Helen is Running Leeds Marathon After Hip Replacement

Helen is running the 2026 Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon after a hip replacement operation in 2024, which forced her to take a break from running.

She signed up for the first Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon in 2022 the day it was announced.

"My husband had been to Leeds University, and the race coincided with our 1st wedding anniversary. What better way to celebrate!"

However, things didn't go to plan. 

On Christmas day, Helen ran her local parkrun in Holmwood and slipped in the mud, leaving her stiff and struggling to get up the stairs. After continuing to struggle into the new year, she decided to see a physio, who referred her for an MRI.

During this time, Helen had a GFA place in the London Marathon, but had to walk around the course, finishing with a time of 5:48.

Two days later, she saw a consultant, who broke the terrible news - Helen would need a hip replacement, and would never be able to run again.

"I'd been running seriously and coaching women to run marathons for 10 years - I didn't take the news well."

Three weeks after the London marathon, the first Leeds Marathon was set to take place.

Helen made the difficult decision not to run the full marathon and, instead set off with some of the women she had coached for the race, and walked the first 3 miles before pulling out.

In 2023, Helen decided to go ahead with the surgery, finding a surgeon who would understand her need to run, and planned her journey back to running after the operation.

In February of 2024, she had her right hip replaced and, thanks to months of hydrotherapy, physio, and walking, Helen was able to build up her mobility and strength, and began running again after 6 months.

She began training again the next spring and, when the entries for the 2026 Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon opened, she registered immediately.

"The moment I pulled out of Leeds 2023, I knew Leeds would be my marathon return."

"It's a tough course, and I'm already planning on walking 'that hill', but I'm determined with focused training to be standing on the start-line next Mary, confident, fit, and ready to run my marathon comeback race."