If you see a lady in her mid-20s running tomorrow’s Stroud Half Marathon carrying a helium balloon with a number four on it, be sure to give her an extra cheer.

That’s because she will be running her fourth half marathon in as many weeks – and if that’s not enough, she will be running another half marathon the following week!

It’s all part of Amy Gomer’s five half marathons in five weeks challenge to raise money for five very good causes.

The Stroud and District Athletics Club runner’s half marathon effort began in Cardiff at the start of the month, continued with the London Lee Valley Race For Life the following week, before heading up for Manchester at the weekend just gone.

After tomorrow’s race she’ll be heading back down to the capital next week for the River Thames Half and then after that she’ll be able to take a well-deserved rest.

So how’s she coping?

“I’m doing okay,” she chuckled. “It’s tough every Saturday night laying out my race vest and realising the fun all starts again early on a Sunday morning!

“Despite racing so many times, the nerves still kick in and I never fully know when my legs are going to tire.

“I can always get to the end though and get through knowing ‘the why’ behind my challenge, and the difficulties and pain others have gone through means my efforts are the least I can do to try and help.

“Logistically I hadn’t considered the effect of not only driving around the South West for work during the week, but then also driving around the country on the weekends to get to these events.

“The most difficult part has been in between the races because I normally do a lot of training. At the moment I can’t lift weights or do any sprint sessions because I’ve got to keep my legs fresh, so that’s been something I’ve had to get used to, while ensuring I am stretching and resting, looking after myself.”

It may be difficult but her challenge couldn’t have started any better as she skipped round the streets of Cardiff in a personal best time of one hour, 36 minutes.

The Race For Life in Lee Valley was just as special for different reasons. Amy’s nanny Lina Weldt passed away from ovarian cancer in 2012, so any time Amy and members of her family are raising money to fund research into the disease is very important to them.

“It was the first ever women’s only half marathon in this country,” Amy said. “It was run alongside a marathon for women only and it was a very empowering day, being surrounded by wonder women running for such a good cause with loved ones in mind, it was an emotional day.”

So what was it like running without the men?

“Well,” she chuckled, “since joining Stroud and as I’ve got faster I tend to run with the men more and more.

“When I did a marathon in Warsaw in Poland a year ago, there was a photo taken at the 20-mile mark.

“There were 20 runners in the picture and I was the only woman!

“I think half marathons for women only will catch on. It’s great for those who are a bit more self-conscious because it helps their confidence. It’s an event for charity and therefore not everyone needs a PB but just wants to finish. If they want to walk, it’s fine to just get to the end.”

Amy was accompanied at Lee Valley by her best friend Sara Haile who has recently joined Stroud AC.

“Sara has been running for over a year now, and now fully understands the running bug and is thriving with her running progress,” added Amy.

“Our socialising time is now spent doing 10-mile runs, or weight sessions in the gym, but it’s amazing to do these things with someone you love and someone who enjoys it as much as you.

“I was sneakily pacing us at Lee Valley to aim for a personal best for Sara, because I knew she could do it. We went round in one hour, 56 minutes, smiling and chatting to others along the way. It was a trail type course so not overly easy.

“This was a personal best for Sara – I was so pleased for her. To see her smile and happy tears at the end made it even more rewarding, while having her by my side helped me be positive for her, and everyone around us!”

Next up for Amy was Manchester, the city that spawned the Gallagher brothers – Noel and Liam – and the Britpop band Oasis whose Wonderwall lyrics included the line ‘all the roads we have to walk are winding’.

Fortunately that was not the case as far as the city’s half marathon course was concerned, and although Amy did complete the race three minutes slower than her Cardiff time in one hour, 39, she certainly didn’t do any walking!

Now it’s the Stroud Half, a race which 25-year-old Amy has run in the past.

“I ran it in 2014 with my mum,” she said. “We were raising money for Cancer Research and Sue Ryder – my nan went to the hospice in Leckhampton.”

This year she is running the event with her sister Jessie, 23, and their mum Tina will be cheering on both of them.

Jessie, who lives in Cheltenham, is a keen runner just like her mum and big sister.

“I think we’ll be running together,” said Amy, who lives in Randwick just a hop, skip and a jump from the start and finish of tomorrow’s race on Cainscross Road, adjacent to Marling School field. “Jessie wants to beat her time last year of one hour, 46.”

Amy only started running in 2012 – her first run was the Cirencester Race For Life 5K which she ran with her mum and she admits she didn’t find it easy.

Now she’s well and truly caught the running bug, and it’s a huge part of her life.

If she listens to mum, a fitness instructor, she’ll be taking it easy for the next few weeks, but after she’s rested up what’s her next big challenge after the River Thames Half?

“I’m running the London Marathon next year,” Amy said. “I have always wanted to follow mum’s footsteps and run the London Marathon.

“I tried the ballot six times and was unsuccessful every time. So I decided I would either try to get a ‘good for age’ time or run for a charity.

“However, after a lot of hard work, and despite a niggly knee, I ran the Manchester Marathon in April and got under the qualifying ‘good for age’ time for London which is three hours, 45 minutes for women under 40. I ran three hours, 39.”

That race isn’t for another six months but when it does come that will definitely be a marathon challenge.

She will start a 16-week training plan in November and Amy said: “The thought of the 20-mile training runs again are hard to imagine, but my mind is now very powerful and I believe that’s key to success in running.”

The five charities Amy is supporting in her five half marathons challenge are: Target Ovarian Cancer; Tehya’s Wheelchair Fund; Alzheimer’s Society; Mind, the mental health charity; and Verity PCOS: Supporting the very little research and help towards Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Amy is hoping to raise £1,000 in total and anyone wishing to donate should visit
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/5weeks-5halfmarathons

Tomorrow’s race starts at 9am.