‘VICTORY LAP’: Runner from Chorleywood completes tenth marathon following major diagnosis

A Chorleywood resident is celebrating completing her tenth marathon, after receiving a life-changing diagnosis.

Nicky Edwards has run Chiltern Physiotherapy in Chorleywood for the last 17 years. This year’s London Marathon on Sunday, April 27 was her tenth marathon, and sixth consecutive London Marathon running for Children with Cancer UK.

It marked a momentous occasion for the runner, as she was recently diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

Talking to CHORLEYWOODnews, Nicky said: “Last summer I ran an ultra-marathon, but within a couple of weeks I went from running a marathon to not being able to walk. Getting that [MS] diagnosis was devastating.”

But this didn’t stop her, and she was soon back to training. She explained that she is working towards completing the six World Marathon Majors. Having already ran the London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York Marathon, she only has Boston and Tokyo left.

Nicky ran this year’s marathon in an impressive three hours and 56 minutes, beating her PB by 29 minutes.

She said: “It was really emotional! I hit a wall at 20 miles, but I just kept thinking ‘I’m not going to let this beat me!’”

Child Cancer UK is an important charity for Nicky, and her fundraising efforts are in memory of her daughter’s friend who passed way from Leukaemia at just seven years old.

She continued: “I just kept thinking about the horrific treatments these kids are going through, and what I’m doing is nothing in comparison. All I have to do to help them is pick up my feet and run.”

When asked about her advice for people wanting to attempt a marathon, she said: “The London Marathon is so inclusive as you don’t have to finish in a certain time when the roads reopen.

“The training is the hard but the marathon itself is the victory lap for all the hard work you have done. Whether you cross the line first or last, everyone gets the same medal, and you should be proud of what you can achieve!”

Head to www.instagram.com/nickyedwardsphysio to find out more about Nicky, and www.shorturl.at/oIw7a to donate.