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Edinburgh Live
18-05-2025
- Health
- Edinburgh Live
West Lothian woman's decision to listen to her body could have been what saved her life
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A West Lothian woman's decision to trust her gut and get her breasts checked could have been what saved her life. Jill MacGregor, 59, was diagnosed with breast cancer on her 48th birthday back in 2013 after she went to the GP to get a twinge in her breast bone area checked out. She was sent for a mammogram and what she thought to be a pulled muscle turned out to be a tear in her chest wall muscle - but while specialists were looking for the cause of her pain, they also found an abnormality. "There was no lump, I had been exercising and I just had a little pain," she said. "I just thought 'I wonder if I pulled a muscle' and if I'm honest, that probably went on for a few months of really not being too concerned. I think you justify it so I was almost like 'oh it's cycle related' but then I got to a stage where I thought 'you're thinking about this more, so just go and get it checked' so I did. "My GP was absolutely fantastic, again, she was not in the least bit concerned but because I was at that age, I was 48, so still two years before I would be in the routine screening, she said to me, 'Do you know what, just as routine, I'll send you for a mammogram. "She said, 'I'm not sending you because I think its anything, it just puts your mind at rest.' I had no worries at all about it and when I went back the consultant said to me, 'I think its been a wee tear in your chest wall muscle, but we just want to send you back along for another mammogram because there's just a wee area, completely unrelated to that that we want to check.'" Jill went back for another mammogram and was told, on November 28, 2013: "You have breast cancer." From there, her life was turned upside down and the Edinburgh fitness coach was booked in for a full mastectomy and a course of chemotherapy and radiation. Thankfully, her treatment worked and she has been cancer free for over 10 years now, and urges others to listen to their bodies and advocate for themselves. She said: "Don't ignore any symptoms, no matter how small it seems just go to your GP and get an appointment. If you're not happy with the outcome, ask again, go and see somebody else." Jill has always been actively involved with Cancer Research and would lead the warmups for the Race for Life in Edinburgh and South Queensferry, even before she was diagnosed, but after going through cancer herself, she has only become more involved. The latest fundraiser she is involved in is to raise money for is a cream tea in aid of Cancer Research taking place in Edinburgh on Saturday, June 7. "Being able to run events which fundraise is better than just asking people to sponsor you," She continued. "Last year, ran the Paris Marathon to celebrate 10 years cancer free. "We did lots of fundraising for that, we did quiz nights, afternoon teas, we did the lot and we raised over £6,000 that time so when Elaine said that they were doing the cream tea I just said 'count me in!' "Through my classes I've been touched with so many of my own members that come to my classes going through the same journey and I'll say, for me 'that's 12 years ago' and sometimes it feels like yesterday and other times you think 'I've left it well and truly behind me' but I think for me, it's really important to be able to give back. I think that's why I'm still so heavily involved with cancer research." Now she is urging others to come along and support Cancer Research at what is sure to be a fun and social afternoon tea. She added: "We can all do our own little bit, and I know times are hard, I get that but it's just a nice social afternoon. All we're saying to people is, come along bring a few friends sit down have scones, cake, tea, a wee glass of fizz if you want - a nice afternoon for £6." The afternoon tea will take place on Saturday, June 7, from 2.30-4pm at the Holy Cross Church on Davidsons Mains. More information on the event and tickets can be purchased here.
Malay Mail
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Malay Mail
Over one million people sign up for 2026 London Marathon
LONDON, May 3 — Over 1.1 million people have signed up for next year's London Marathon, after a record breaking edition of the race took place last weekend, organisers said today. The number of applications for the 2026 race's ballot shattered last year's world record of 840,300 entries for the 2025 London Marathon. 'This is an absolutely staggering total which reaffirms London as by far the most popular marathon on the planet,' said Hugh Brasher, CEO of organisers London Marathon Events. Applications for the 2026 race are nearly double the total for the 2024 London Marathon, organisers said after the ballot closed on Friday. Last Sunday's 45th renewal also snatched the Guinness World Records title for largest number of finishers from the 2024 New York Marathon. Over 56,500 athletes crossed the finish line in blazing sunshine in the British capital, from the elite field through to those in fancy dress. New York had some 55,600 finishers. Last month's Paris Marathon had 56,950 starters but fewer finishers. The women's elite race also provided the spectators with a memory to treasure, Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa setting a new women's only world record of 2hr 15min 50sec. According to organisers, the 2025 race raised over £75 million (RM425.3 million) for charities, with participants fundraising for various causes. – AFP
The Hindu
03-05-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
More than one million people sign up for 2026 London Marathon
Over 1.1 million people have signed up for next year's London Marathon, after a record breaking edition of the race took place last weekend, organisers said on Saturday. The number of applications for the 2026 race's ballot shattered last year's world record of 840,300 entries for the 2025 London Marathon. 'This is an absolutely staggering total which reaffirms London as by far the most popular marathon on the planet,' said Hugh Brasher, CEO of organisers London Marathon Events. Applications for the 2026 race are nearly double the total for the 2024 London Marathon, organisers said after the ballot closed on Friday. Last Sunday's 45th renewal also snatched the Guinness World Records title for largest number of finishers from the 2024 New York Marathon. Over 56,500 athletes crossed the finish line in blazing sunshine in the British capital, from the elite field through to those in fancy dress. New York had some 55,600 finishers. Last month's Paris Marathon had 56,950 starters but fewer finishers. The women's elite race also provided the spectators with a memory to treasure, Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa setting a new women's only world record of 2hr 15min 50sec. According to organisers, the 2025 race raised over £75 million ($99.5 million) for charities, with participants fundraising for various causes.
