line
Thanks to some fantastic friends at Paddock Wood Athletics Club, I was able to secure a place at the last minute, and then it was up to me to turn up on the start line and do the rest (hopefully – it would be the first time I had run over 15km since 3 August 2025).
I made a tactical decision to stay with the, as ever, immaculately turned out and colour coordinated, Pink Panther of Pacing, who was pacing two hours (along with her able assistant), and see how it felt. She duly paced everyone perfectly and it felt absolutely fine. So with a couple of kilometers to go I thought I’d see what I had left and upped the pace slightly to finish a couple of minutes under two hours.
Why This One Meant More
Over the years I’ve ticked off a few running milestones: running over 100km at a backyard ultra, completing a double marathon before I’d even done a normal one, finishing the Brighton Marathon in a respectable time, and ticking off times like a sub-19 minute 5k and a sub-90 minute half marathon.
They’re all things I’m proud of, but none of them compare to Sunday.
Because this time the real achievement wasn’t the time on the clock or the distance covered. It was simply being there at all, running again after brain surgery, in the middle of chemotherapy, with incurable cancer and refusing to let that take away something I love.
So no, it wasn’t my fastest half-marathon. Not even close.
But without question, it’s the one I’m most proud of.
Just wow! What an incredible inspiration and so glad you got to do the race!
Thanks Gem!
Awesome work Steve, super proud of you 💪🙌
Thanks Ian, and thanks for your support at the end too!
Bloomin well done Steve!
You should be very proud of a brilliant achievement
Thanks Janet!
Inspirational Steve. Huge well done! Xx
Thanks Dawn!
Incredible. That is all 🙏🏻 x
Thanks Faith!
Hi Steve, we packed up the truck together after you finished the race Sunday. As several people have said, inspirational, you really are.
Thank you Matt, I really appreciate this!
This post gave me goosebumps… I have glioma cancer too, and this is an amazing inspiration and it gives me hope… Thanks for sharing it, sending you a big hug from Italy
That is very lovely of you thanks Alberto! Wishing you all the very best!
You are such an inspiration, Steve! So glad you had a good day and ran strong – here’s to many more like that! x
Thanks Mary! x