Film & TV casting assistant swaps social life for marathon training to help support families with disabled children
Monday April 1, 2019
Contact is lucky to have a
wonderful team of 18 amazing runners taking part in this year's
London Marathon. We are inspired and humbled by their tremendous
training and fundraising efforts, and will be finding out a bit
more about them in the weeks leading up to the big day.
Here Faye Timby from Blackheath in London tells us why she is
running one of the most famous road races in the world, to raise
money for Contact.
Tell us a little bit about yourself
I can't believe I'm going to run a Marathon. I'd have
laughed if you'd told me that 5 years go. I'm based in
Blackheath in South East London - conveniently where the
Marathon begins! I was born and raised in Hampshire and moved to
London at 19 to study at an Arts College.
I've worked in the entertainment industry for just
under 10 years and now work in Casting for Film & TV. I first
started running in 2013 when I was training to run a Race For Life
after my Auntie was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Why did you decide to support Contact by taking part in the
London Marathon?
I heard about Contact through a friend who worked with
disabled teenagers and I was interested to learn more
about the charity and how they support families. Someone I worked
with had received a lot of support from them when their daughter
(who is disabled) was young, so it felt close to home. I'm really
pleased to be running for a small charity which isn't as visible
and doesn't receiving enough funding as those charities that have
international recognition.
What has been the biggest challenge in your London marathon
journey so far?
The biggest challenge is yet to come and that'll be
reaching 22 miles which will be the furthest we
run before race day. Its been super tricky trying to
navigate the nutritional aspect of training such as, what gels to
take, how many, when to take them... Should we try eating
energy bars (this didn't work for me). I'm kinda into Jelly
Babies at the moment but it means I leave them lying around and
find them everywhere. In my car, my handbags, pockets
etc.
What are you most/least excited about?
I'm most excited about the feeling of crossing the finish
line and how monumental that moment will be for me and also my
friend Annie who is running too and who I've
been training with. We've come a long way together and I
think it's going to be really special and no doubt
very overwhelming. I'm least looking forward to
the organisational side of the day - forgetting something,
getting to the right place at the right time... I think once I
start running I'll (strangely) be able to relax a little but no
doubt the nerves in the lead up to that will set in. It makes
me slightly nervous even thinking about it now. I've had
dreams already where I've woken up at 9am and I've missed
the start, which is terrifying. Fortunately I've been
assured that won't happen because apparently you don't get much
sleep the night before!
Do you have any hobbies or interests outside running?
My training plan has been extensive which has
meant my social calendar has taken a backseat! I've
started swimming twice a week and I also go to strength
classes to build up the muscles in my legs which will
hopefully help my endurance on the big day. I see a great deal of
theatre and film for work and I love exploring
different parts of London which has fed into my training
when it comes to finding new and interesting running
routes!
To sponsor Faye donate via
her fundraising page
Written by Contact
at 12:12