Keep on Running: Inspiring story from Masters athlete Hilary

Friday 14th November 2025

Hilary Carswell in action at the Lindsays Short Course XC last weekend in Lanark (photo by Bobby Gavin)

Hilary letter to our sport (December 2023)

Back in December 2023, we shared a very personal article from cancer victim and Masters athlete, Hilary Carswell.

The Giffnock North AC runner’s evocative story – and her positive outlook – very much caught the attention of our community.

Almost two years later and with a positive diagnosis outcome, Hilary’s approach to life now can probably be covered by three words: ‘Keep On Running.’

For a longer explanation, read on . . .

By Hilary Carswell

If you want to do something, do it now. Don’t wait until you’re ‘ready’! Just show up! That’s the motto I’ve followed since my breast cancer diagnosis in June 2023.

It is now two years since my diagnosis and feature on here (link above) and hence the reason why Peter Jardine was in touch to update the story.

So here it is, how much running has helped me

If at all possible, I’ve been loving my running even more since my diagnosis.

My strategy was to just get out there as soon as possible, whether for training or racing. Determined to get back on track. It didn’t matter to me how I performed, how fit I was. I was there, smiling and loving it. In a bubble of appreciation, feeling incredibly lucky.

The support around me (family, friends, coaches – big thank you!) made that possible – just to get out there again. I think it was this effort and attitude that gained me The Brennan Giffnock North Award for Enthusiasm in March 2024.

A timeline of my races is below. Any successes must be read with all due respect to all my fellow faster female runners (you know who you are!). I know it’s because you weren’t there that day . . .

It wasn’t all plain sailing, with intermittent injuries preventing consistent training until May 2024.

On reflection, the intermittent injuries were my body recovering, getting used to the new normal, the new me. You see, as anyone who’s experienced cancer will know, it changes you. Which is hard. But it’s also been amazing. Because running changes you, too, and teaches you so many antidotes to life’s challenges.

Running teaches you that it isn’t about perfection. If you just show up to enjoy the journey, enjoy the people around you, and enjoy the opportunity to run, anything can happen.

After taking medical advice that I could run again, I didn’t feel mentally ready. I was away for the weekend with friends who happened to be a GP and he said ‘Hilary, just try it.’

So, I did . . . and that was me. In between my treatments, I took part as a reserve at the British and Irish Masters Cross Country International Race in November 2023 and a month after being discharged from radiotherapy, I did the British Cross Challenge in January 2024.

Even when races didn’t go so well, I was still buzzing. Even when it’s not good, it’s still good because you got your shoes on, you showed up and you reaped the health benefits – including anti-cancer effects.

One of the first things my consultant said to me was it’s good you exercise. Motion is medicine. So you don’t need everything to be perfect before you start back. Just show up, commit and have fun! The rest will fall into place.

Running teaches you to listen to your lungs. This is what I did during my diagnosis and treatment. Your brain is telling you one thing and your heart is telling you another. Using the words of John Roedel, your brain and heart are divorced.

So, instead, listen to your lungs. I love that feeling of filling your lungs with air, just appreciating the feeling of the air around you – on your face- and capturing the views in your head. The freedom – just you and your breath.

I discovered how healing breathing is during that period; both physically and mentally. Feeding your muscles and your mind.

During my intermittent injuries I missed the National Cross Country in February 2024 and Scottish 5km Championships in May 2024. I used breathing to help recover, reduce further injuries and strengthen my mindset.

In June 2024, I took part in the Scottish Mid-Trail Championships in Dunkeld and managed to get bronze.

Running gives you head space to be able to process what happened. For what I call ‘the aftermath’ – the period when active treatment finishes.

I was lucky enough to be cured, so why wasn’t I moving on? Life felt adrift, undulating, jittery, while trying to come to terms with it. Running helped me shake this off, reset myself, start again. Running teaches you resilience, forces out your hidden strengths. There is so much brain training, running helps you to shift from a negative to a positive mindset that empowers you.

A good reminder for anyone recovering from the shock of an illness – to put the past behind you and run towards a goal.

I used this strategy going forward and was lucky to be a reserve again for the Masters International Cross Country in November 2024 and got Bronze again in the Scottish Mid-Trail Championships in Crieff in July 2025.

Running for me was the best distraction at that time. It was the ground beneath my feet.

And finally running gives you team spirit. That’s my favourite, where you and your team-mates are all working together to the same goal. I’ve thrived either taking part or being a reserve for Giffnock North or the Scottish Vets team for cross country and for track.

Further team opportunities, and hot off the press, is my qualification for the Scottish Vets team at the International Cross Country Race in November 2025.

Also, I’ve been asked to be joint Giffnock North Ladies Team Captain this year, so lots of focus on teamwork coming up!

Scottish Athletics, Scottish Veteran Harriers Club, Giffnock North and all our running clubs – thank you for the opportunities you give us. We’re so lucky. So lucky we love running, so lucky we’ve got running.

So, just work hard, just keep going. Just show up! In the long run, your future self will thank you.