Natalie Holborow, from Gorseinon, hopes to become a World Record breaker for the second time at this year’s JCP Swansea Half Marathon.
Natalie, 28, is joining us to once again try and break the record for the number of people with Type 1 diabetes to complete a half marathon together on Sunday 23 June.
She was one of the 69 runners who set the record at last year’s race.
Staying positive
Natalie, a writer, was diagnosed when she was just eight years old.
Natalie said, “I’d been feeling unwell for a while, then one day my dad found me drinking from the bathroom taps in the middle of the night. I was desperately thirsty all the time, a common symptom of Type 1 diabetes.
“I try to be as positive as I can about life with Type 1 but it’s really hard. It can be overwhelming sometimes. I’m always thinking about carbohydrate counts, blood sugar readings and insulin units. Sometimes it’s hard to separate the person from the numbers.
“Running is so important to me”
Natalie discovered running aged 16 and found it had an enormous impact on her attitude to her condition, as well as her blood sugar levels. Now, she runs nearly every day.
Natalie continued, “Running is so important to me. I hated it at first, but the more I did and the further I got, the stronger I felt. I also noticed my blood sugars were better if I ran before dinner.
“Training for a race is hard enough without Type 1 diabetes thrown into the mix. But I want to show people that it’s possible.
There is so much talk about what you can’t do with Type 1 and so many horror stories in the headlines. It’s time to change that and start celebrating what we are capable of.
Why a world record?
The idea to set a world record came from Diabetes UK Cymru volunteer Paul Coker, from Ferndale in South Wales. In 2017, Paul celebrated his 40th anniversary of living with Type 1 diabetes by completing 40 half marathons, finishing at the race in Swansea.
Paul is passionate about encouraging others with Type 1 diabetes to enjoy exercise, and that with the right attitude and support, anything is possible.
Join our Type 1 team
If you’re inspired by Natalie’s story, why not join our Type 1 team at this year’s race?
Whether you walk, jog or run, we’ll be with you every step of the way!
Places are still available and open to everyone. Find all the information here.
