Survival motivates mum to run second marathon (From This is Hampshire)

Survival motivates mum to run second marathon

10:10am Saturday 1st March 2008

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A BASINGSTOKE mum is to take part in her second London Marathon after overcoming a brain haemorrhage that could have killed her.

Liz Traill suffered the unexplained haemorrhage in March 2003, and spent several weeks in the Wessex Neurological Centre at Southampton General Hospital.

It was during this time she decided that, when she was better, she would take up a challenge, like running a marathon.

Ms Traill, 44, said: "I know how lucky I was to pull through, as the death rate for this kind of illness is really high.

"Since it happened, I've really made an effort to become more healthy."

The 44-year-old, who lives in Lancaster Road, South View, entered her first Flora London Marathon last year, after taking up an offer to compete on behalf of the British Heart Foundation through her employer, Southern Electric, in Winchester Road, Basingstoke.

She completed the 26.2-mile course in just over six hours, and is now training for this year's event, which takes place on Sunday, April 13.

"When I was asked if I would be interested in taking part again this year, I didn't really need much persuading," she said.

Ms Traill said she has set herself a personal goal of finishing an hour quicker than last year, and she is now training six days a week, following the British Heart Foundation schedule.

"It is hard to fit it in as I work full-time, but I go to Basingstoke Sports Centre after work," she explained.

Ms Traill is hoping to raise £2,000 for the charity and said her colleagues have been really supportive and gave more than £500 at a Valentine's fun day.

As well as running locally, Ms Traill, who has a 12-year-old son called Robert, is also preparing to run the Reading Half Marathon on Sunday as part of her training for the London Marathon.

She said: "Rob's very proud of me.

"When I was ill, he was only about eight years old, so it affected him a lot.

"After my illness, I started to eat more healthily and exercise more and it's rubbed off on him, so when I go on my long outdoor run on a Sunday, he accompanies me on his bike.

"He's a good pacemaker."

To sponsor Ms Traill, visit www.justgiving.com/elizabethtraill

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