Runner profile: Louise
Hi everyone,
I’m Louise! I am the communications officer for SCH, and I have been a member of the club for about 6 years.
I haven't always been a runner, far from it. In fact I used to hate anything sports related at school! So here is my story, of how I got into running, and how being a member of the South Cheshire Harriers has helped me and my running.
When I was 14, I was diagnosed with scoliosis, which is a side-ways curvature of the spine. In my case, unfortunately it was classed as very severe, and I needed major spinal fusion surgery to correct my scoliosis, which I had in 2010. This was a huge operation and it took me years to recover. During recovery, I had to learn the basics all over again, how to walk, sit up etc so running was the last thing on my mind!
I now live with a fused spine, two titanium rods and over 20 titanium screws in my spine keeping everything in place. My spine is not completely straight and never will be, my ribcage is twisted, and I also suffer with chronic pain and neurological issues including numbness in my legs.
I had always thought that due to my scoliosis I couldn't run and so I used to avoid it. Being fit and healthy has always been important to me and I think mostly due to my scoliosis, I have always been into keeping fit and going to the gym as an attempt to keep myself as strong as possible. I only started getting into running about 5 years after my spinal surgery when my friend asked me to complete a 10k Race for Life event with her. At the time, I was nervous about it as I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to do it, but me being the type of person I am, I really wanted to try.
Running with my fused spine felt so strange at first, and to start with I couldn't run for longer than 5 minutes without stopping. I kept training though, and within a couple of months I ran my first 10k. I was so proud of myself.
After that I had the bug and I was hooked! I didn’t really know what I was doing back then and it didn't take me long to injure my shoulder from running as I attempted to get faster.
With having scoliosis, I have many muscle inbalances, and it makes me more prone to injury, which I didn't really think about back then. I had physio, recovered from my injury and then eventually started running again. I ran on and off for 2 years, mostly by myself or on the treadmill at the gym. I also threw myself into fundraising for the UK scoliosis charity and completed the British 10k in London, as well as a charity trek on the Great Wall of China, which was incredible.
Great Wall of China fundraising trek
In 2017, I started going to parkrun and I absolutely loved it. I went on my own and I used to look at the groups of people having a coffee afterwards and wish that I had people to go with. Later that year, I went through a majorly tough time in my personal life after my 13 year relationship ended. I joined SCH initially to help me get out and meet people and to give me something positive to focus on during a rubbish time. It took a lot for me to join and I was so nervous to go for the first time.
Looking back though, I will say that joining South Cheshire Harriers has without a doubt been one of the best things I’ve ever done. I have met so many amazing people, many of which have become good friends. Plus, I always have people to go to parkrun with! I’ve now completed over 100 parkruns all over the world, and many of those have been done with friends from SCH.
Berlin parkrun tourism
When I first joined the club, I was also pleasantly surprised to meet several members with scoliosis, a couple of them having had the same surgery as myself, which was just so inspiring and motivating for me.
Not only that, but my running has also come a long way since joining the club. I’ve learnt so much about the importance of strength training and running techniques. If someone had told me 6 years ago when I was nervous about joining, that in 6 years I’d be on the committee and training for my second marathon, there’s no way I would have believed them!
Sometimes I get frustrated that I can't run as fast as some people, or that I get injured more often, but after everything I’ve been through, I’m just so thankful I can run and I will keep running until I can't anymore. Scoliosis may make running harder for me, but it makes the accomplishments mean so much more.
My greatest running achievement since joining South Cheshire Harriers has to be completing my first marathon (The Manchester Marathon) last year in a time of 4.43. I honestly never thought I’d be able to complete a marathon with my condition and I’m so proud of myself.
Manchester marathon
I am currently injured (again!) from pushing too hard but I’m working hard on building back my strength so that I can be back at the club running again. I miss it so much when I can’t run, the social side as much as anything!
With the support of the club and my determination to succeed, I know that I can do anything I set my mind to - I simply refuse to let my scoliosis hold me back.
In October this year, I’m planning another fundraising trip to Machu Picchu in Peru, if you’d like to read more about my story you can do so here.
