Why I am running for Versus Arthritis.
My name is Imogen, I am 16 years old and I am now in remission from Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) after 14 years of living with the condition. I was diagnosed at the age of 2 and this impacted the joints in my knees and ankles which meant I had difficulty walking and playing. Throughout years of treatment, hospital appointments and operations, I have now recovered and have found so much joy in sport and running.Arthritis isn’t just for old people. It affects young people too. I am running to represent all the children and young adults who are experiencing or have experienced JIA and arthritis.
I want to show them that anything is possible, even when it seems like it isn’t.
My Updates
1 Week To Go!
Sunday 6th Sep IT’S 1 WEEK TO GO!!!!!!!I am so excited and nervous at the same time, but I am ready to run!
After all the support from my friends, family and the Arthritis UK Fundraising team, I feel prepared and ready to go and smash this half marathon.
From when I signed up only a couple of days after the 2025 Great North Run to now, it feels kind of surreal that the day is nearly upon me. You spend your time thinking ‘Yay, I’ve done the first step - I’ve signed up!’, then the realisation kicks in ‘Okay, I need to really make sure that I’m training because I am going to run a HALF MARATHON!’ 😂
It’s an amazing feeling to be able to run this half marathon, now Arthritis free, and to prove that what happens to you in the past does not define your future!
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Longest Run!
Thursday 13th Aug
Over July and August I have completed: a 10k, 15k, 8k, another 10k and my longest run to date is 18k!
Today, I completed my longest run EVER of 18km. And wow it was hard. But with the help of my dad who ran halfway ( and got the bus back and waved 😂) and my sister who was on her bike singing songs and chatting all the way, it made the experience fun -especially when finished- but very memorable.
This year feels like it has gone by in a flash and Great North Run 2026 is nearly here, but I am excited and ready to go with my Fruit Pastilles in my pocket and my family and friends helping me for most steps of the way!
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North Tyneside 10K 2026 🏃🏻♀️
Sunday 19th Apr On Sunday 5th April, I ran the NT 10k for the second time, and it was just as much fun as 2025!It was a beautiful sunny day, however the wind was… brutal.
I really wanted to try and beat my time from last year (which was in September 2025), and I tried to harness the wind as best as possible 😂. In November, I also did another 10k but as that was a flat course, I didn’t hold out much hope for achieving a best time for a 10k.
I was trying really hard, to try and keep the balance of really enjoying it and taking in everything, but I did also want to try and get a good time.
It really helped having supporters, and lots of smiley faces because it spurred me on.
When I reached the end, I really pushed to try and get under 50 minutes!
My official race time was 50.17 (so close!) but I ran 10.12km.
On my Garmin, my 10km time was 49.49.
Honestly, I was so proud of myself and it was just such a lovely run - I would recommend to everyone as it is an amazing atmosphere!
And then to finish it off, a hail storm began as I was just walking home - I think it was brain freeze for everyone 😂
English Schools National Cross Country Championships 14th March 2026
Wednesday 18th Mar On Friday 13th March, I travelled down on a coach to Liverpool, to run at Sefton Park on Saturday.I had qualified to represent Northumberland in the English Schools National Cross Country Championships.
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On Saturday we arrived at Sefton Park around 9.30, and the place was heaving with people. There were gazebos, tents and tape everywhere and I could see the course across the whole park.
The length of my race, as a senior girl, was 4.4k (they forgot to mention the 0.07km extra!) which is fairly similar to a Parkrun. I was so nervous as it was the biggest sporting event that I had ever been to and I was a mixture of nearly crying, laughing or throwing up 😂.
Everyone around me pretty much had cross country spikes on, but I was wearing trail shoes. Trail shoes provide the most support for my ankles as they have a wider base and are a more supportive shoe. I was advised not to wear spikes because of my medical history of arthritis in my knees and ankles.
Standing at the start line, I actually began to feel calm and then the gun went off! The course was amazing and the sun was shining, not your typical idea of a cross country! It wasn’t as muddy as I had been expecting and I tried my best, so much so that I got my fastest mile of 7.07! I ran my 4.47km in 20.53 and I was so proud.
My younger self would never have imagined that I would be able to do this. But I could.
School Cross Country
Sunday 1st Feb This year, I have taken part in school cross country. This is my first time EVER! Its pretty scary. I never took part when I was younger because I wasn't allowed to because of my JIA. However, now that I have been in remission, I decided to give it a go.And I am so glad that I did.
In a weeks time, I am going to run for Northumberland.
I honestly still can't quite believe it and I am so proud!
My younger me would be so happy 😊
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Heaton Harrier's 10K 11.11.2025
Sunday 1st Feb I ran the Heaton Harriers' Memorial 10K!!!It was on the Town Moor and it was a beautiful day. My sister and I ran it together and we were hoping that I would pace her to a PB! And we did... but it went so well that I even smashed my 10K PB at the North Tyneside 10K a couple of months earlier.
I got 50:50!
My muscles were aching but I thought that I needed to keep going faster because I needed to pace my sister. 😄
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North Tyneside 10k!!!
Sunday 28th Sep Last Sunday I ran the North Tyneside 10k!This was quite different to my normal runs and the Parkrun. It was my first ever chip timed run and it was amazing. The atmosphere was fantastic and so many came out to support.
The day before it was pouring with rain but I thought I am just going to have to run it anyway, so in a way it was training for the Great North Run 😂
My family and I all took part and it was so fun! And as an extra bonus I got my best 10k time EVER! I got 52:28 and I hope that next year I can make it under 50.
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Thank you to my Sponsors
£250
Michael Parker
£127.20
J. Cake
Go Imo!!
£106
Clare
So proud of you Imo xx
£55.88
Keith Lockhart
Good luck Keith and Nina Lockhart
£30
Gma
Good luck and keep running
£21.10
Eloise
You are so awesome and I am so so proud of you 💓 you will smash it xxxx
£20
Nicola And Stuart
Good luck!
£20
Harry
Good luck, go smash it!!!
£10
Anonymous
Good luck Imogen!! You are so amazing, you will smash GNR! (just remember Sedbergh) 😂
£5
Hi Imo, you've overcome so much since being diagnosed and now you are in remission. I think you are quite remarkable and a hero of mine. Gdad x