![\"Runner](\"https:\/\/club.runthrough.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/SimonSmall.jpg\" "\\"Runner")
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This weeks runner feature is RunThrough regular and Season Pass Holder Simon Small. Simon has never failed to bring a smile to every race he attends and has come such a long way during 2018, he can now proudly say that he is a marathon runner. We asked Simon to share his story with you all because we thing it is worth sharing and could definitely inspire a few of you.<\/strong><\/p>\n ———————————————————–<\/p>\n Having my Fiancée suddenly pass away in August 2012<\/strong> left me numb to life. Even when I went back to work I felt like I was just drifting along with very little direction, purpose or desire. As the months went by, I became more withdrawn from life, barely leaving home apart from going to work. By the end of January 2013<\/strong> I decided I needed to start to make some kind of change, one of these changes was to quit smoking<\/strong> which I did cold turkey.<\/p>\n In April 2015<\/strong> I had to be off work long term due to an on going eye condition (Keratoconus<\/em>), and severe damage to the surface of my left eye which would required me to undergo Partial graft. During my time off, I became more concerned as to whether I would be able to return to my current employment, or even whether I would be able to work at all. I went through so many sleepless nights wondering how I would cope if I lost my job but due to this condition, would I be able to get another employment. So to clear my head I went for a walk to my local park, after walking along the path surrounding the local sports centre I decided to run around it once and although I was left breathless afterwards I felt much better about myself<\/em> so I continued to come to and run around the park twice a week<\/strong> until the operation in late October.<\/p>\n After the success of the op, my employment was even more uncertain as I was now reporting to the redeployment department -This department was to help me find alternative employment suitable to my current situation within a three month period which if none was found by this time my employment would be terminated.<\/em> I joined a local gym to continue running on a treadmill first starting at 15mins then over the course of 12 months increasing to 1hr<\/em> and increasing my running speed in during this time I was cleared to return to my normal work duties from the doctors which was a huge weight of my shoulders<\/p>\n It was in Early November 2016<\/strong> I was introduced to parkrun<\/strong> (Basildon) which I found enjoyable then soon after I ran at my local Christmas running event<\/strong><\/a> for Haven hospice at Wat Tyler park in Basildon and also Southend Santa run<\/strong> (5mile) and I have not looked back!<\/p>\n