I am running monthly challenges in 2021 to fundraise for the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI)
In November 2020, I ran a self-directed marathon on Gower with three friends. That’s what lockdown rules allowed. I wrote a blog about it. It has been a year of taking on bigger and bigger running challenges for me. This took me to the back of the Endurance Life Gower marathon, which is an absolutely excellent event. The experience was just brilliant! There was time to chat and laugh and swap injury stories with others. This is a beautiful thing about running and endurance events: as pain slows you down, you invariably find some other sufferers who are ready for a bit of laughter!
If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.
African Proverb
Taking part – convoluted reasoning
There were many reasons not to have taken part in this event. Number one was, of course, injury. All the reasons for not taking part, was injury. I have been unable to run pain free for four weeks leading up to the marathon. What was I actually thinking? I have entered a multi-day endurance event for April 2022. Any damage done during this event could mean that the April event becomes impossible.
So were there any reasons for taking part then? Firstly, it was a perfectly beautiful day for running around the Gower Peninsula. I could take my poles and simply hike. It’s always lovely to go along and soak in the atmosphere. All I have to do is be sort of sensible.
There was a plan. Success would be to pull out when required, resulting in a DNF (Did Not Finish). Failure would be to carry on in pain, have a terrible day and do damage to myself. This is difficult reasoning for any endurance athlete. I set my intention and went out on the Saturday morning to have a fun and ‘successful’ day.
The race – how it went
Anyone planning a DNF cannot actually talk about racing. This puts you a bit off-beat to the atmosphere of the event. Nevertheless, it was a perfect day for running and I set off with determination to take things easy and have a laugh. I had plenty of water, snacks and most importantly, my hiking poles.
It was exciting to be in a small crowd, but a crowd nonetheless. There were friends and colleagues and a few familiar faces from Dragon’s Back Race.
Running went pretty smoothly to the first trig point atop Cefn Bryn. The steep descent off Cefn Bryn slowed me down.
My hiking poles came out to ascend Ryer’s Down. Looking back, I think I had a cold brewing. My heart felt too fast for my level of effort and my legs felt too much like jelly.
Once the poles were out, I never passed anyone. It was interesting to be passed by lots and lots of people. I alternated between hiking and light running. During the light running phases it was possible to chat with some other runners. There seemed to be lots of interest in ultra marathons, in particular the Dragon’s Back Race and the Cape Wrath Ultra.
The DNF – sharing the pain and laughter
I made it to the half way point at the car park for Llangennith beach. I felt ok and was planning to hike across Rhossili Down to Rhossili and pull out there. It was such a beautiful day and the views would have been spectacular. However, the support point was here with transport back to race headquarters available soon. I would have to find my own way from Rhossili.
There were two other runners waiting for transport back to Race HQ. I decided to wait with them. We were resting in chairs and eating some race snacks. I had crisps and a piece of banana. Invariably, conversations were struck up. The content of these are fairly predictable. Our injuries, how they occurred, past races, future racing plans, and so on. These are fascinating and intensely exciting topics for runners!
I also met two more Dragon’s Back completers. One of them a event team volunteer and the other a runner injured by a recent park run (just like me!). I hope to be counted amongst this group of runners one day…
The three of us bonded a bit in our pain. Mine was very mild, I did not hobble at all. It was just time to stop for me, before the hobble set in. The other two were hobbling. We laughed about how a hobble is perfectly acceptable in the ultra marathon world. It’s just another way of moving forward, right? We all confessed that we really shouldn’t even have started the race. I was the only who didn’t travel. At least they still had a weekend away to a gorgeous spot. I am lucky enough to live here.
Reflections – would I change anything next time?
Well there is only now and it is what it is. I used to hate it when people said that: “It is what it is”. Now I hear myself say it all the time. And it is true. It is what it is, but we can move forward differently is we are not satisfied with what is.
One thing I am satisfied with in my life in general, is that I can now turn up for my own life as my true imperfect self. Yes, I am a recovering perfectionist. Living with a core belief of being fundamentally flawed and never enough or good enough makes for a pretty tough life. But now I can turn up to a race injured, succesfully DNF, connect with others and have a beautifully enjoyable day.
However, I am not satisfied with the amount of photos I took this day. Due to the lack of photos, I feel hampered in my ability to share this day’s story.
Here are the three photos I took whilst making my way across Llanmadoc hill (it is what it is!).
I am not satisfied with many many things in our society and the world. How will we change society to be kinder and fairer? Firstly we need to believe it is possible. Then we need to stand together and take positive action.
Taking positive action with JCWI
After 21 years of injury and insult from the UK Home Office, I finally had to find a way to make my own contribution for positive change. The latest chapter in my personal journey of being under the lash of the Home Office, took me to newspapers and twitter. Alternatively, I could have waited ‘indefinitely’ to appeal on the basis of my right to family and personal life.
There is this amazing charity: ‘The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants’ (JCWI). Please do check them out. They are on Instagram too.
Just this week another tragedy happened in the English Channel. Twenty seven people drowned, unnecessarily. There is no safe way for people who want to seek asylum in the United Kingdom, to reach the United Kingdom.
The work of JCWI is literally life-saving for many people. The tide has been against people who move for a long time, regardless of their reason to move.
Challenges set – goals reached
In November 2020 I set out to raise £12 700 for JCWI. This is roughly the cost of marrying a foreign spouse when things go smoothly with the Home Office. I was going to keep going till I reached the goal. Fundraising is awareness raising, right?
In January 2021, Lauren Tormey, who had her own journey with the Home Office, joined the effort. It has been amazing to get to know Lauren and to share this passion for justice and our love of running. She writes an immigration blog and a running blog.
In September 2021 JCWI launched their first People Move Challenge, with all funds raised also counting towards our goal of £12 700.
Who knows how long it would have taken Lauren and me to raise the full amount. With one month to go, we have reached £3 405, 26% of our goal. With the additional fundraising by everyone who took part in the People Move Challenge, the goal has been smashed with over £14 000 raised.
THANK YOU to everyone who donated!
THANK YOU to everyone who took part in the People Move Challenge!
Finally, THANK YOU to JCWI for the amazing work you do and for supporting us in supporting you!
Challenges set – goals not reached
The UK border is a challenge. The UK border has creeped all over society. It is literally everywhere. Just try live here with insecure immigration status and you will know of the exclusions that are literally everywhere. Try to survive once you become undocumented and you will discover the full cruelty of a system that is designed to dehumanise, marginalise and exclude.
Teresa May introduced a set of policies that were known as ‘The Hostile Environment‘. These led to what is known as the ‘The Windrush Betrayal’. All of them are still in place, despite a national scandal and years of campaigning…. The name has been changed to ‘The Compliant Environment’. Nice bit of window dressing.
Onwards towards the goals:
‘A fairer, more efficient and more humane immigration system, with laws based on sound evidence.
No migrant or refugee is made destitute, denied fundamental rights or forced to live in fear.
Greater access to justice and greater respect for human rights, human dignity and the rule of law.
The benefits of migration are celebrated and shared, with no community left behind.’
Taken from JCWI website
Will you stand with us?
We will complete our year of running challenges, there is only December to go.
Please consider giving, even though the fundraising goal has been reached.
Please support the ongoing work of JCWI and stay informed of what is happening at the border.
You can write to your MP about the Border’s Bill that is currently being debated in parliament. Just click on the link, it only takes a couple of minutes.
Maybe consider participating in the People Move Challenge of 2022 and become a champion for the cause of migrants’ (who are humans) rights.
