I DID IT!!!!!!!!

Relief it's all over!

So it’s now well over a week since I took part in the 38th Virgin London Marathon. Relatives have finally departed and gone back home and the excitement of the day is fast becoming a distant memory. But before it finally vanishes and life goes back to normal, let me exploit it one more time in this, my very last Marathon Madness blog.

The lead up to Sunday 22nd April entailed continously watching weather reports hoping the heatwave that had suddenly descended on the country would go away as quickly as it had arrived. My biggest fear was to run on an unusually hot spring day. And what do I get, but the hottest London Marathon on record! It was going to be hard enough running this unknown distance but throw in high temperatures and it created a whole new challenge. Training had been in the cold, wet and snow. With a desperate attempt to climatise myself to the sudden heat a few days before, I actualy gave myself heatstroke - not a great start! 

Quick photo before I enter the runners area

So Sunday finally came round and I was super nervous. “What the hell am I doing” I kept asking myself.  “This is sheer madness”. And then I remembered.  “OK my little star, I’m going to need your help big time today, I’m doing this for you and all the other babies taken too soon”. 

Food was the last thing I actually felt like at 7am this particular Sunday morning, however I made sure breakfast was eaten, coffee was drunk and water was sipped. A quick shower, sun cream applied and I then dressed in my race clothes. 

Now the good thing about running this race was the fact I didn’t have to stay in a hotel the night before and could just walk the short distance to Greenwich Park. So off I set, together with my family, Mr P, my mum and Vinnie the dog to meet my fellow runners - all 40,000 of them.

Quick selfie in pen 3 before the start

A few photo’s were taken, hugs were given, good wishes and goodbyes were said and then I enter the runners only area. I deposited my kit bag on one of the huge lorries knowing that the only way I was going to get that back was to somehow make it to the Mall. Nerves were really getting the better of me and I knew I needed to join one of the many long queues for a quick pee. Whilst waiting I started chatting to other runners and I soon realised I was not alone feeling anxious regarding the heatwave. Surprisingly the loo queue didn’t take too long and before I knew it I was heading over to my warm up area. A few lunges, stretches and gentle jog were undertaken before I entered pen 3 to get ready to set off. 

Waving to Mr P and my mum at mile 7

There was a huge screen at the top of the park gates so we could see what the BBC was televising and waved and cheered enthusiastically when cameras hovered overhead. But when the Queen was shown on the screen and the national athem was played there was a respectful hush amongst all of the runners. Then at exactly 10am, the Queen pressed the button and the first set of runners were off. Now this year, as there were so many participants, the organisers were releasing the runners in ‘waves’. Zones 1 & 2 were realeased first. They would hold back the other runners for a few minutes before releasing the next section. This was to avoid unnecessary bottlenecks of runners. I was zone 3 and by 10:15am I was over the start line and charging towards Blackheath Standard. The sun had driven the crowds out in force and young children were holding out their hands so you could ‘high five’ them as you ran past. At mile one you always get the comedian “not long now”. Yeah, yeah, do you really think we haven’t heard that one before? Hilarious - not! By 10:30am the heat really had started to turn up but I felt good, ensuring I grabbed water at the water stations. By mile 3 we are in Woolwich Arsenal and the crowds just seemed to be getting bigger. There was a constat cheer and clapping as you sped past. Back into New Charlton before hitting East Greenwich and the run back towards and around the Cutty Sark. 

Now I knew I was going to have a lot of supporters around mile 7. Firstly, my running club, Greenwich Runners, who screamed and waved as I waved and cheered back at them. I was having the time of my life at this point. I felt like the most popular person on the planet. Then came the Parklife crew, great friends who I’ve met through walking Vinnie the dog in Greenwich Park; and then finally there was Mr P and my mum holding her banner up smiling proudly. I waved and carried on, really pleased that everyone had seen me.  I’m thinking, this is going OK. Pace nice and steady, just need to carry this on for another 19 miles! 

Tower Bridge!

Now I don’t want to boast here, but my name was constantly being shouted out by the crowds. The bright yellow really did stand out. I felt a bit sorry for other runners around me as all I could hear was my own name. In fact at one point a fellow runner said to me “All I can hear is your name, it feels like I’m running with a celebrity!”  “Yay, Team Tina” I shout and laugh back at him. Another runner then decided to belch really loudly and I started laughing again. “oh, really sorry about that, he says”. “No worries, better out than in” I say.

