My Hospice Run journey - and why I keep coming back

Author: Andy Knight

I became involved in 2007, so just missed the first one. I was a mid-distance runner  at school in the late seventies and loved it but just stopped. Rekindling my running passion after seeing Dame Kelly Holmes parade her Olympic medals at Tonbridge in 2004, I started running the local half marathons with no real idea of a plan.  

Back then, there were a lot less gadgets; people hardly used smart watches for example, and I still don’t use one as its one foot in front of the other! Little did I know that one day I would be running and chatting to Kelly Holmes on The Hospice in the Weald 10k route and collecting medals from her at Tonbridge for the half marathon. 

I needed a focus for my running and by nominating a charity it gives you that and focuses on friends and family to support you. The Hospice being local seemed ideal as I only heard good words about it and of course, sadly, would hear of people who had needed its wonderful care at the end of life. So my fundraising started. 

Across the years, through rain and generally lovely mid–September shine, I have run the 10k and the inaugural half marathon. About 18 months ago, I remember a conversation with Lisa in the Hospice’s fundraising team.  

Lisa told me I have raised at least £10,000 for such a wonderful place all by doing something I love, generally! 

Two years ago, 1km into the run I pulled my hamstring…I limped round as what put this into perspective was, I’m lucky I can do this, the Hospice is generally treating people who can’t. When you hear the people talk about a slight hill or things like that, I think they need to focus on the important reasons they are running for – sponsorship.  

My favourite year but probably most pressured was 2019 when I paid the entrance fees for ten runners to run as ‘The 10k Ten’. All they had to do was train , raise some sponsorship turn up and run. We collectively raised over £3.000 that day. Everyone finished well and we enjoyed some drinks together to celebrate. 

The calendar is overcrowded with events, but a local charity run brings everything back to one thing: community. When running, you recognise supporters’ faces on the day of the race you will see an old friend or a person you have run with locally somewhere. 

You might even meet a new group of people running who could be novices or ultra runners. But they are all supporting The Hospice.

For the nervous novice, what advice can I give? Firstly, sign up for at least the 5k. If you can run a bit, add a bit more gently, rehydrate properly and make sure everyone you know is behind you. Don’t worry about a finishing time as the crowd will get you round. Your name on a bib means people actually call out to you, too! 

Think of the help you are giving to others…I refrain from alcohol two weeks before a race as you need to respect the challenge, remembering that if it was easy, no one would train and everyone would be runners. I I also look forward to some celebratory rehydration later in the day! 

Organisation is key to a good run and The Hospice always facilitates this. The team of staff have always been on hand to help on the day and clearly in the build-up to what is a busy morning logistically. Pre run training sessions are organised and well worth joining in as a taster. It really works, I’ve been coming back for nineteen years!