A GLASGOW woman with cerebral palsy is looking to make history at the London Marathon this month.
Dr Julie McElroy, 38, is aiming to become the first female frame runner to complete the famous marathon, which is taking place on Sunday, April 21.
A frame runner is a three-wheeled frame where the athlete is supported by a saddle and body plate.
Dr McElroy was first introduced to frame running around three years ago after suffering a "traumatic" injury which left her in chronic pain and using a wheelchair.
She has since then taken on numerous challenges, including the Paisley 10k and the 22.6-mile Glasgow Kiltwalk.
After hailing the device as “life-changing”, Dr McElroy said: “My goodness, I didn’t really know what was ahead of me.
“I thought my life was over six years ago when I suffered a traumatic accident where I ruptured my groin muscle.
“I thought I was going to be housebound. I thought I was going to be in chronic pain. My body was on fire constantly. I couldn’t get a decent night’s sleep and I was on all these different medications.”
Dr McElroy started training for the marathon in November. She said: “I’m training almost every single day at the moment.
“I’ve been out in minus six conditions. It’s been cold, it’s been raining. I find the training quite lonely at times because I’m on that track day after day on my own.
“The longest I’ve been on that track at Victoria Park Athletics Club is three hours and 20 minutes. That’s quite a lonely process but the reason that I’ve got by is probably my mentality, my motivation. I’ve always had that tenacity, people have always said that.”
Having always been a physically active person who enjoyed hiking, swimming and cycling, she was eager to begin exercising again after her injury.
“I was looking at what sport I could do because I couldn’t swim again. I couldn’t use my two-wheeler bike, so I was looking for another adaptive sport,” she said.
She added: “Framing has given me the confidence to get out of my wheelchair and build up strength in my legs and be able to walk again.
“It’s been life-changing so far.”
Beyond keeping fit though, Dr McElroy said frame running has given her greater freedom and more opportunities.
“Frame running has given me that freedom to engage with my friends and peers,” she said.
“I don’t want to be treated any differently. I want to be able to adapt to every situation and I want to be able to embrace the same opportunities and experiences as my peers.”
Dr McElroy is raising funds for the Richard Whitehead Foundation, which was founded by British athlete Richard Whitehead MBE who runs with prosthetic legs.
To find out more information about the London Marathon, click HERE
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