Heat really getting to me near Blackfriars

I can honestly say the first 11 miles were fantastic. I loved it. It was like a crazy carnival. And then, I just started to feel really hot. I was conscious that I needed to start taking on some more carbs for energy so got some running beans out of my running belt to quickly chew. But as I was chewing the sweetness of the beans just repulsed me. I spat them out - nearly hitting a spectator - oops “sorry” I yell. I then tried sipping some Lucozade which they handed out at mile 11 but again, the sweetness of the orange flavour just made me gag. OK, I’m just going to rely on my own energy drink and hope I have enough. I had over a litre of it in my new hydration belt but I was getting through it pretty fast.

I can see the finish!

So there I was, striding along but the heat had started to make me feel a bit uncomfortable. Turning the corner along Tooley Street and seeing Tower Bridge brought a huge smile to my face. I knew I was near the halfway mark where my Chairity Tommy’s would be supporting. OK, lets get to mile 13 and then take every mile as it comes. Tommy’s didn’t disappoint. They went absolutely bonkers when they saw one of their runners. I smiled and waved back at them and plodded on OK for another  mile. And then, really really annoyingly, it started to go pear shaped. The nausesous feeling completely overwhelmed me. Oh god, I thought, I’m not going to make it. I kept sipping water trying to overcome the feeling. Constant running was replaced with fast walk, run, walk, run, fast walk. The heat was beating down and to be perfectly honest, there is a huge section of the race that I don’t really remember. I was feeling so ill and delirious. I was passing runners who were dropping like flies to the pavement. My own energy drink supply was pratically depleted and just as I was thinkng I really need some more miraculously a bottle was thrust in front of me. I grabbed it, looked at it, thought that’s not orange Lucozade even though it was in a orange Lucozade bottle and greedily drank from it. Ooh, that’s nice. At the time, I did not realise that it was my beloved Mr P who had thrust the energy drink at me and it was one of my own concoctions that I had made up earlier that morning that I was drinking. In my bewildered heat confused state I had absolutely no idea Mr P was my saviour in handing me one of my energy drinks!!  Other relatives were there as well and I hate to think what they must have thought when they saw the state of me! 

And over the line.

I managed to get a bit of oomph back and ploughed on through to Canary Wharf. A friend mentioned that she was once again helping Buxton by handing out water to runners around the mile 19 marker. “I’ll look out for you” I said. Now to be totally honest I had forgotten about that by the time mile 19 was coming round. I just needed some water. But then there she was with a cup of water outstretched to me. “Deb” I say, “Tina” she says and then she gave me a much needed hug. “You are doing so well. How do you feel?” “Knackered” I say “it’s too bloody hot!” “Here” she says “have another cup of water” and with that I was off. The miles now seemed to get longer and longer. I kept looking at my watch and seeing the time I was aiming for totally slip past. If I speed up a bit I can still get in under 4:30. But I just couldn’t. Even with the constant cheering from the crowds. When I slowed down, they would chant my name “Tina, Tina, Tina” and really cheer if I started running fast again. It did bring a smile to my face. 

Celebrating with Mr P.

When I got to Embankment I knew it wasn’t far to go, but those last two miles really were the longest I’ve ever run. Turning that final corner and seeing the finish line was just the best feeling. I was determined not to walk the end bit and started running. "Come on" I cheered to a fellow runner who looked totally spent. And then, finally, I was over the finish line and relief totally engulfed me. “Congratulations, you have just run the hottest London Marathon on record” a marshall is telling me.  Great, no wonder I feel so crap! I get my medal, a photo is taken and then I collapse in a heap on the floor for a good 10 minutes thinking, did I really do that!

The weather made it extremely tough. But everytime I had a doubt I prayed a silent prayer to my little star and I was able to continue putting one foot infront of the other. This last year has been about breaking barriers and not being afraid to talk about what happened all those years ago. In the process I have raised a significant amount of money - £4,000 in total for Tommy’s for which I am truly proud. Probably more proud than running the actual race.  

I want to thank once again all my family and friends for all the support they have showed over the endless months of marathon training. But most of all, I want to thank Mr P. He has had to put up with the most. I couldn't have done it without you.

Will you do it again? I keep being asked. Today, 30th April, the ballot for the 39th London Marathon opened. Will I be entereing? I do feel I have unfinished business with the marathon distance. It no longer daunts me. I know I can do it. I want to be able to say I ran a good race, which I can’t say at the moment. The second half was not my best. So, maybe, not straight away and maybe not necessarily London, but I will definetly be attempting this distance again to get the time I really want and know I can do.

