Catherine Sykes (left) is running her first ever Great North Run in 2024 for Newcastle Hospitals Charity with her colleague Jade Devenney (right). They are both clinical scientists at Newcastle Hospitals and recently raised money for us through a bake sale they did. Catherine tells us more about her training in a blog she has written:
- Tell us why you are running for Newcastle Hospitals Charity?
I am embarking on my first ever organised run and doing so in support of Newcastle Hospitals Charity. I wanted to support the charity for a number of reasons.
I am acutely aware of the pressures that staff face on a daily basis and therefore believe the work the charity does to support staff wellbeing is so important. I am a firm believer that we need to look after our staff if we are to help the NHS provide the best care for our patients.
The charity is also a big supporter of research and innovation, something that again is vitally important if we are to develop better ways of promoting health and managing illness.
- How is training going?
Training is not going amazingly (yet!).
My biggest challenge is finding a moment around balancing doing a PhD with a baby. I’d say my approach is going to be a ‘do the best I can’ one and any exercise I get (hauling a baby back from nursery in a backpack while pushing my bike) counts right??
But, on a more serious note, I will get more regular runs in and am lucky to have enthusiastic friends around like Jade to go with!
- Any tips for your fellow Newcastle Hospitals Charity runners?
Park run is a good way to get going as it’s regular and even if you are away for a weekend there is likely to be one close by!
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Thank you, Catherine and Jade, and best wishes to you both for this September!
