The Bath Half attracts over 10,000 runners each year from all walks of life and Bath’s business community is always well represented. Here we speak to Scott Carpenter from English Oak Buildings about his hopes for the event and the charity he will be running for.
Name: Scott Carpenter
Age: 45
Company Description: English Oak Buildings are the leading specialists in the design and construction of green oak framed buildings and houses in the UK. The company has a wealth of expertise gained through the creation of hundreds of successful frames. English Oak Building’s oak frames are bespoke, hand-crafted and use the highest quality green oak timber.
Why did you decide to enter this year’s Bath Half? I felt that I wanted to run the Bath Half to help support one of the city’s smaller charities. I sometimes feel the big charities (although they do great work) can overshadow the smaller organisations, and these smaller charities do a lot of excellent work at grass roots level.
Tell us a bit about Designability and why you’re running for them: My family and I are fortunate to be all fit, well and healthy, and I don’t necessarily have any emotional ties to any one charity through personal experience, but I do not take this for granted. I recognise there are countless families out there that are not as fortunate as ourselves. The Wizzybug scheme, which provides unique powered wheelchairs to disabled children between 14 months and 5 years free of charge, really resonated with me and I felt drawn to supporting the charity. I also recognise the other important work associated with Designability.
Are you a Bath Half veteran? I’ve run many marathons and half marathons to date and I’m grateful that I’m able to do this. There are countless children and families that will not get the chance to take part in such activities or even watch family members having a go.
What are your expectations for the Bath Half? My main aim is to have fun running and soak up the atmosphere of the crowds and look out for friends and family. I’m a long way off my PB of 1:36, but if I can sneak in under 2 hours then I’ll be pleased.
How is your training going? Training started really well but admittedly has dropped off a little. However, I’ve extended my dry January to include February. In fact I won’t drink any alcohol until after the race.
How will you celebrate once you’ve crossed the finish line? It’s always great when you finish a race. The sense of achievement and personal satisfaction is fantastic and can sometimes be overwhelming. However, this year I will be running with the support of Designability and all of those people who have pledged support for me helping me cross that line. This makes it even more special. A well-earned Sunday roast and a pint of Guinness will be the start of my recovery process!
How can people sponsor your team? Visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/scott-carpenter5
Pictured above: Scott Carpenter, English Oak Buildings