Watch this space. 😉 

Tina completed the 2018 Virgin London Marathon in 4:41:29 

The Penultimate Blog

Road closure signs going up

One week to go and the tension in “team Tina’s" household is becoming tense to say the least. Seven days until one of the biggest Marathons and this year I will be one of those crazy people running 26.2 miles.

The advanced warning road closure signs are going up in Greenwich Park and the surrounding area and the delivery of hundreds upon hundreds of portaloos will soon be arriving. Everywhere I look it seems to relate to the London Marathon. Honestly, I feel all I am doing at the moment is eating, breathing talking blasted marathon. If I think about it too much my head starts to hurt! I need to start some meditation to calm myself down as I’m seriously starting to panic about the whole thing.

I don’t want to use the word "journey", so overused in all the reality shows these days, but what the heck I’m going to use it anyway because it has been one hell of a journey to get here.  

Everywhere I look relates to marathon day!

When I started this blog back in June last year, I said I would detail my training progress: “all the highs, most probably lots of lows, and lots and lots of WHY THE HELL AM I DOING THIS.” 

Well I’m glad to report there has been plenty of highs. Crushing my half marathon PB by shaving a whooping 13 minutes off and then to shave another minute off that PB the following month. And more recently literally flying round at a supersonic speed in my fastest 10K. 

Lots of lows. Do I really need to go into knee gate once again? Bashing my knee and incurring ligament damage in January wasn’t the greatest start to my training regime this year. Unable to run for nearly 10 weeks has been extremely stressful and I was totally beside myself having to pull out of the Big Half Marathon at the beginning of March.

Why The Hell Am I doing This? Yep, well I’m still asking myself that one. It seemed such a long time ago, well a year in fact, when I decided to take on this challenge. When you sign up for something so far in advance you never really expect it to finally come round, but round it has come.

Now not only is there still a proposed DLR strike but despite months of sub zero temperatures (slight exaggeration but you know what I mean), the weather now decides to creep up on the thermometer. Marathon day is looking to be slightly on the warm side. Oh why you blasted weather couldn’t you stay just a tad cool for another week? Oh well, it is what it is and I’ve got a week to climatise.

So the training is done - albeit the majority of mine in the gym. I’ve finally broken in my trainers and I’ve got my name printed on my running t.shirt. All that needs to be done now is taper, carb load and a quick trip to the Excel Centre in Docklands to the Marathon Expo to officially register and collect my running number and timing chip. Then it truly is countdown to the 2018 Virgin Money London Marathon.

Wish me luck!

Marathon Madness Competition!

Champagne competition

How do you fancy winning a bottle of Laurent Perrier Rose Champagne?

Donate a minimum of £10 to my Just Giving Page and guess what time you think I will complete this year’s London Marathon taking place on Sunday 22 April 2018. Your answer needs to be in Hours, Minutes AND Seconds (01:01:01). The person who is correct, or closest will win this fabulous bottle of fizz.  Make sure you state your name on the Just Giving Page.

If more than two people have the correct answer, a random draw will be held.

GOOD LUCK!

ONE MONTH TO GO.....

status of my Virgin Money Giving page 
@ 22nd March 2018 

The clock is well and truly ticking with the 22nd April approaching at record speed - well that’s what it feels like from where I’m sitting. I still need to raise another £409.00 so if you haven’t had a chance to donate yet, then please do. Every penny counts. Come on, I’m proposing to run 26.2 miles on a dodgy knee! If there is one good thing you can do today, then donate a few pounds to Tommy’s, the charity I am running the London marathon for and help save babies lives. It will make you feel better😇. Click HERE to go to my fund raising page.

Now about that dodgy knee, let me give you a quick update. 

Good news for once people. I can run without pain. It’s a MIRACLE. Well not exactly, but running without pain really does feel like a miracle trust me. With determination and a lot of google surfing, I discovered Strength Runner Blogger Jason Fitzgerald. Within a few days of following his ITBS rehab program I was able to run, yes run, without pain and even downhill which has been a complete no no since the 7th January. ITBS is short for Iliotibial Band Syndrome (ITBS) which I was finally diagnosed with following an MRI scan together with lateral collateral ligament damage to my right knee. Now only time will heal the ligament damage. Eight to nine months to be precise, but the ITBS is something I can address. It's one of the most common overuse injuries among runners. It occurs when the iliotibial band, the ligament that runs down the outside of the thigh from the hip to the shin, is tight or inflamed. The IT band attaches to the knee and helps stabilise and move the joint. When the IT band isn’t working properly, movement of the knee (and, therefore, running) becomes painful. IT band pain can be severe enough to completely sideline a runner for weeks, which is what, unfortunately, happened to me.

