“RUNNING WAS A WIN-WIN: WEIGHT LOSS, ENERGY AND ENDORPHINS”

We first met Vicki Agnew two years ago, when she'd lost three stone through running. Now, it's given her a new career

PHOTO: IAIN MACINTOSH

Just a couple of weeks from now, we’ll be contacting the winners of our Big Marathon Challenge competition to tell them they’ve made the team, and will be training for their spring marathons with the support of Women’s Running. Talking about this brings back happy memories for Vicki Agnew, 39, from East Kilbride. About this time two years ago, she received the email to be told she was part of our Project 26.2 team. “I loved it,” she says of the experience. “I still talk to Vicky (Burr) and Laura (Cook) from the team, and I still talk to our coach Anne-Marie on Facebook.”

Back then, Vicki’s story struck a chord with the Women’s Running team – and many of our readers. When she joined Project 26.2, she’d lost 42lb after gaining weight during pregnancy and after the birth of her son, Rory, in 2013.

Those of you unfamiliar with Vicki’s story might still recognise it – especially if you’ve struggled with your weight after having a baby. “I didn’t realise I was putting on weight until I saw a picture of myself on holiday in Portugal when Rory was five months old,” she says. “I thought, ‘That’s ridiculous.’ I wasn’t massive, but when I look at the picture of me in the pool, the first thing I look at is the size of my legs and hips, but also that I’m all covered up – that was the first time I’d gone in the pool covered up.”