Euronews
28-04-2025
- Health
- Euronews
What happens to your body when you run a marathon? 7 things you need to know
ADVERTISEMENT Marathon season across Europe is well and truly upon us. On Sunday, key players on the continent and beyond will be closing down their cities so hundreds of thousands of runners can take months' worth of training to the streets; whether they're looking for a personal best, a new medal to hang in their hallway or just to be able to say they were there. While events like the Paris Marathon and Vienna Marathon have already taken place, cities including London and Manchester will be shutting down their main roads this weekend so that runners - from the elite to the everyday jogger - can chase that coveted 42.2 km. Related Should you eat before, during, or after exercising? Experts weigh in Safe to say, it's a long old slog running a marathon whatever your ability level. But what exactly does the physical challenge do to your mind, body, and - if it doesn't feel a stretch too far to add - soul? 1. You genuinely will get shorter Several studies suggest you can lose up to half an inch throughout the course of a marathon (don't panic though, gentlemen, this is purely spinal cord-related). It's believed this is due to a number of factors, including muscle tension and losing fluid between your spinal disks. And on that note… 2. Don't underestimate the dehydration If you hop on the scales in the immediate aftermath of a marathon, the likelihood is you'll be lighter after having sweat out up to 5 kg of water in the hours before. Organised marathons have regular pit stops to top up on the H2O, and you should absolutely make the most of them. Staying hydrated throughout will not only minimise the risk of feeling nauseous and faint during the run, but can also aid muscle recovery in the longer term. Related Women can get the same health benefits from exercise as men in half the time - study 3. You'll burn a lot of calories Running one marathon could burn up to 3,500 calories, depending on your body stats, age and fitness level. That's why carb-loading the night before has become a go-to for runners ready to tackle long distances. While you're running, your body uses two main energy sources to keep you powering on: fats and carbohydrates. The latter are fast-acting sources of energy that don't take too long for your body to break down, which is also why running staples like energy gels are a popular option for a mid-race boost, to replenish your depleted stores while you run. 4. But don't be surprised if you don't feel like eating afterwards Remember kilometre 25 when the only thing getting you through the next 17 was the thought of all the food you'd be able to eat once it was over? Don't be shocked if the last thing you want to do for the next few hours is eat. The science behind this is the effect that exercise - specifically, intensive exercise - can have on our body. ADVERTISEMENT There's a huge blood flow increase to the heart and legs - and while our bodies are concentrating on that, it shuts down less essential functions, for example suppressing hormones including ghrelin - aka the 'hunger hormone'. Related Thinking of fasting? Here's everything you need to know about keeping fit while off food 5. And your sleep might also go out the window You've likely just completed one of the most physically draining experiences of your life - so why can't you sleep? There are a couple of reasons for this. One: cast your mind back to the adrenaline rush when you crossed that finish line. You're essentially riding out a major high, with an elevated heart rate, endorphin spike, and major energy rush to combat. Secondly, you've just put your body under an immense amount of stress. Cue first responder, our fight-or-flight hormone cortisol, which is most likely also off the charts in the immediate aftermath of a run. ADVERTISEMENT Of course, everyone's bodies respond differently to the physical and mental challenge of marathon running - but if you are struggling to sleep, these factors might help explain why. 6. Bleeding nipples and losing a few toenails We can probably all anticipate struggling to walk up and down stairs during the days following a marathon, but what about bleeding nipples, chafing in places you never thought could chafe, and the potential loss of toenails? Running is, after all, nothing if not a sexy sport. Competitors react on The Mall after finishing the 2022 London Marathon in central London on October 2, 2022 AFP 7. 'Marathon Blues' do exist You might find for the next few days or so - especially if your sleep has left the building - you feel in quite a low mood. This is a completely normal response as your body works to regulate itself to a pre-marathon state. ADVERTISEMENT The science? It's essentially an anti-climax. If the past few months of your life have revolved around weekly training sessions and fuelling your body to carry you through long-distance running, you can imagine a sudden stop might result in a sense of displacement and lack of purpose. You're also essentially on a comedown from a huge sense of accomplishment. Once the buzz is over, it's not surprising to find yourself on a bit of a low.