Mo wins the new Big Half Marathon

Oh why didn’t I discover you earlier Mr Fitzgerald. I begrudgingly pulled out of the Big Half Marathon on 4th March and now think if I had started my rehab program earlier I could’ve run this race. Oh well, live and learn. The only silver lining about not running the half marathon was seeing the mighty Mo Farah run past and win the race.

Jason Fitzgerald’s thesis for any running is to avoid injury. Makes sense when you think about it like that. If you think you can just pull on your trainers and go out for a run then think again. True, everyone can run, but can everyone run correctly? I think not. Years of bad form has caught up with me. Jason has had only one injury since 2009 and competes in many marathon’s so at last I've found someone who really knows what he is talking about. 

Jason Fitzgerald

So I’m now listening to Jason’s advice and not my consultants. He said “I advise you not to run the marathon, but please prove me wrong." And that Ladies and Gentlemen is exactly what I plan to do - can’t believe I actually paid for that so called advice! 

Even though I'm slightly behind with my training schedule I’m feeling fitter than ever following lengthy cardio and strength sessions at the gym. My gym even praised me the other day as one of the most frequent visitors during January and February! But I’m now running and because of my fitness can build up the miles pretty quickly. I’m back and feeling pretty confident that I can do this.

BRING ON THE MARATHON. I’m sort of ready for you!

HIT session on the beach whilst visiting 
my mum in Spain recently

Begrudgingly had to pull out of this race

Remember to visit my Virgin Money Giving Page to read my full story

Houston, we have a problem

The problem knee

If you read last month’s blog you will know training isn't exactly going to plan. Bashing my knee in one of those stupid home accidents, it is, I’m afraid to say, still causing major havoc to my training schedule. Serious doubts have started to enter my head especially when I’m struggling to walk let alone run. I won’t bore you with all the details but I’m having endless physio sessions, strength exercises have been increased and a visit to my GP has been booked to see if knee steroid injections can be administered as a last resort.

I’m not making any of this up by the way; trying to make the blog a bit more dramatic with the lead up to the Marathon. Trust me, this is the last thing I really need at the moment and feel completely stressed with the whole situation. I can’t explain the agonising pain that shoots through my right leg. It’s times like this I really wish the world of Harry Potter did exist and a magic wand could be waved over the offending knee to make it all better. But unless you have a wand or superpowers it looks like I’m going to have to rely on pain killers. My next official race before the Marathon is on Sunday 4th March. The new "Big Half" where you run some of the London Marathon route backwards towards Greenwich. The jury is still out as to whether I will be running this one. So watch this space. 

In the meantime, here is the second part to my interview with author Neil Bailey:

What are the most important lessons you've learned from your running coach?

I’ve learnt that correct posture is vital for running. Making sure you’re standing tall and looking ahead, not down at the floor. By standing tall you get more oxygen into your lungs making breathing easier so you can happily clock up more miles.

Which professional athletes do you most admire and why?

80s Legends - Ovett, Cram and Coe

Your probably expecting me to say someone like Mo Farah. An amazing athlete and currently a national treasure. But I want you to cast your minds back to the 80's with three amazing runners - Steve Ovett, Steve Cram and Sebastian Coe.These three seemed to be forever breaking each others records and won endless medals. To have one great middle-distance runner could be deemed fortunate, to have three circling the track made us the envy of the sporting world. They were celebrities in their own right, attracting millions to watch their latest race and to see who would win - Ovett or Coe or maybe newbie Cram? Who couldn’t admire those guys? 

My Games Maker days at the
Paralympics London 2012

I’ve also had the great pleasure of meeting Sebastian Coe on several occasions. The Bank I was working for sponsored a running event and the then Mr Coe came along to give out medals. I just thought, ooh, you’re quite diddy! He was a lot shorter than I was expecting. And then I had another chance to say hello, albeit briefly to the then Lord Coe at the Paralympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Stratford, London in 2012 whilst I was working as one of the Games Makers. 

From what you've posted on your website we can see that you consider diet a critical component of your training regime. As the big day approaches are you making any additional changes to your diet?  

