Lending a Helping Hand… or foot

Congratulations and a massive thank you to Paul Carrott from NFU Mutual, who completed the Kenilworth Half Marathon last weekend in aid of Helping Hands! Hear firsthand from Paul why he decided to take part…

“I’m not normally one for spontaneity (an impromptu trip with my wife and daughter to see Taylor Swift aside) but after a challenging few weeks personally, I responded to a post on Viva Engage from the Community Engagement team, looking for people to run Kenilworth Half Marathon in only FOUR DAYS TIME. 

“Now it is only fair to admit, I do run a reasonable amount anyway – I’m a member of Spa Striders Running Club, recently passed the unofficial milestone of 200 Parkruns, and on ‘office days’ I can sometimes be found plodding my way around the track at FISSC of a lunchtime. However, I’ve only ever run half marathon distance once before - ironically at Kenilworth, and I’ve never gone further than that (although those nice people at the London Marathon do send me an annual rejection email). That said, I do like a challenge, and the impish “I couldn’t, could I?” voices in my head do occasionally drown out the ones with any common sense…

“The run was being advertised on behalf of Helping Hands Community Project in Leamington Spa, who provide a safe space and practical support to thousands of vulnerable people, including opportunities for those experiencing homelessness, domestic abuse, addiction, isolation, poverty and mental health challenges, in order to build a better future. I quickly set up a Just Giving page, and, in addition to my lovely sponsors, was given a fantastic £50.00 head start on my fundraising by the NFU Mutual Community Champions Scheme. 

“And so it was, on Sunday, 8 September, I lined up alongside 853 other runners to tackle 13.1 undulating miles. The first time I attempted a half marathon, with something at least resembling a proper training plan, it ended up being one of the hottest weekends of the year, so I was delighted to find a dull, drizzly Sunday morning in Kenilworth this time around.

“Despite some initial apprehension about getting round, the run itself went well. I felt good until just before the half way mark, when suddenly my energy levels dropped, the hills were looking steeper, and the finish line felt a long, long way away. However, after turning the corner to head back the way we came, a welcome downhill section and a few Skittles got me back into a good rhythm, and I felt strong as I crossed the finish line back in the town centre.

“Working in finance, the numbers are very important, so I’m pleased to say that my time of 1 hour 47 minutes, represented a nine minute improvement on my previous effort, and I finished 294th overall. More importantly, at the time of writing, my feet have raised a total of £90.00 for Helping Hands. There’s still time if you’d like to add to that pot: Paul Carrott is fundraising for Helping Hands Community Charity (justgiving.com)"

Paul Carrott