Rebuilding Strength
Age and pain don’t define possibility
Nicola’s Story
I loved running until osteoarthritis slowed me down at 40. For years I stayed involved as a parkrun marshal, with the occasional jog, while recovering from surgery for two new hips and half a knee. Now, at 66, everything is different. Running alongside my long-time friend George, I have explored breathtaking landscapes – from a 33‑mile ultramarathon in the Peak District to a 23‑mile challenge over the Cheviots. George’s encouragement and experience helped me to break things down into incremental steps. Progress has been steady, never overwhelming, and my confidence has grown with every mile. Running keeps me strong, flexible, and helps me manage osteoarthritis in my spine and feet. Most importantly, it reminds me there’s a whole world out there to enjoy. I don’t intend to stop – as long as I can keep my health and vitality.
How It Started
I was entered in a trail race, and my friend Nicola came along to support me. She spent the whole day driving between checkpoints, talking to people, and getting completely absorbed in the atmosphere. On the way home she mentioned that she fancied having a go at the following year’s race.
At first, I took it with a pinch of salt. But a few weeks later she rang me and asked when we could start training. We went out and covered a short stretch of the race route — mostly walking — and that’s when I realised she was serious.
Over the next twelve months we focused on rebuilding her foundational strength. She learned how to manage her foot pain with a mix of physiotherapy, medical treatment for the arthritis in her foot, and a structured progression of longer and faster runs over different types of terrain. As her capacity grew, she gradually rediscovered confidence in her body and what it was capable of. At times my job was simply to slow her down so she didn’t push too hard. We didn’t do anything extreme; we took things steadily. Step by step, she reached a point where she could run without fear of a flare‑up, feel capable again, and trust her body.
And yes! She completed her first ultramarathon at her first attempt.
The process
We started with the basics:
- – Rebuilding foundational strength
- – Figuring out what she could do without triggering her pain
- – Restoring belief in her ability to cover longer distances
- – Creating training patterns that she could follow independently
The Breakthrough
Nicola didn’t just get stronger – she rediscovered some of the energy and competitiveness of her earlier running, she became more connected to her actual capability.
- Her pain reduced
- Her movement improved
- Her belief in her running returned
Why Her Story Matters
Nicola’s journey is a reminder that progress is always possible — at any age, in any circumstance, and starting from any point.
Her story isn’t about perfection. It’s about possibility.
If you’re ready to start your own story, I’m here to help you take the first step.