A resilient Salford mum has raised more than £12,300 for a local hospice by running a 100-mile ultramarathon, despite suffering a shocking injury in the first 100 meters.
Belinda Neild, a big-hearted art teacher at Fred Longworth High School, had previously raised thousands for charity by running the length of Hadrian’s Wall and twice broke the world record for the fastest person to run a marathon dressed as a stationary item – first as a crayon, then as a super-pacey pencil.
She ditched her brightly coloured costumes to take on her most gruelling endurance challenge yet, completing the rat race between Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland and Edinburgh Castle.
But the challenge was made unexpectedly harder when she suffered a major injury inside the opening 100 meters of the race.
Belinda had initially intended to run the entire length of the 100-miles, aiming to complete the challenge in under 24 hours, but due to her injury, she had to walk the majority of the route.
It took her just over 30 hours to complete, taking a short 20 power nap in a field along the Scottish coast after mile 70.
At each checkpoint, Belinda was advised to stop the challenge with the support of her amazing support crew and race officials, who were, according to Belinda, “incredible” to her, helping monitor and attend to her injury along the way.
“I have shouted about this challenge everywhere I’ve gone over the last year,” Belinda said. “I’ve raised so much money, so many people were behind me. I couldn’t quit; the word isn’t in my vocabulary.”
Belinda could pay no heed to the green Scottish hills and rugged coastline as she traversed her challenge, she was too focused on her injury, counting down mile after mile.
“Every mile threw something at me; jagged rock, steep climbs, winds that took you sideways then the sun came out. I was hauling myself up those coastal hills with my running poles, fighting for balance on terrain that felt carved to test you. It wasn’t a gentle seaside run; it was a raw, rugged battle with the land itself.”
“The injury got worse and worse as I carried on. At first, walking was alright, but it got progressively worse in the later miles.
“I lost my dad at Christmas time and as heartbreaking as it is, I kept telling myself that he would get me through this. He knew before he died that I was doing this run, I had to finish it for him,” she said.
Belinda eventually crossed the finish line at Edinburgh Castle over a day and 6 hours after starting. She hobbled towards the finish using her running sticks as a crutch but was determined to walk the last 100 meters without them.
Her husband, Stephen, also took part in the Ultramarathon and crossed the finish line with a smile etched across his face.
“I did it for my dad and I did it for my mum, and all my other family members who experienced the care of Moya Cole Hospice over a decade ago.
She had a moment’s rest, and a chance to eat some food and the checkpoints and was seen to by medics at the finish line who told her she would need to go to hospital.
“I refused to go; I was tired and needed sleep. I put ice on it and went to sleep. It was just as bad in the morning. I got up, hobbled to the train and headed straight to Salford Royal Hospital.
“Even though it is a bad injury to get, I think I would do another 100-mile marathon. I trained to run this marathon, and I’m gutted I wasn’t able to.”
Belinda is an avid runner; she has taken part in marathons, half marathons, 10ks, and the Great Manchester Run, raising thousands of pounds for Moya Cole Hospice.
She set herself a target this year to reach a cumulative £50,000 by her 50th birthday in June, she managed to reach the milestone on her actual birthday, she now has a total raised of approximately £55,000.
Due to Belinda’s injury, she is likely out of action for the coming months but has already got her sights set on running the Manchester Half Marathon in October.
You can donate to Belinda’s campaign by visiting her JustGiving page.
