Mark's Story: My name is Mark Nixon and I run for a few different reasons to be honest. My journey started when I weighted over 16 stone and I had a stroke scare. After multiple tests, I was later diagnosed with a neurological condition called Functional Neurological Disorder. My partner has severe mental health issues and has been sectioned multiple times over the years, and received help and support from MIND. I realised I needed to 'sort myself out' and loose weight as and when my condition allowed. I hated running, but needed something to keep me focused, and saw a local 10K in my hometown so decided to sign up - even though it was my idea of hell! - to raise money for MIND.
I lost 3 stone in weight and actually enjoyed the experience of a race, and instantly signed up for another. I have now completed multiple distances up to and including a 50K ultra. My original target was to complete the 10K course in sub 60 minutes. I shocked myself in running 53:23! I have since have gone on to run sub 50 minutes on the same course and ran multiple sub 2 hour half marathons (my favourite distance) and the Manchester marathon (04:42) and a 50K ultra. My goals currently are to run a 22-minute parkrun and a 4-hour marathon, either in London or Manchester.
Before working with Cat, I was averaging 28 minutes at parkrun but she said I could with a few tweaks and some work run around 23 minutes. After finishing laughing I agreed, mainly out of interest really. We did some sessions and Cat looked at my running style and made some minor changes, helped me with my breathing, and gave me other useful bits of information. She then ran me round our local parkrun in 23:05!
Since then, my general pace has picked up and I am running more miles with less effort. She has also helped me understand fueling and when to do it properly, which helped in my latest half where I achieved a P.B. In fact since working with Cat I have P.B'ed in every race! Cat has taught me how to manage my breathing, how to run more efficiently using my arms in particular, and running with correct posture. It may be only minor tweaks, but it has helped massively. She has also set me some training sessions, which have been tough, but results have followed.
Changing Paces: "Mark may say he hated running once-upon-a-time, but give the guy a target and he's the most dedicated and enthusiastic athlete out there. Channeling the enthusiasm into efficient running form, and finding training methods that work with Mark's condition and lifestyle, has been the challenge rather than setting a rigid training regime. This individual approach has allowed Mark to not only successfully fund-raise but to do so in a way which makes his truly proud of his impressive sporting achievements in their own right. Knowing how Mark is motivated by PBs as well as his worthy cause, I'm really proud to be able to set Mark continued challenges, because once he finishes laughing, there's huge potential as an athlete that we're only beginning to tap into! Don't tell him, but project-20-minute parkrun may commence soon... not a shabby effort down from 28 minutes in a year!"
You can read more about Mark's journey and donate to his cause here.