Freedom to run

Hello guys, I was wondering if you could help me by letting me share my passion for running and at the same time I help you in a way by sharing my story in your magazine that could maybe inspire others to run. I have schizoaffective disorder (schizophrenia&bipolar). The mental illness is just part of me not the whole me, in the past 12 months I've taken my weight from 19 stone to 14 stone through running,(5 stone weight loss) and I've taken my 26.2 mile marathon time from 4 hours 53 to 3 hours 11. Next week I'm running the Belfast marathon on Monday then kintyre way ultra-marathon on Saturday 10th May. I feel running has helped me build a deeper connection with myself along with my practice of meditation and mindfulness, I'm on the road to recovery and at college and furthering my education also, it's helped every part of my life and made me very happy.

I was sectioned in Greece in 2008 after a past of prison, drugs, gangs alcohol and violence which was the way my city of Glasgow was at one point, I'm hoping by sharing my story I can give options to younger people who are where I once was and by giving other options it could prevent them making the mistakes I once did. I now have my own accommodation and feel happy having my own place which has helped my life in so many ways also. I took on a running challenge to run 2014 miles in 2014 for Yorkhill children's charity, my story was in national newspaper in Scotland and I'm happy doing what I do. Im a single father and I focus on being a good role model to my daughter along with my nephew, family friends and others. I understand that my story might be unusual but in the past I had to survive now I have the chance to live and it's good to show change, and what it can do when you have the proper care, love and support around you. Life changing and positivity is something I never seen with mental illness. I felt terrified and scared of my illness in the past as there was no stories publicised of people getting better and all I seen on the internet was fear, but now that I have received thank you mails and people saying I inspired them, living my life this way is something I want to continue but I want to share where I have came from incase others feel scared like I once did and show there is a big world out there and we all have a passion, we can all be happy.

The reason I'm contacting you guys is because I have found my passion and my peace in running, I've ran 1254 miles In the 2014 miles in 2014 challenge already and raised a lot for Yorkhill. I'm now planning ahead to start looking forward to more goals, and after my past of hurt and despair to where I am now, living a happy life with a mental illness and in the same city. I feel it would be right to share my running progress and to promote also that just because I have a mental illness does not mean I cannot be a benefit to society and the people around me. There is a lot of campaigns to end mental illness stigma and maybe by me sharing my story could help that also. So far in running I've ran 4 marathons (Blackpool, Dundee, Loch Ness, Manchester) 3 half marathons, two 10k and two 5k events. My nephew done the 5k events with me when he was 3 years old (some on my shoulders) he's 4 now and loves running, hopefully my daughter will be running with us soon she is 15 months old just now.

Thanks a lot and it would be nice to hear back from use

William Robertson

Williamrobertson281285@hotmail.com

Submitted by Anonymous

Believe In Yourself