Emily, a passionate advocate for physical activity and youth wellbeing, recently completed the 2024 London Marathon while raising funds for the Youth Sport Trust (YST). We sat down with her to discuss her inspiring journey.
Q: Emily, congratulations on completing the London Marathon! Can you tell us what motivated you to take on this incredible challenge?
Emily: Thank you! Running the marathon was a way for me to give back to YST, an organisation that supports young people’s wellbeing through sports and play. As a former Young Ambassador for YST during my school years, I wanted to continue making a positive impact.
Additionally, I’ve always looked up to long-distance runners and thought ‘that could never be me’ and I wanted to prove to myself that I had the mental strength and resilience.
Q: Training for a marathon is no small feat. How did you find the training process?
Emily: Surprisingly, I enjoyed it! Running three times a week provided structure and helped me focus outside of my teaching responsibilities. I firmly believe that physical activity contributes to mental wellbeing, but maintaining a balance was crucial.
Of course, there were tough moments—early morning runs, training in the dark after work, and even dealing with a knee injury—but the intense training plan kept me motivated and helped me remind myself why I was doing it.
Q: Running a marathon requires mental resilience. What advice do you have for aspiring marathon runners?
Emily: Absolutely! I would say that your mind will give up before your body does. Running is a mental battle, but it is so, so rewarding to push through tough training runs and prove to yourself how mentally strong you are.
Q: You mentioned the Youth Sport Trust as an inspiration. How has your background in sports leadership influenced your decision to become a PE teacher?
Emily: YST provided me with opportunities in sports leadership during my school days. Those experiences shaped my passion for teaching. I also want to change the narrative around PE—I loved it in school and know many people didn’t—so I aim to create positive experiences for all my pupils.
Q: What has been the main highlight of your teacher training experience so far?
Emily: I have loved my United Teaching training experience. From day one, I was treated like a fully qualified teacher, which boosted my confidence. Every single member of United Teaching is so supportive and really great at what they do.
A key highlight has to be our PE residential in October, where we immersed ourselves in different sports with Shaun, Head of Sport at United Learning.
Q: Balancing teacher training, a PGCE, and marathon preparation must have been challenging. How did you manage it all?
Emily: It was tiring, but I never considered giving up on either. Reminding myself of my reasons—both for the marathon and my pupils—kept me going. Time management was key, and I think reminding yourself of your reasons why helps you to procrastinate a lot less.
Q: Finally, what’s your favourite aspect of teaching PE?
Emily: Seeing how sport and physical activity boost an individual’s self-confidence. Witnessing pupils grow and develop through movement is incredibly rewarding.
Emily’s journey from PE teacher to marathon runner is a testament to determination, resilience, and the power of sport. We wish her continued success in both her teaching career and her passion for running!