Edinburgh 2016 Runner’s Profile: Megan Lawn

I hate running. I’ve always hated running and I don’t consider myself a ‘runner’. So why do I do it? Well, it started when I decided to join the army when I was 40, in what can only be described as a fit of optimistic madness. I started running to improve my fitness levels and managed to get through basic training.
Fast forward 5 years – I had stopped running, gained a couple of stone and was not happy.

I have a medical condition called POTS, which is made worse by inactivity, so I needed to get back to a basic level of fitness and start running again. I started by going for short runs, following a run/walk programme where I started off running for 2 minutes then walking for 1 minute. It went well but when I started to increase my distances I began to get a pain in my big toe, probably the result of an old injury.

I went to see Ian at the clinic. I had gait analysis, insoles as well as invaluable running advice. Then I signed up for a 10 mile obstacle race called Judgement Day with the rest of the gang and was committed to the training. I managed to complete 2 of these races before spraining my ankle on a dog walk which put a temporary stop to my training.

Again Ian’s help was fantastic. As well as taping my ankle up he gave me lots of rehabilitation exercises to do, which bring us on to this year, when I signed up for the Edinburgh Half Marathon.

I started training in January, following Ian’s training programme but then I was ill and unable to train. This left me starting my training with 10 weeks to go before the race. I downloaded a 10 week half marathon training programme and I have managed to stick to it so far and I am confident I will finish the race, after all, I never said I was going to do it quickly…..