{"id":8291,"date":"2023-10-12T15:41:43","date_gmt":"2023-10-12T15:41:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/club.runthrough.co.uk\/?p=8291"},"modified":"2023-10-12T15:50:05","modified_gmt":"2023-10-12T15:50:05","slug":"runner-feature-carlo-mullen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/club.runthrough.co.uk\/runner-feature-carlo-mullen\/","title":{"rendered":"Runner Feature – Carlo Mullen"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Runner

Media City 5-10K 29 June 20 2023<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Just a year and a half ago, if you saw me walking down the street, you wouldn’t have thought, “There goes a runner.” Even looking in the mirror, I’d agree. But fast forward to April 21, 2024, and I’ll be taking on my first London Marathon.<\/p>\n

Let’s rewind three years. I was managing my son’s Under 8’s football team, struggling to keep up with the young lads. I was unfit, out of breath during training sessions, and too static during matches. At 40, feeling this way, I knew things had to change. I had the idea to run a 5k with my son, thinking it can’t be that hard, right?<\/p>\n

I registered us both for Warrington Park Run, barcodes in hand. We lined up, and I urged my energetic son to keep up with me. We set off, and something changed. He jogged, ran backward, but kept me going. 45 minutes later, I completed a 5k, feeling like it was game over. Putting on a brave face, I drove home, feeling worse than before.<\/p>\n

I tried various diets but struggled to stick to them. Time passed, and nothing changed, except for feeling stuck in a rut.<\/p>\n

Then one day, an advert popped up for Man V Fat Football, with the tagline, “Lose weight, Play football.” It sounded interesting, though I felt slightly ashamed that I needed to consider this. It took me a few weeks to talk to my wife about it. She encouraged me to go for it.<\/p>\n

I mustered the courage to register and attended the session. I realised I wasn’t fit or healthy enough, but this time, I was doing it for a team as well as for myself. I had joined a community of like-minded players, all with the same goal: to lose weight. Week by week, month by month, I lost weight and gained fitness I’d never had before. I played football three times a week, gained confidence, and the shame faded away.<\/p>\n

Of course, I had ups and downs in my weight, enjoying the food and drink I should have avoided. But I aimed to be healthier and fitter. People noticed my progress and complimented my transformation.<\/p>\n

Because of improved fitness, I decided to try my hand at running. I joined a local group called Warrington Plodders, a supportive community. Over time, I was running with them twice a week.<\/p>\n

\"Runner<\/p>\n

Fast forward to the present. I’ve completed 25 park runs, continuously improving my personal best each week, a long way from that initial 45 minutes. I was ready for a new challenge—the next step had to be a 10k. I found a local event hosted by RunThrough, the 10k at Media City in Manchester. I signed up and loved the event and the atmosphere. It was all so encouraging. I ran my laps and achieved my first 10k time.<\/p>\n

Around the same time, I discovered the Warrington Running Festival, also hosted by RunThrough, a run in my town. I was determined to participate, and today, I completed it, shaving nearly 15 minutes off my time. What a great feeling! But hold on! My wife says, “Amazing achievement, take it easy now.”<\/p>\n

And now about that…<\/p>\n

Earlier this year, I was waiting to start a new job. So, I was browsing the internet at home when an advert came up for the London Marathon. Imagine if I did that? My finger hovered over the register button. “Don’t be daft,” I thought. “Who am I kidding?” Before I knew it, I’d signed up. How did that happen?<\/p>\n

I know they have a deadline to announce entrants, and this was some time off, so I forgot about it. But the idea of running slightly further and challenging myself appealed, especially if I could do it for charity. Over the years, I’ve supported various cancer-related charities through bike-related events. Running seemed like a more challenging option.<\/p>\n

“Let’s see what half marathons are coming up?” I thought. Oh, the Manchester half! Again, my finger hovered over the register button. “Don’t fall into the same mistake again,” I warned myself. But I fell for it—this time, I knew I was accepted.<\/p>\n

Over tea, I spoke to my family and let them know that I’d signed up to run 13 miles. My son nearly fell off his chair with laughter, and my wife was speechless. I explained that I was doing this for Cancer research. Once we all came together, we realized that this would be a big challenge. I also let slip that I was waiting to hear about a place for the London Marathon. Laughter and speechlessness ensued again, with words like, “Are you serious?” echoing around the dining room table.<\/p>\n

I reassured them that not everyone gets in, and why would I, with my 45-minute 5k, be accepted?
\nThe day they announced places came. I got the email and… I was not accepted. Relief swept through the family. Just a half marathon to worry about.<\/p>\n

This seemed like a good time to focus on my new job and train for the Manchester half marathon. Keep focused.<\/p>\n

Until I received an email from Children with Cancer UK, asking if I would like to run the London Marathon on their behalf and to complete a small form explaining why I wanted to raise money for them. As I said earlier, I’ve always liked to support cancer charities, and this seemed ideal for me. So, I completed the form, committing to raise £2,000, and clicked send.<\/p>\n

I expected that they receive a lot of these requests.<\/p>\n

\"Runner<\/p>\n

Monday morning, I was in a Teams meeting with my managers when my phone beeped. I took a glance and was welcomed to the Children with Cancer UK London Marathon Team. I must have turned a shade of white because my managers asked me what was wrong. I spoke the words, “I have been accepted for the London Marathon.” I’m not quite sure what happened next or what was said because all I was thinking was, “I have to tell my wife.”<\/p>\n

That evening, in a similar scenario to revealing the Manchester marathon, I uttered the words, “Do you remember that I signed up for the London Marathon and didn’t get accepted? Well, that’s changed. I have been accepted to run for a charity.”<\/p>\n

Today, I completed the Warrington 10k festival, proudly wearing my Children with Cancer UK t-shirt. I met fellow fundraisers for the same charity, achieved a new 10k PB, and I’m fully prepared for my half marathon in 4 weeks’ time.<\/p>\n

For me now, I’ve embarked on a fitness and fundraising journey, with two targets: to complete the London Marathon and to raise £2,000. My fitness journey will include running more 10k events hosted by RunThrough and one or two half marathons.<\/p>\n

I have ideas to enhance my fundraising journey. I would appreciate any support along the way, words of encouragement, and, where possible, any contributions to my charity page. See here!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

If you want to follow my journey, I’m posting updates on Instagram HERE!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Runner<\/p>\n

Thank you.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Just a year and a half ago, if you saw me walking down the street, you wouldn’t have thought, “There goes a runner.” Even looking in the mirror, I’d agree. But fast forward to April 21, 2024, and I’ll be taking on my first London Marathon. Let’s rewind three years. I was managing my […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2957,"featured_media":8299,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":""},"categories":[54],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/club.runthrough.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8291"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/club.runthrough.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/club.runthrough.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/club.runthrough.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2957"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/club.runthrough.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8291"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/club.runthrough.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8291\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8302,"href":"https:\/\/club.runthrough.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8291\/revisions\/8302"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/club.runthrough.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8299"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/club.runthrough.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8291"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/club.runthrough.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8291"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/club.runthrough.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8291"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}