A Weaverham mum, who broke her back on holiday three years ago, stared hell in the face once again as she took on the UK’s toughest half marathon.
Zoe Dixon, 42, was among those conquering Lucifer’s Lido and the Bog of Doom in Delamere Forest on Saturday, October 17, for the Brooks HellRunner Hell Up North event.
The mum-of-two said: “It was a brilliant day, the course was tough but there were some stunning views to go with it. My worst bit was Lucifer’s Lido, it was so cold and so deep but I did it! The event is certainly aptly named but I loved it and felt so proud to be a part of it. The camaraderie and support from everyone was just amazing.
Zoe finished the muddy, wet course in four hours and 18 minutes.
She said; “It was an emotional day for my friends and family who were all reduced to tears as I finished. It was a very happy and proud moment for us all; what a way to mark the anniversary of when I broke my back! I have already booked a place for next year and I cannot wait to do it all again.”
Zoe fell from the balcony of her holiday accommodation three years ago. The mum of Sadie and Cameron has no recollection of the incident happening but vividly remembers waking up the following morning in hospital with a broken back and shoulder, three broken ribs, a punctured lung and head injuries to boot.
A keen walker, she was told she would never run again, but two years on from the accident she was going for 13-mile walks every weekend. She eventually joined a Park Run and then a local running group called Razzers Runners.
Zoe ran the HellRunner with brother Mark Lithgow, to raise money for Forever Angels; a charity set up by their sister Amy Hathaway to support orphaned, abandoned, sick and poverty stricken children in Tanzania.
To donate visit Zoe’s JustGiving page .
