Some runners fall into the sport by chance. For Tracey Atkinson, running arrived at the darkest moment of her life. She was thirty six when doctors told her she had a brain tumour. The operation was risky and the surgeon warned her she would need to be physically and mentally strong before they would attempt it.
So she started to run.
“I hit the treadmill once a week, then twice a week. India came with me because of the seizures. She even caught me once when I collapsed. I was not giving up.”
A week after surgery, with half her head shaved and five centimetres of her left lobe removed, she stepped outside and went for a short winter run. Weak and unsteady, she still wanted to reclaim her life.
“I had lost memory and confidence. Running felt like healing. It was coming back to life.”
Her distances grew. A Couch to 5k group became a club. That club led to races across Europe. Then Masters selection for Northern Ireland. Malaga. Denmark. Podiums. A sub three in London. A string of age group results that forced her to stop underestimating herself.
India watched the transformation unfold. “I went from thinking she was mad, running outside after surgery, to seeing her bring home medals from everywhere.”
Running for Reach
Tracey’s motivation has always been tied to Reach, the charity that supports children with upper limb difference. India was born with limb difference and Reach gave the family their first sense of community.
“The family weekends were the heart of it. Meeting people like us for the first time was life changing.”
After raising money through a Stormont gala and the London Marathon in 2024, she wanted something longer lasting. A challenge that would keep the charity in the public eye. That became twelve races in twelve countries across twelve months.
Morocco. Killarney. Paris. Madrid. Luxembourg. Bruges. Berlin. Edinburgh. Cyprus. Each race with its own story. Some scenic. Some painful. Some glorious. Enough podium moments to convince her that she was not just coping. She was thriving.
She will finish the year with a marathon in Florence. The blue carpet finish she once watched on television with tears in her eyes.
A New Idea for Belfast. The Arrival of NI Rave Run
While on this journey, Tracey also wanted something that would benefit Belfast directly. At the time, attacks on women were making people nervous about running alone. The city centre at night offered little apart from pubs and fast food. She wanted an alternative.
The spark became NI Rave Run. A 5k with music, lights, dance stops, glow sticks, whistles and constant interaction with the public. Not a race. Not a nightclub. Something in between. Something that made people feel safe, encouraged, and energised.
India instantly saw the potential. “Her face lit up. I told her she should keep going. She loved it.”
With Tracey leading the coaching side and India handling the marketing, the event grew quickly. The aim was simple. Make running fun. Make it social. Give people a reason to move that has nothing to do with pace or pressure.
“It takes away the fear of running. No one is left behind. You finish with more energy than you started with.”
It now takes place every other week. Runners of all ages show up. Mothers and daughters. People who have never run before. People who want something different from a night out in the city.
Tracey has plenty of ideas for the future. India keeps her grounded. Both agree on one goal. Growth. They want more visibility, more community support, and eventually backing from the city itself.
From Late Starter to NI Running Show Ambassador
Tracey’s link to the NI Running Show came through Paralympian Michael McKillop, who believed her story deserved a platform. A late starter. A Masters runner. A mum of three creating events that genuinely change how people see running.
Tracey said yes for two reasons. First, she wanted to support a running show close to home. Second, she wanted to back a major sporting event led by women.
“It is great to see women in leadership. Una taking on the responsibility of the show is inspiring. Women supporting women.”
She is looking forward to the activity zones, the challenges, and the chance to meet runners from every corner of the scene.
What Comes Next
Tracey recently secured a championship place for the 2026 London Marathon. A recognition normally reserved for the fastest runners in their age bracket.
“I can finally say it. I am an elite for my age. I never thought I would say that.”
It is remarkable for someone who only began running properly in her late thirties. Remarkable for someone who nearly skipped Dublin this year due to a stubborn hamstring. Remarkable for someone who started on a treadmill because she wanted to survive.
A Message to Anyone Uncertain About Running
For those sitting at home feeling too old, too unfit, too anxious or too overwhelmed to start, Tracey’s advice is as simple as her story is powerful.
“Put your trainers on and come out with me. Let us go.”
She found her start in the worst circumstances imaginable. The rest of us have it far easier. NI Rave Run is growing. The NI Running Show is building momentum. And Tracey Atkinson is showing exactly what can happen when one step becomes another and then becomes a life.
If Belfast needs a spark, she has already struck the match.