AFTER facing three bouts of Covid, including debilitating long Covid, and the emotional toll of starting over, educator Amy Barnard has laced up her running shoes once again, stronger, braver, and more determined than ever.

She is particularly excited and a tad emotional to be taking on the 2025 SPAR Women’s Challenge this Sunday. You see, this event holds a special place in her heart as it symbolises new beginnings and a comeback for her.

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Barnard, who contracted the virus three times, including a bout that led to pneumonia, saw her once active lifestyle come to a halt.

“The first time I got Covid in 2021, I genuinely thought I was going to die. After that, it was long Covid, then pneumonia. I was knocked completely off track.

“I led a very active lifestyle up until then but all the progress I had made before was gone. I battled with my health, gained 20kg, and was later diagnosed with prediabetes. I had to rebuild everything, not just my body, but my mindset too.”

Even walking 1km at her lowest point felt almost impossible.

“I felt like a whale. I had injuries, no energy, and I was in a dark place. But my husband kept pushing me, and eventually, I got up and walked that 1km. Then another and then another. As difficult as it was, I knew I had to get out this dark place and move forward. My physical and mental health was taking a toll and I had to make changes.”

Finally, Barnard’s turning point came. The SPAR Women’s Challenge was her beacon of hope and she tackled her first 5km run in three years in 2024, telling herself that if she could get through that, she could do anything.

“Their messages and themes resonate with me. I am all about women empowerment. I love that any woman, of any shape or size, can do it. I just needed to make it through 5km. That would prove I could do the rest,” said Barnard.

Crossing that finish line was a deeply emotional moment. From that pivotal race, she began building slowly: 10km walk-runs, more races, and eventually her first half marathon.

“I cried. I ran the whole way and finished the 5km in 32 minutes. I proved to myself that I could do hard things. The first half marathon was a disaster,” she laughed.

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“But I finished. And I learnt that it’s not about speed, it’s about commitment and consistency.”

Throughout her journey, Barnard found strength in her family, friends and community, even her online community.

“I shared bits of my progress on social media, just to keep myself accountable. Then people started messaging me saying they were going through the same struggles. Friends, family, even strangers cheered me on. That support kept me going.”

This year, Barnard returns to the SPAR Women’s Challenge to tackle the 10km distance with a completely different mindset.

“I’m fitter and stronger now. This year, it’s about pushing myself further, especially after coming off a bad injury during the Two Oceans race. I spent six weeks recovering and in rehab. But life is about setbacks and comebacks. Running isn’t about how fast you go. It’s about starting. Get up and start. It gets better and you can do difficult things,” she said.

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