My name is Dr Ros Drake, a British chiropractor living and working in Dublin, Ireland, who specialises in prenatal care. Over the next two years, I am running the Super Half’s on behalf of The Pelvic Partnership. And why am I running this for them? That’s a really good question! The best answer is because everything aligned, and I felt compelled to do so!
I am relatively late to running, only taking it up at age 34 in 2011 as part of my Kilimanjaro training. I was then coached by my now husband to run my first 5k race, before pregnancies and babies meant that running became difficult and sporadic due to injuries I sustained giving birth to my first daughter in 2013. I ran a handful of 5k races before lockdown in 2020 gave me the time and space to train properly for my first 10k race. And I loved it!
I trained again in 2023 and 2024 for official 10k races and, again, really enjoyed them despite the training being tough at times. Even with a marathon running husband, I never foresaw myself running any further than 10km. In November 2024 I eventually tried out a local running group I had been snooping on for months on social media, plucking up the courage to go and run with them. And that first 5km run I struggled! But I started going every week and gradually I could feel my fitness coming back and I was starting to enjoy running.
A friend encouraged me to then train for my first half marathon in Ireland. I did not know if I could manage it and there were definite days that I questioned my physical and mental ability to be taking up longer distance running at age 47. But I stuck to the training and crossed the finish line in April 2025 in a decent time of 2 hours 13 minutes. I was hooked on half marathons. It was then that I decided to run the SuperHalfs but not just for myself, I wanted to raise funds and awareness for a charity too.
I treat pelvic girdle pain numerous times a week and have been a prenatal specialist chiropractor for many years. However, it wasn’t until later in 2024 when I listened to a podcast by a UK based obstetrician that I learned about The Pelvic Partnership. I was instantly drawn to wanting to help them. The support they provide is amazing and they enable me to direct patients to their free resources.
The SuperHalfs is a big enough of a challenge for me that it will keep me focused and driven but hopefully a challenge that I know that I can complete and not let anyone down.
There is no longer a time restriction for obtaining the “Super Medal”. However, I have set myself the extra challenge of not only completing the 6 half marathons but aiming to complete them in 24 months. I aim to celebrate completing the final half marathon in Valencia 2 months after my 50th birthday with my super medal.
While I am wanting to raise much needed funds for The Pelvic Partnership, I am also learning so much about my mental and physical capabilities. As a woman going through perimenopause, it’s a crucial time for me make myself as fit and healthy as I can. I am also super aware of the privileged position I’m in of having the physical and mental ability to run when there are so many women with pelvic girdle pain or who are going through perimenopause who can’t run.
I am also a mum to two young daughters who have predominately watched their dad training, taking part in races and getting the accolades and medals at the end. I think it’s important to balance that, and for them to see that I can also do it. Being able to bring them with me on training runs and to races, and for them to see lots of other females of all ages also running, I’m hoping is a positive encouragement and motivation.
The Pelvic Partnership have been an absolute joy to work with, and I hope I can do them proud and raise lots of necessary funds for them over the next couple of years.
Donate to Ros Drake’s fundraiser through Localgiving here, or scan the QR code.
If you would like to take on your own challenge to fundraise for the Pelvic Partnership, you can Get Involved here.
Unfortunately we are in a position where, without an increase in donations, we will only be able to continue to operate for another 4 months.
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