I qualified in nutrition and weight management a few years ago. I've made plenty of unhealthy choices over the years but eating correctly is now a bit of a passion and I'm always researching new and healthy ways to eat. You’ve heard the expression, “You are what you eat”, well if you’re going to fuel on chips, chocolate and booze then I don’t think you’ll get very far in a long race. If you swap those for brown rice, raw cocoa and low sugar intake, i.e. no booze, together with lots of fresh vegetables, nuts, pulses and lean meat then you’re onto a winner.  I’ve ditched the alcohol. Unfortunately, there is nothing good in alcohol, it’s just unnecessary sugar intake. And yes, even G&T has been banned!

Do you 'carb-load' before running longer distances in training? 

When I trained for my first Half Marathon I increased in weight by 7lbs. I was eating way too many carbs all the time. It’s a myth that when you are training for an event that you can eat whatever because you think you will just burn it off. The only time you need to start increasing what you eat is when you are training over 90 minutes. So to make sure I don't increase in weight I keep my portions sizes the same. Generally I try and make sure most of my plate is vegetables so I'm getting plenty of complex carbs. If I know I will be training for more than 90 minutes than yes I'll increase my carb intake. However, sometimes I end up on a long run when I wasn't really planing to. It just sort of happened. On those occasions I've noticed I get very hungry after 15 miles and then re-fuel on sports drinks or sports jelly beans for a quick fix carb intake. You hear the expression “Hitting the Wall”. In general, hitting the wall refers to depleting your stored glycogen. Glycogen is carbohydrate that is stored in our muscles and liver for energy. When you run low on glycogen, even your brain wants to shut down which leads to the negative thinking that comes along with "hitting the wall". I definitely don't want that happening on the big day but to be honest I’m still working out what works best on the fuel front. I’ll be increasing my healthy carbs the week before the race and have worked out I will need to take on extra carbs every hour during the race itself, like a sports drink.

Have you found the training affecting your every day activities, e.g. sleep patterns? 

Sleep has actually improved since training. I was once a suffering insomniac but now I’m so tired by the end of the day I’m happily tucked up in bed by 9pm and usually sleep through. Social life on the other hand is now completely out the window. There have been a few events I've had to send apologies to recently, so once again, Sorry!

If you had to list your three main concerns for the big day, what would they be? 

• First concern is actually getting to the start line with this blasted injury. My pain threshold is pretty high but I do have limits and the thought of running 26.2 miles in agony is not very appealing.
• That being said, 98% of people who do start the marathon go on and complete it. I don't want to enter that 2% club and not finish which is concern number two.  
• My last concern is one no-one has control over being the weather. I just hope we do not have one of those out of the blue hot spring days. Really couldn't handle that. I suffered with dehydration during the Hackney Half Marathon which was at the beginning of May in 2016 and it was one of the worst running experiences of my life to-date. I do not want a repeat experience of that. 

Your running times in recent months have been very impressive. What is your target time for the big day?

Prior to the knee injury I was training for a sub 4 finish i.e. to complete the marathon under 4 hours. Post knee accident I just think it’s going to be a miracle to get round!

How do you plan to celebrate completing your first marathon?

To have an extremely large G&T followed by another one and then some champagne just for the hell of it.  

Have you given any thought to entering another marathon after the London one? Or maybe a Triathlon??

HELL NO. I need my life back. And I don’t think Mr P could handle me whinging about any more injuries!!!!

One of my strength exercises
squat hold with band

Remember to visit my Virgin Money Giving Page to read my full story

uh-oh INJURY!

Don’t fret, we are nearly at the end of this bleak month which feels as though its been dragging on forever. Good riddance to January is all I’m saying. My training hasn’t exactly kicked started as I planned and has been blue for another reason. 

A few weeks ago, I carelessly bashed my right knee into a kitchen draw handle. How amazingly stupid, but it was also so amazingly painful.Training was going so well up until that point. Hill and speed sessions were added to my schedule, all important to increase endurance pace. So when this incident happened I was not best pleased.

So there I was on a sunny but cold Sunday morning, 7th January to be precise, all ready to go for a 9 mile run.This was going to be my first long run of 2018 and I was really looking forward to it. As I started I could feel something wasn't quite right and after three miles it was really twinging.There is always that dilemma when you feel something is not quite right in training as to whether you should carry on or quit? I was running on a flat surface and decided to carry on and go for the full 9 miles. It was only on my return journey when I had to run down some steps that a shooting pain went from my right kneecap all the way up my leg. And that was it, running over and I had to limp home. Bugger or much bluer words to that effect! I realised that the bash the previous evening was a little more serious than I first thought. 

