Barefoot marathon feat raises vital funds for spinal injury research
London law graduate Finlay Greenfield felt every single step of last week’s London Marathon – as he completed the 26.2 miles completely barefoot!
The 26-year-old became one of the youngest to complete the feat – even more incredible as it was not only his first marathon but his first running event.
“It was 100% the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” said Finlay, who has lived with chronic back pain since the age of 18. “The first 10 miles I was flying, but then my knee started to blow up until I finally had to sit down around mile 20 when I couldn’t move my leg at all for about half an hour.
“I really thought my marathon was over but help from one of the marathon officials and a massage from a sideline physio improved things and somehow I got up and freely ran the last few miles. I was so relieved and proud of myself for finding a way to cross that finish line.”
The superfit teenager was in the first year of university in Birmingham when he was struck down with crippling back pain. Degenerative disc disease and spinal nerve compression was diagnosed.
“I was in a constant state of tension and so much pain which affected everything – from the way I moved to my mental health and relationships,” he said.
“I saw so many specialists and did so much research but focusing on my feet and the barefoot lifestyle allowed me to work out what was happening with my spine and back and, finally, I was able to move again without pain.
“Being able to run any distance has taken a long time and there have been setbacks right up to a couple of weeks before the London Marathon which meant I hadn’t done nearly the mileage I’d wanted to.
“Despite the knee problems I encountered on the day, I don’t think it has fully hit home yet that I just ran a marathon, barefoot, and I didn’t have a single moment of back pain. That is my story!”
Finlay has raised over £2,000 for Spinal Research, the UK’s leading charity funding the most promising research into function restoring treatments for people paralysed after a spinal cord injury.
Every two hours someone in the UK is paralysed after a spinal cord injury – it can happen to anyone at any time with devastating consequences for them and their loved ones.
Finlay added: “This journey has given me a small window into the daily struggles faced by others and has helped me develop a real empathy for those dealing with far more serious spinal cord injuries. It’s made me acutely aware of how vital spinal health is to quality of life.
“This was very much a personal and symbolic challenge. I don’t recommend anyone running a barefoot marathon on tarmac and I don’t think I would ever do it again, but this was the ultimate way of showing how resilient I now am and how amazing the human body is.”
Suzanne Redding, Head of Audience and Community for Spinal Research, said: “The first function restoring treatments in history are now available and more breakthrough therapies are coming. But we urgently need funds to get these to the people who need them.
“So, we’re incredibly grateful to Finlay for joining ‘Team Spinal’ at this year’s London Marathon and making every barefoot mile matter! We’re so impressed that he has overcome his own personal challenges to support others in such an amazing way.”
To support Finlay go to his JustGiving Page: https://bit.ly/4d94UGG
