20–21 Jan 2024 225 days to go! #RunShow

Trina Dawkins

I am currently a Curriculum manager in Post-16 education in a Special Education Needs department. When I am not working, then you can find me pounding the streets of London or on a local running track in East London.
I have always had an interest in sports from my early school days. I participated in Weightlifting and represented my borough at the London Youth Games. I was also a long-distance athlete in my school years. Over the last few years, I have returned to my love of running and this year (2019) completed my first two marathons. I have already started training for my next marathon which is in Manchester. Marathon training does not get easier, we just get better at doing it and also learning from each and every race. Reflection is very important.
I absolutely love the running community and how it brings people together. Whether you are having a good day or a bad day, having a run with a group of friends is one of the best feelings in the world. There’s always been a huge social aspect to running for me. I also love park runs – to me, why they are so successful is because they are a community. People want to meet up with their friends at parkrun, that’s what gets them out of bed when it’s raining or freezing cold. And it is the same with the running groups I run regularly with – we are a family. I love encouraging anyone and everyone to run and also helping those who find running difficult; whether it be mentally or physically.