Katy Martin: It was always dad and my dream to run together
Katy Martins and dozens of other runners took part in the London Landmarks Half Marathon, running for Movember - Katy and some of her fellow Mo Sisters were running in memory of the men they had sadly lost to suicide.
We caught up with Katy to shares with us her experience and why she ran.
I absolutely loved running the London landmarks half marathon for Movember. The team are so incredibly supportive from the moment of sign up, to crossing the finish line. It was a team like no other. As well as this, the course is truly breathtaking. As a Londoner, I’ve never been able to view the city in this way before. The roar of the city and the crowds, made the atmosphere electric!
" It was truly inspiring to be part of it. Everyone around you has a reason to run; whether it be for a cause they are passionate about, for a lost loved one or for themselves. "
I took part because I used to run with my dad. I lost him to suicide in 2008 when I was 12 years old and ever since, I’ve used running as a coping mechanism - both to deal with my grief and to feel close to him.
Before dad got sick, he was the life and soul of the party. He was always the first one on the dance floor and the last one to leave.
I remember being told when I was 10 that my dad ‘wasn’t very well’. Although he had a successful career as a chartered surveyor, he gradually found less and less enjoyment in his work and eventually fell into a deep depression.
Losing my dad inspired me to study psychology when I graduated from school. I wanted to understand what it was dad was going through and to try and help others who are suffering.
The suicide rate in men in the UK is alarmingly high – three out of four suicides are men, and it remains the biggest cause of death for men under the age of 44.
That’s why I signed up for the London Landmarks Half Marathon. It’s such an important cause to run for the men in our lives and to make sure we’re amplifying the voices of men who often go unheard.
Movember is tackling the crisis by investing in men’s mental health projects and developing digital tools such as Movember Conversations that give guidance on how to support a man in your life.
Georgie Padley and Shanice Farrell who I ran with, both lost their dads to suicide. It was helpful to meet other women who had experienced the same loss as I have. When I was younger, I didn’t know anyone who had lost someone to suicide, and it can be a really lonely place – so it was a comfort to run alongside them. There’s a sense of them knowing what you’ve gone through – like an energy between us, and an understanding of one another that’s quite special.
It was always dad and my dream to run the London Marathon together – so in 2022, I ran both the London Landmarks Half Marathon and the London Marathon for dad - and for me.
Want to get involved in a challenge event with Movember cheering you on? Check out our other events coming up.