As anyone who has spoken to me over the last few months will know (and maybe bored of hearing!) I am fully in the throes of training for the 2020 London Marathon and raising money for our 2018 Charity of the Year: The Felix Project.
I know 2018 you’re thinking have you been training for 2 years?!? In short no……. frustratingly, I was forced to defer my 2019 place due to injury.
As part of Arthur’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, each year all employees are given the opportunity to put forward a charity for the business to support for a year of fundraising.
The Felix Project is a charity I have previously volunteered with; their mission is to collect fresh, nutritious food that cannot be sold by the likes of Pod, Coco Di Mama, Eat, M&S and Sainsbury’s, which redistribute this surplus food to charities and schools, so they can provide healthy meals and help the most vulnerable in our society.
Seeing first-hand the amazing work The Felix Project were doing and the sheer volume of food that would otherwise be thrown in the bin really struck a chord with me and I wanted to do more to support their work.
Much to my delight they were selected as Arthur’s Charity of the Year in 2018 and the whole of Arthur committed to volunteering at the charity’s food sorting depot, but I still wanted to find a way to do more.
So, when a charity space was offered to us for the London Marathon, I jumped at the chance………and quickly regretted it!
I have dabbled in running off and on for quite some time, having taken part in a number of half marathons over the years’, but I really didn’t appreciate quite how big a commitment this was going to be and how much the training takes over your life – suddenly, Sunday mornings weren’t about lay-ins and pancake brunches, but 7am alarms calls, porridge breakfast and fresh (by fresh I mean cold!) runs.
Having said this, anyone who runs regularly will I’m sure agree with me when I say once you are out on the road focusing on nothing else but the run it is absolutely exhilarating and a great way to de‑stress and clear your mind from what is a very ‘always on’ world we now live in.
I’ve also found the benefits in work too, that run before work / lunch time run I wouldn’t find the time for I now have to, giving me time to move and also clear my mind – I find myself coming back into the office with a renewed energy, focus and positive mind set, which in recruitment you need by the bucket load!
Since committing to writing my article about the London Marathon the world has turned into a very different place and the marathon has been postponed till October – again I have been given some breathing room on my training………..after what will be over 2.5 years in the making let’s hope I post a good time!
Keep your eyes peeled as I’ll be posting updates on the training in the coming months and grovelling for help to reach my sponsorship target………here’s the link come to think of it! https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/VickiFiler
As a company we are always looking and keen to support the local community and the wider society, with other initiatives such as The Great Arthur Bake-Off, supporting The Brokerage and raising money for Drop4Drop to name a few.
So whilst our day job is on looking after your next career move or helping find your next key hire, it’s great to shout about the extra work that goes on in the background!
By Vicki Filer
To discuss this article with Vicki or gain some more running top tips please get in touch with her on vf@arthur.co.uk or 0203 5877 975
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