There's still time to take on the amazing Bolton Marathon Twin Towns Challenge, and show your support for Bolton Hospice!

We asked Tracy who has signed up to complete the challenge for Bolton Hospice her reasons for running to make a difference, and were so inspired by her answers!

Introduce yourself

I’m Tracy Berry, age 39 and a member of the Burnden road runners

Why you signed up

I signed up for the Twin Towns challenge for a few different reasons.

To improve my mental health, socialise with others, get fitter & also help my local charity.

I also decided to do this challenge as I am volunteering at the Bolton marathon in May 2021 so was unable to give the marathon a go. 

When I seen this challenge I did hesitate whether or not I was good enough to compete it but after looking on social media I noticed that this challenge was not just for athletes, this is for people of all abilities to exercise & have fun.

I am not a strong runner nor am I fit, at 15 stone I knew this would be a struggle but with support from the Bolton marathon team & others who have entered this challenge I felt I’m not alone.

What do you do to get the miles in?

I run but I’m not a strong runner so not many miles are covered with running alone, I also walk many miles as I feel it does wonders for my mental health & I love the open air.

I walk my son to school then walk the long way home.

I'm new to the exercise bike which I’m starting to love.

The extra miles I do come from cleaning the house (the house has never been so clean!)

Even just walking up & down stairs has made me stronger.

How are you finding the Twin Towns Challenge?

I'm loving it!

This challenge comes with an app which helps you see where you are in the challenge & also lets you see the street view of where you are so far.

You can also comment on other peoples achievements to give them the encouragement they may need.

People cheer me on each day which gives me the strength to carry on .

When I look & see that I’m in front of some teams that have two plus people in them I feel it's a fantastic achievement for me which keeps me going.

I’m really enjoying how I feel inside & out, feeling healthier each day.

Would you recommend the challenge to others?

Definitely!

This challenge is not about the winning it’s about taking part and being the best you can be, it gets people up, active and feeling good about themselves.

This challenge can be used for so many reasons, such as training for races (the fantastic Bolton Marathon in May) , helping you get more active, helps with mental health,  boost with your exercise or just because you love the bling!

Best thing about it is it’s for all abilities so wheelchair users can join in. 

You can choose to run as a #HospiceHero solo, with your household or even your workplace so why not sign up and join Tracy here