Get to Know: Nic Clarke, Fundraising Events Manager
Nic Clarke is the Events Manager for Cancer Research Wales. As well as getting to support all our fantastic fundraising runners, Nic is a runner, running coach, commentator and Race Director.
Has Nic's story inspired you to run for Cancer Research Wales?
If so, have a look at our range of running events!
Our events
As the Events Manager for Cancer Research Wales, I work with multiple event organisers here in Wales, across the UK and in other parts of the world.
I have developed our partnerships with key Welsh races including the Cardiff Half Marathon, Cardiff Bay 10K, Swansea Half Marathon and more - plus we’ve supported the reintroduction of the St David’s Day Run.
Away from running I look after our partnership with The Tour of Pembrokeshire, and look after supporters taking part in skydives and zipwires as well as UK and overseas treks.
I have also worked with the fundraising team to introduce additional events including ‘My Curry Night’, ‘Reimagined Fashion’ and our flagship ‘Stripe-a-Pose’.
From humble beginnings
I first became involved with running and mass participation events when I was asked to host and commentate at a new event that was coming to Cardiff.
From ‘humble beginnings’ of some 350 runners, the event grew as did the requests from other race organisers for me to commentate at their races.
I trained up as a Race Director and delivered races across the UK as well as supporting new race organisers and students studying event management.
I was very fortunate to work on some of the UK’s largest and most well-known races. However, the odd thing is that in all of this is that I wasn’t running at the time.
I believe that I wouldn’t be able to run due to knee injuries gained when I was younger. In 2019, whilst Operations Director of a large UK 10K race, my colleagues encouraged me to take up running.
Despite protests about ‘dodgy knees’, I took up the challenge and eventually completed Couch to 5K.
I started to improve my time, writing about my running while tracking my progress.
One day, I looked at my right knee, which appeared double the size of the left one! It all seemed a self-fulfilling prophecy – I had told people I had issues with my knees all my life - and here I was again.
A very good friend and former athlete saw me one day with my heavily strapped knee and commented “You were running too fast!”
He was right. I should have continued to follow my plan and build up steadily.
I spent six months in recovery, which saw me straight into lockdown in March 2020, and the start of the global COVID pandemic.
Running through the pandemic
Like so many others in the pandemic I initially found that I had nothing but time on my hands.
I would go for a daily walk, and one day thought to jog to every other lamp post and gradually over time increased the number of lampposts that I jogged past, making sure to stick to a steady pace.
Within a few weeks I was back to 5K and took up a virtual challenge to run the length of the Welsh Coastal Path - 870 miles.
Each day I would run and record my distance. I tried to get from 5K to 10K which was a challenge but with help and support from some friends I managed it!
One of my friends ran a 10K with me and commented that I was more capable than I gave myself credit for.
With events still on hold, London Marathon launched a ‘Virtual Marathon’ to be completed in early October 2020. With some encouragement from friends and family the next thing I knew I was training for a marathon – and completed it!
Over that seven-month period, I found that I’d caught the ‘running bug’ that every runner is familiar with. It seemed odd that I’d caught it with no in-person events to train for, but gradually more and more began to open back up.
Helping hand
Running, training, and staying motivated on your own is tough. I was aware of a local group of runners, so one Sunday I went along to meet them.
That week the three of us ran together, talking as we ran, which not only helped to pass the time but also keeps your running at a steady achievable pace.
I started running with my new running buddies twice a week, and with some events starting back I entered the Ballot for the 2021 London Marathon.
Having previously worked at the London Marathon I knew it would be oversubscribed, but to my surprise I got a place. The training quickly ramped up.
I started increasing my distance and running with slightly larger groups and in late September 2021 I took part in the Cardiff Bay 10k, my first ever mass participation event as a runner.
One week later, I joined 40,000 runners on the start line of the London Marathon.
People often talk about their experience of London Marathon, to me it was the best ‘day out’ ever!
I had done the training and the ‘Virtual Marathon’ the year before gave me the confidence to know I could complete the distance. I knew I wasn’t going to win, but I had fun!
Medal collector
Since March 2020 I have made it my aim to complete at least one or two marathons each year. I have completed multiple half marathons including the Great North Run and a variety of 10K events.
I continue to train and coach other runners, as well as regularly commentating at races across the UK, volunteering at ParkRun in Cardiff and at other events.
Why run?
A few different reasons! It could be that I don’t enjoy cycling - I’m not great with heights - and it take me ages to get into a swimming pool!
Running for me is a way to help stay active. The physical side is good for overall health and fitness, not to mention the countless mental health benefits too.
When running, you need to really concentrate on what you’re doing and that helps clear your head of other stresses.
Taking up a challenge for a charity gives that extra incentive of doing something for other people, and you’re asked to take accountability when fundraising and organising.
It’s harder to back out of a challenge once you’ve told people what you’re doing and why.
I love to get to know our runners, read their stories on their fundraising page and understand their motivation.
When we meet up on race day it’s like meeting a friend who you’ve gotten to know and now you get to meet face to face. The running community is so supportive of each other.
Whether it be for those wet days or with coaching advice, or by supporting those who are raising money for great causes – even if they are not themselves.
On race day you only have to look around and see all of the multi coloured tops representing the wonderful charities that the runners are there for.
After the race it’s fantastic to hear all the stories from our runners as they share their experience and look to the future for their next challenge.