The Herald Scotland
25-04-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Running can help bridge Westminster divide, say MPs ahead of London Marathon
They include experienced runners such as Labour's Josh Fenton-Glyn, a fell runner, and Conservative Harriet Cross, who won a 50 kilometre ultra-marathon in 2023 and is tipped by Tory colleague Andrew Bowie as among the fastest of the party's MPs. Others are taking part for the first time such as shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick, who sparked rumours of a leadership challenge after he accidentally added 600 people to a WhatsApp group while trying to fundraise for the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association. Harriet Cross, an ultra-marathon winner, has been tipped by her Tory colleague Andrew Bowie as one of the fastest MPs in the Conservative Party (Michal Wachucik/PA) Meanwhile, Lib Dem Tom Gordon will be running his second marathon this month, having completed the Paris Marathon on April 13. Another of those who will be lining up on Blackheath on Sunday is John Slinger, newly-elected Labour MP for Rugby and chair of the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on running. Speaking to the PA news agency, he said he had found running to be one of the things that brought people together in Westminster, despite their differences. He said: 'I'm a new MP, I was elected in July, and what I found was there's a huge amount of cross-party working in all-party groups and select committees and just in and around the House. 'Don't believe everything you see in the chamber. Yes, there's a lot of yah-boo Punch and Judy, there's also a lot of serious debate there and outside of the chamber people are, to a person, very friendly and civil with one another. 'So, it's yet another way that we can enhance cross-party working because, at the end of the day, we are all colleagues at one level seeking to do the best for the country.' While Mr Slinger's group intends to encourage more MPs to take up running, many require no additional incentive, finding it helps them unwind from the stresses of Parliament. Mr Bowie, the shadow Scotland secretary and acting shadow energy secretary who started running properly in the Royal Navy, said it 'provided an opportunity to get away from the madhouse' and 'think things through, contemplate and clear the head'. Parliament marks the final stage of the London Marathon course (Yui Mok/PA) Labour's Cat Smith said she had taken up running during lockdown, 'more for my wellbeing than my physical fitness', completing Couch to 5k before taking on the London Marathon in 2021 and 2023. She said: 'I've done it twice before, and it's a bit addictive, so I want a third one.' Meanwhile, Mr Fenton-Glynn, the fell runner, saw things as a more binary choice, telling PA: 'An MP told me you need to be careful, because there's two kinds of MPs – running MPs and drinking MPs. 'You don't want to be the latter.' Six of the MPs taking part in this year's race have run the London Marathon before while in office, although none are close to matching the record held jointly by Alun Cairns and Edward Timpson of 12 appearances in the race. The most frequent participant this year is Labour's Alex Norris, who is taking on his fourth marathon as an MP – and 10th in total – despite claiming to have done 'precisely three training runs'. Another returning runner is Lib Dem environment spokesman Tim Farron, who did the marathon in 2021 and 2022 before a knee injury while serving coffee at his local church a year later put him out of action. He said: 'I thought for a while that might be it, I might no longer be a runner. 'But, slowly but surely, I have mended, I think, and I guess you get to 54, nearly 55, you think, if I stop, bad things will happen. 'But I enjoy it, I enjoyed the buzz of doing it last time round. I also enjoyed the challenge of trying to be ready for it, the discipline of it.' He would not say whether his party leader, Sir Ed Davey, should make running a marathon his next election stunt, but said he too had 'paid a lot of attention to his physical wellbeing and is, like me, a man in his 50s who is, I think, fitter now than we were 10 years ago'. Whether any of this year's MP runners will break time records for the marathon remains to be seen. The fastest ever time by an MP remains 2:32:57, set by Matthew Parris in 1985; and the fastest time by a female MP stands at 3:57:00, set by Liberal Democrat Jo Swinson in 2011. But, in the same way MPs generally avoid commenting on expected election results, most refused to be drawn on how they thought they would do, focusing instead on completing the 26.2 mile course and raising money for charities. Several have chosen to raise money for local charities: Mr Slinger has opted for Back and Forth Men's Mental Health; Mr Fenton-Glynn for the Overgate Hospice; Mr Farron for mental health charity Growing Well; and Ms Smith for the Bay Hospitals Charity, all connected to their constituencies. Others, however, have opted for national charities. Mr Bowie said he chose to raise money for the MS Society because a member of his team has the condition and it 'doesn't get as much attention as some of the other headline-grabbing charities'. And although not a parliamentarian himself, David Prescott – son of the former deputy prime minister John Prescott – will be running for Alzheimer's Research UK in memory of his father, who died last November. The parliamentarians taking part in Sunday's London Marathon are: – Alex Norris (Labour, Nottingham North and Kimberley) – Andrew Bowie (Conservative, West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) – Blake Stephenson (Conservative, Mid Bedfordshire) – Cat Smith (Labour, Lancaster and Wyre) – Chris Curtis (Labour, Milton Keynes North) – Chris Evans (Labour, Caerphilly) – David Simmonds (Conservative, Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner) – Harriet Cross (Conservative, Gordon and Buchan) – John Slinger (Labour, Rugby) – Josh Fenton-Glynn (Labour, Calder Valley) – Lloyd Hatton (Labour, South Dorset) – Michael Shanks (Labour, Rutherglen) – Patrick Hurley (Labour, Southport) – Robert Jenrick (Conservative, Newark) – Tim Farron (Lib Dem, Westmorland and Lonsdale) – Tom Gordon (Lib Dem, Harrogate and Knaresborough) – Lord James Bethell (Conservative)
