Meet Delaney
I’ve always felt a sense of freedom when I run. In that moment, despite anything else that’s happening in my life, I’m in control of what I’m doing and where I’m going, one step at a time. The benefits of running on physical and mental health are well-known. For me, it gives me time and space to clear my head, keeps me feeling fit, and has brought me together with many wonderful people in the running community.
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Over years of volunteering and coaching I’ve seen how running and keeping active can change lives for the better. I love seeing new runners thriving in their new lifestyles, and athletes reach that sweet spot in training when everything comes together and they can perform to their potential. I’ve also found that traditional training plans don’t work for everyone as we are all unique and life can be unpredictable. So, I’m here to help anyone who needs more flexibility and freedom in their running.​​
My Story
I’ve been a runner since my school days and ran my first marathon at the age of 19. Running became a fundamental part of my lifestyle, and I spent the next 20 years running for enjoyment and completing countless races including various international marathons.
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I learnt the art of coaching through volunteering, starting out as a helper for my running club. I enjoyed the experience and learnt as much as I could from the other coaches before starting my own coaching journey. I’m now the Head of Coaching for the club, and a mentor to other coaches and run leaders. I am licenced and insured through England Athletics as a Coach in Running Fitness.​​
In 2019, I suffered a serious back injury and was told that I’d probably never run long distances again. I sought advice from different sports therapists and after two years of recovery and rehabilitation I was finally able to run again – starting with 30 seconds at a time, patiently building up the time and distance until I was running consistently and able to complete a 10k trail race. I was back! Or so I thought…
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Two weeks after that race, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Being physically active helped me through my treatment, but there came a point where I wasn’t able to run or do anything energetic, so I had to take a break from running and then start again (again). I’ve learnt how to adapt my training around the side effects of my treatment, gained strength, and regained fitness to enjoy running again. I’m also proud to be an ambassador for my local ‘5K Your Way, Move Against Cancer’ support group, helping people affected by cancer to keep active.
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To find out more about ​​about Delaney see Running Tales on Substack or listen to Delaney's interview on the Everyday Athlete podcast network wherever you get your podcasts.