Gym session

Over two weeks has now passed. I’ve tried a couple of times to run but not with much success. I’ve carried on my fitness regime in the gym resorting to pedal power on a racer bike and lifting weights. A trip to the Physio has also been made and now with structured exercises to strengthen the knee I think I’m turning a corner and will soon be back to pounding the streets of London. So not the greatest start and perhaps I need to bubble wrap all sharp corners so I don’t make the same mistake!

Whilst boring friends with the woes of my lack of training, a writer friend, Neil Bailey (very good books by the way, When she was bad and Bad for Good) come up with the great idea of interviewing me so you, the reader, can get to know me a bit better. “No dodgy questions!” I said to him. So over the next couple of blogs you will be able to read this interview. 

Here is Part One: 

Did you run competitively at school?

Ha ha ha haha, sorry I just need to stop laughing. That’s a big fat NO to that answer.  As soon as I hit my teens I hated running. In fact, hated any type of sport to be perfectly honest unless it was Hockey and that was only so I could get my revenge on anyone that had given me grief during the week with a nice little whack to their shin - accidentally of course. “Sorry Miss, didn’t see her leg there!”

When did you start running as an adult?

I started running in my late thirties - around 38 I believe so I really am a late starter to all this running malarkey. And I would only run on a treadmill at the gym. I couldn’t bear the thought of anyone I knew seeing me run outside. I just thought everyone would fall around laughing seeing my huge rear wobbling down the road. I was extremely body conscious so treadmill it was, and I tried to time it when the gym wasn't that busy. I remember the first time I managed to run 20 minutes non stop and I was so proud of myself.

And why did you start running?

Well, I’ve just mentioned I was body conscious. Throughout the majority of my thirties I was undergoing IVF treatment. The gruelling schedule of hormone injections played havoc on my waistline. I also had been through a pregnancy and birth and I just struggled to shift the baby weight. But the main reason to be perfectly honest was for my own sanity. I struggled with depression very badly after the death of my daughter and exercise was my way of keeping sane. I still have dark days but I find a nice long run gives you plenty of time to think and work things out in your head. When the endorphins kick in you end up feeling on top of the world.

Why did you decide to run a marathon? You’d previously suggested you were happy running 10k and half marathons.

Richmond 10 mile T.Shirt

I’m still asking myself that question to be honest! When we moved to Greenwich, over 6 years ago, that is when I finally started to run outside - and really enjoyed it.  My fitness had improved and I had shifted the excessive weight. September 2013 was my first half marathon and then I just started signing up to the odd 10k here and there. 2016 I ran two more half marathons, both with their own problems - either too hot or believe it or not I had a dodgy knee - the same one as now!  I then signed up to the new Richmond Park 10 mile race. I had never been to Richmond Park and couldn't think of a better way to see it. I was told the course was hilly so that's when I joined Greenwich Runners to help me with hill training. There was quite a few members training for the London Marathon when I joined and I was basically so inspired by this running group that I entered the 2018 London Marathon ballot but also approached Tommy’s to see if I could run for them - and the rest, as they say, is history! If I never joined Greenwich Runners, I wouldn’t be running the 2018 Marathon! 

Have there been any moments when you’ve had second thoughts?

Only recently, when I haven’t been able to train. I do get a bit down when I can’t keep to the correct training schedule. But I’m extremely determined and I’ve raised a lot of money so basically I can’t entertain any second thoughts. 

Do you have a regular route you run in training or do you like to mix it up?

I have lots of different routes of all different distances but I never run the same route each week. I would find this a bit tedious but also if you stick to the same training regime your muscles just get used to it so your not giving your body any new challenges. You need to mix it up to get the best benefits out of training.

Do you prefer running on hard services (roads, pavements) or soft?

Well lets be honest here, hard services aren’t great for your joints especially long endurance runs. I think 10k is OK on a hard service but for longer runs I would prefer a softer surface. I do enjoy trail running in the countryside or beach.

What are your ideal weather conditions for running? 

Perfect conditions would be a dry cool sunny day. When the sun shines I always seem to run faster.

Is there any weather you won’t train in?

I’ve trained in most types of weather now but wouldn’t train in extreme conditions, i.e. ice or snow on the pavements or if it was scorching hot. Absolutely hate running when it is too hot.

You have mentioned joining a running club. Do you prefer to run on your own or with others?

In a race I prefer to be on my own. I don’t have to worry about keeping to someone else’s pace. Otherwise, it’s always nice to run with someone else and have a good chat. The miles seem to clock up a lot a quicker that way!

This was my first session with the Greenwich Runners in March 2017

The second part to this interview will be next month.

Remember to visit my Virgin Money Giving Page to read my full story