Eleven years ago, a man called Kelvin Walker had a vision. He jacked in his job, remortgaged the family home and poured his energy into making that vision a reality. He inspired others and generated energy in them. Together, they made it happen. The vision was a London street race. An event that has now been taking place annually for nearly a decade - the Ealing Half Marathon.
I’m fascinated by creative energy. And how that of one person spreads to others who, in turn create things and transmit the energy further. In the case of Ealing Half, the energy that started with one man has been transmitted to dozens of businesses, who now provide massages, marquees, medals, sound systems, street signs, crash barriers, food and drink and much more. Also to hundreds of volunteers who, every year, put time and energy into setting up the park and the streets of Ealing. And into keeping the runners safe, motivated and heading in the right direction. The energy has also reached thousands of runners who have participated in this amazing event over the years.
I remember the excitement building the year it began. The marketing campaign encouraging people to enter. The call for marshals. The signs going up about street closures. The mile-markers appearing. The tents and toilets being erected the day before. To me, it felt that there was an enormous surge of energy in Ealing at that time.
On that first race day, I helped manage the massage queues and chatted to those who were waiting. They told of their journeys to this moment - one man had gone from heart attack to half marathon. Another was running after a son developed epilepsy. Another because he'd had a bet with a friend. They all had a race story to tell - of the victories, the disappointments, the tough bits, the heart-warming emotional support, the memorable moments.
The Ealing Half grew and grew. It went on to win awards. To be consistently voted the UK’s top half marathon year after year. “The Ealing Feeling” was spreading far and wide.
I live a few hundred yards from the start and finish. You can hear the announcements from my balcony. But somehow, I’d never run in my local race. In 2020, I finally decided it was time to participate. But like many events last year, the race got cancelled. Ealing Half Marathon is an independent race managed by a not-for-profit organisation. And this year, it was especially challenging for the team now at the helm to make it happen. Funds were low. Many had roll-over places from the previous year so new income was limited. It was vital that they had enough entrants and sold enough sportswear if it was to go ahead. Again, huge energy was poured into making it happen.
One morning I was out running up the Thames path, and the idea came to me that I could have an after-party and use it as an opportunity to do some fundraising. Another person’s energy had entered my race – that of Julia Chi Taylor, who is spending a year going on barefoot running adventures to raise money for Crisis. I invited my friends to a beer and pizza party and asked them to throw money in the bucket in exchange for their food and drink. The energy had spread further.
As I ran the race, I realised it wasn’t just people like Kelvin and Julia who were making my race day what it was. It was the people of Ealing. Every street was thronging with spectators. Actually, spectators is far too passive a term. They clap, they cheer, they yell, they high-five, they ring bells, they dance, they perform live music. Complete strangers run from one point to another to cheer you again and again. Their energy is as important to the race of as that of the runners.
I want to say a big big thank you to all of you who brought your energy to this day. The saucepan bangers, the jelly baby suppliers, the locals who set up much-needed water stations between the official ones. And to those who helped with my party – the balloon-inflators, the pizza-cookers, the ice-buyers, the garden furniture suppliers. To all of you who came and talked and laughed and made such generous contributions to Julia’s campaign for Crisis. And to those of you who were unable to make the party but donated anyway. We raised £425.