“Why not me?” Julie’s Royal Parks Half Marathon story
Posted: 4th March 2026When Julie signed up to run the Royal Parks Half Marathon for Arts for Dementia, she had never done anything like it before. “I think I was at a point in my life where I needed to challenge myself,” she says. “I’d always admired people who did things like this and I thought… why not me? Maybe I can do it too.”
Julie, who works at Aspect Capital, had originally turned down the place. But something made her reconsider. “I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it. I’d never done a challenge like this before. It was really about seeing whether I had it in me.”
Training: one kilometre at a time
Julie started training in April for the October race. She followed her plan diligently, not missing a single session, even when it meant early mornings and committing to runs she didn’t enjoy. “The intervals? I hated them. Absolutely hated them,” she laughs. “Every time I’d say, ‘I don’t want to do it.’ But then I’d come back and think, ‘I did it.’ And you feel proud.”
What surprised her most was how quickly progress came. “I’d never run more than eight kilometres before. Then suddenly 10K felt easy. I joined my sister for a last-minute 10K in September and just chatted the whole way round. If you’d told me earlier that year that I’d find 10K easy, I wouldn’t have believed you.”
The long Friday morning runs became something she began to treasure as time to herself, listening to podcasts, sometimes calling her mum mid-run.
“I was surprised that I actually enjoyed the long runs. They were a moment with myself.”
The power of running together
A key part of Julie’s journey was sharing it with a close friend who was also running the race for Arts for Dementia. “She’d done several half marathons before. Having her example and her reassurance that I could do it was really empowering. I’m not sure I would have done it without her.” Although they didn’t train side by side for every session, they shared progress, compared notes and built excitement together as race day approached. “As September came, we got our race numbers and T-shirts and I thought, ‘Oh my God, this is really happening.’ It was so nice to share that with someone.” On race day, they ran almost entirely together.
“She waited for me at the end so we could cross the finish line together. That was true friendship.”
A community effort
Julie’s employer, Aspect Capital, was hugely supportive of her fundraising efforts. The firm actively encourages employees to take on charitable challenges, and Julie’s colleagues rallied behind her. “It’s heartwarming to see how much people are willing to give and how many have their own stories about dementia. It’s a cause that’s really close to people’s hearts.”
Like many UK races, the Royal Parks Half Marathon has a powerful charity atmosphere which deeply moved Julie. “The support is extraordinary. There isn’t a metre of the course without people cheering, high-fiving, shouting your name. Strangers calling, ‘Come on, Julie!’ It makes such a difference.”
Seeing her husband and daughters in the crowd was a moment she will never forget. “They’ve said, in their teenage way, that they were proud of me. That made me the proudest mum.”
Crossing the finish line
When Julie crossed the finish line, she felt something she hadn’t experienced before. “It’s such a huge sense of achievement. Not just for the day, but for the six months of training beforehand. I was extremely proud of myself in a way I didn’t know I could be.” The legs may not have worked properly for a few days afterwards, she admits “but you can’t stop smiling.”
“Just give yourself a chance”
So what would Julie say to someone considering running for Arts for Dementia but feeling unsure?
“There’s no downside to trying. You don’t know what you can achieve. I had no idea I could do this, that I had that commitment and that push in me.
“Yes, it’s hard. Yes, it’s 21 kilometres. But the sense of achievement at the end makes it worth it.“
Join Us Next Year!
Are you ready to lace up your shoes and make a difference? Whether you’re a seasoned runner or looking for a new challenge, the Royal Parks Half Marathon is the perfect opportunity to support an incredible cause.
Secure your place for the 2026 race and be part of the Arts for Dementia team!
Together, we can bring hope, joy, and creativity to those effected by dementia.
If you’d like to run for us this year you can register HERE or contact us at sarah@artsfordementia,org
