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Hi! My name is Matthew Heath. I’m 28 years old and living in Belfast, Northern Ireland. I am a Software Engineer by profession and love the chase of new challenges and learning new things.
My running journey started in March 2023 with limited fitness and a desire to get away from my laptop every so often. I began with an 8-week Couch to 5K program, aiming to complete leg one of the Belfast Marathon Relay with colleagues. After successfully achieving that goal, I gradually increased my distances, tackling a 12-week training block for the Hillsborough Half Marathon, marking my first step towards longer distance races.
I first came across Action Mental Health while scrolling on social media. Before this, I had limited knowledge of the services available locally. The post I saw highlighted various fundraising challenges organised to support and enhance their services, and one of these was the Dublin Marathon.
I was struck when I saw the post – Action Mental Health were providing vital services and support to those struggling with mental health issues, offering a lifeline to many in the local community, and I realised that participating in Dublin Marathon was the perfect opportunity to combine my new passion for running with a meaningful cause, raising awareness and genuinely making a difference for people.
So, for the Dublin Marathon, I took on another 12-week marathon-specific training block, running 5 days a week to try and hit my ambitious target of under 4 hours with a mix of easy, tempo, and interval runs, maxing out at around 70km during the peak week.
The training itself was both challenging and rewarding, providing me with an outlet to refresh my mind across many miles. Having structured sessions mapped out on an app for 12 weeks gave me the accountability I needed to stay on track. Additionally, the support and encouragement from the Action Mental Health team were crucial to keeping me motivated even when the training got tough – they were there every step of the way!
On race day, I was incredibly nervous, as many people are before a big event. I had been constantly checking the weather for weeks leading up to the marathon and barely slept the night before! After loading up on pasta the previous evening and having two bagels for breakfast, I set off in Wave 3 at 9:25 am.
The course winds its way out from Dublin city centre towards Phoenix Park and through several quaint villages. The latter part of the route passes by UCD, into Ballsbridge, and past the Aviva Stadium.
With over 16,000 people running in Dublin, the event featured a diverse mix of characters and abilities, all cheering each other on. The support along the entire route was amazing, with numerous cheer zones providing much-needed boosts. Dublin is known as the ‘Friendly Marathon,’ and it certainly lived up to its reputation. Despite the classic Irish weather of experiencing all four seasons in one day, many people lined the streets offering nutrition and even deep heat spray!
The race ends with the ‘Purple Mile’ towards the finish line, and this was probably my favourite part. Both sides of the streets jam packed with noisy supporters in the heavy Dublin rain and knowing that all the hard work had paid off to get to the finish line of my first ever marathon was special. The post run feed and hydration were also exceptional – who knew a burger and Guinness could taste so good?!
It was (and still is!) fantastic knowing that my efforts would mean more people in Northern Ireland could access mental health services when they really need them. At just halfway through the collective efforts across the #teamAMH runners, we had already raised enough to provide 22 secondary school classes with mental health awareness sessions, potentially impacting over 600 pupils. Given the ongoing concern about access to mental health services in Northern Ireland, it is crucial to advocate for local charities that are helping to address some of the stark statistics associated with mental health issues.
Creating greater awareness around local charities making a real difference in people’s lives is something I hope to continue doing and would encourage others to do too. With such a range of services, from counselling to mental health education in workplaces, Action Mental Health really is making a significant impact here in Northern Ireland.
If I were to speak to someone who was considering taking on the challenge this year, I’d want them to know that it is an incredibly rewarding experience. It will push both your physical and mental limits, but the sense of accomplishment is unmatched. The support from the Action Mental Health team and fellow runners is fantastic and you’ll be part of a passionate group working towards a common goal of improving mental health services for all.
Enjoy the process and trust in your training. Increase speed and volume slowly over time to avoid potential injuries (I found this out the hard way!), and if it is your first marathon, don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Go out there and soak up the amazing Dublin atmosphere and all that is has to offer!