Lifeways’ Craig goes the distance in memory of his best friend

A determined athlete, supported by Lifeways, has started running marathons in memory of his late best friend. 

Craig, who lives at the Pioneer Court supported living service in Stoke-on-Trent, recently celebrated finishing seventh in the local Potters ‘arf Marathon out of more than 1,600 competitors, dedicating the achievement to his best friend, Alan, who recently passed away. 

Craig rediscovered his passion for running - a sport he loved at school - in 2014. With encouragement from Alan and ongoing support from the Lifeways team, he has gone from strength to strength, completing more than 30 marathons since. 

"I completed my first Potters ‘arf in a good time of two hours 36 minutes and enjoyed it so I wanted to try it again the year after,” he said. 

“My first full marathon was The Potters Marathon, where I ran all around the city with an old mate of mine. Since then, I've kept my promise to Alan, and I've done 33 more marathons.” 

Lifeways colleagues at Pioneer Court have played a key role in helping Craig pursue his passion which he has since done in memory of his late best friend. From arranging regular training sessions with his key worker to ensuring he has the right running gear and balanced nutrition, the team has been with him every step of the way. 

Lynne Rowley, Service Manager at Pioneer Court, said: “The team is incredibly proud of Craig. We’ve supported him with training, made sure he has the best footwear and running kit, and provided advice around diet and nutrition. 

“Craig thought so highly of his late best friend and still talks about him a lot. It’s truly inspiring how he’s kept Alan’s memory close through his running.” 

The tenacious sprinter continues to train twice a week with his running club and shows no sign of slowing down. During his most recent race, he achieved his fastest time yet, completing it in one hour and 19 minutes. His next big goal is to take on the London Marathon. 

Carley Seabridge, Team Leader at Pioneer Court also commented: “He's done amazing, and he's really dedicated to his training, he goes running at least twice weekly whatever the weather. We're all so proud of him."