Learning to run with one leg
Hello, I’m Christine Lote, a Stage 4 Cancer mummy and below knee amputee. After re-learning how to walk and cycle, my challenge for 2026 is to re-learn how to run.
Most people have some experience with running. Whether it’s training for a race, sprinting around a field in a team sport or just running late.
My personal experience is that in my previous life, with two legs and a lot more lung (I have had a third of my right lung surgically removed), I used to be a reasonable runner. I enjoyed the escapism it provides and even ran my first – and last – marathon in 2015. However, following two pregnancies and an amputation, I hadn’t run since 2021.
When talking to my lovely daughter Sophie recently about learning phonics, she said: “We aren’t allowed to say we can’t do it, only that it’s a little bit tricky.” So, inspired by her words, I thought I’d research how the devil one starts to run on a prosthetic leg.
It turns out it’s largely – as with most new things in life – just putting one foot in front of the other.
So here I am trying a new challenge and hoping that, on 21 June, I’ll be able to run a 10k Race for Life and instead of saying “Mummy can’t run”, I’ll be saying “This Mummy can”… even if it’s a bit tricky.
I’m following the couch to 5k training plan and making progress, albeit slowly. Last weekend was a proud moment as I managed to complete a junior parkrun with my girls.
So that’s 2k down and just another 8k to go!
If you would like to support Cancer Research UK, then the sponsorship link is below, along with my Instagram account should you wish to follow my training.
Follow Christine on Instagram at @half_price_pedicure_vs_cancer
Sponsor her for Race for Life at https://gofund.me/abd80206f
Christine Lote