Sean Hornby, now 50, from Menston, had ‘never been sporty at all’ until two years ago when he signed up to a 22 mile walk/run near his home.
After joining a running club for support and training advice he quicky found his feet, signing up to more running events, including a marathon that same year.
Now he’s taking on the TEWV 10k, our very own running event, as part of his training for this year’s London Marathon.
The inaugural event took place last year and was the first running event to be organised and staged by an NHS Trust. The event will return to the Knavesmire, York Racecourse, on Saturday 19 April.
Sean said: “I’ve never been sporty at all, apart from watching some football tournaments on the television or a bit of table football!
“I’d made up the numbers for a school cross country event when someone dropped out last minute, circa 1986. I turned up on the day in my oversized gym kit and a pair of cheap trainers bought from the market. I comfortably finished in last place.”
It was a trip to Berlin in 2021 that made Sean realise he quite enjoyed running, after visiting the German capital with a friend who encouraged him to do the local parkrun.
Sean continued with a few more parkruns when he returned home, until he unfortunately injured himself and was only able to walk his dogs for the next four months.
In 2022, Sean impulsively signed up for the 2023 Rombalds Stride – a 22-mile walk/run near his home.
“I’d seen people walking near my house as part of the event over the years absolutely plastered in mud, looking cold and miserable, so I was intrigued,” he continued.
It was from then that he joined Otley AC running club and signed up to more running events, including the Leeds Marathon 2023, which he finished in 3 hours, 29 minutes.
Sean’s next challenge is the TEWV 10k, as part of his preparations for the London Marathon.
He works as a nurse in the community for our older people’s mental health team and has decided to raise money for a small mental health charity set up in memory of Frightened Rabbit singer Scott Hutchison.
“My wife and myself are huge music fans and we love the Scottish band Frightened Rabbit,” he said.
“Unfortunately, Scott, the singer took his own life in 2018 and Tiny Changes was set up in his memory.”
The charity is Scotland’s first national young people’s mental health charity.
“I thought Tiny Changes would be a great charity to support as it is small and won’t be as well known to a lot of people in comparison to some of the big charity organisations. Any donation to them will really go a long way,” he continued.
“Running has really changed my life. I feel much more confident than I ever did – my physical and mental health has had a big boost.”
Sean now holds a Leadership in Running Fitness (LIRF) qualification and takes groups of runners out twice a week.
“I’ve even influenced my wife, who saw the difference in me and decided to join a couch to 5k group. She used to say that she ‘couldn’t run a tap’, but in April she’ll complete her first half marathon in Berlin.
“I recommend running to anyone. You really just need some basic kit and a sense of adventure. The rest will come with time and commitment. I’ve genuinely achieved things I never dreamt of.
“I just wish I’d discovered running twenty years ago… but, better late than never, I guess.”
