Good luck to Vicki in Women's Running 10 at Blaise Castle

A WEST Coker woman will be challenging herself to run the Women’s Running 10k at Bristol’s Blaise Castle this June in memory of her husband who passed away in 2011 after contracting a rare form of cancer.

Vicki Cotter, aged 32, initially discovered her love of running after being inspired by her husband, Roger, who encouraged her to take it up 10 years ago.

“I’d never been athletic at school and had no real interest in, or aptitude for sport. Roger encouraged me to enter a 5k race in London, and once I started training, I was hooked,’’ he said.

‘’Like the Women’s Running 10k, it was a female only race, so Roger helped me train and was there to shout support on the day.

‘’After this, we started running more frequently as a couple and although he was much faster than me, we ran 10k’s and even a couple of half marathons together.

‘’We always trained together and usually went on a 10k run on a Sunday morning. It gave us chance to spend time with each other and chat, although he would do most of the talking.’’

In 2010, a few months after Vicki and Roger’s daughter turned one, Roger was diagnosed with terminal cholangia carcinoma, a rare cancer of the bile duct. He died in May 2011, after a short but very debilitating illness.

Vicki added: “Whilst Roger was ill, I went out for a few runs to clear my head, but usually ended up in tears.

‘’Last year, when the first anniversary of his death was approaching, I bought a running machine and installed it in my garage. As a working, single mum, it’s difficult to find time to get out and exercise, but the machine meant I could train in my garage at night while my little girl slept.’’

After slowly building back up to running for an hour, Vicki got to the point in her training where she felt she wasn’t really improving, so she entered the Women’s Running 10k – to be held on June 29 - to help her focus.

Entry costs £25, plus a small booking fee. If you would like to enter, go to www.wr10k.co.uk.

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