Imran Hassanjee (42) from Severn Athletic Club started running in 2017 to lose weight. At 5′ 4” tall, he weighed 97kg(13st 8lbs). Now he is 63kg(10 stone).

He joined Hucclecote Harriers and started running in local Parkruns. His first Half Marathon at Tewkesbury (2017) took 1 Hour 41 Mins 10 secs. His personal bests are now: 10K-39:25, 10 Mile-64:55, Half Marathon-1:25:30, 20 Mile-2:22:01 & Marathon-3:01:34 (he’s done six). “Running 50 Miles a week, training with club mates Ian Overthrow, Dave Howells, Dave Clarke and Farook Mota I had hoped to set new PB’s in 2020, then covid & lockdown.”

He’s kept up his training with participation in virtual and socially distancing events, running 17:54 in a 5K Time Trial. In October he completed virtual marathons in the London, Newport and Amsterdam events. Having to self isolate, Amsterdam was run on a treadmill in his garage. “Never again, I felt like stopping after 90 minutes but friends and family encouraged me on.” His time of 3:29:36 is the best record on a treadmill in the county. His efforts have earned him a place as an official London Marathon group pacer. 

Imran attended Saintbridge School, missing the time when sports teacher Austin Hill organised a much missed series of athletic meetings. The school had an impressive record and produced many of the cities top athletes in that time.

Imran is eager to get racing again, “I’m still new to the sport, virtual events are a fill in. We need races.” 

“I had been preparing hard for the 2020/21 cross-country season with Ian Overthrow before it got cancelled. I’ve never ran cross-country but am keen to try and become a scorer for Severn in 2021/22.”