Here's my contribution to the July mini-challenge - I've actually been meaning to "introduce myself" since I became an admin here!
Q: Please attach a picture, doesn't have to be of you if you don't want - but tell us here: what is the picture about?
A: That is me, and I'm running in the Beachy Head Marathon in October 2016, where I got a lot of humorous comments about my parkrun top
Picture was by Sussex Sport Photography, nice chap - check out his blog here, funny captions
sussexsportphotography.blog...
Q: Tell us a little bit about you!
A: I'm 48 and married with two cats. I did a biology degree, and worked as a factory QC microbiologist for a few years, and then various techy admin type jobs, but these days I work at home (with my husband) doing bits and bobs for our small mobile phone game business. I play the flute, and I enjoy housework, beer, and slothfulness
Q: How long have you been a runner?
A: About three and a half years...
Q: Did you start running with a C25K programme? Why or why not?
A: I did the NHS C25K, using the old app with Laura (not the podcast - sorry but the music was just too awful :)). I wasn't really a couch potato because I was a keen swimmer and user of barre fusion video workouts, but I had never been able to understand running! However, I knew it would be good for my bone health to take it up, and a friend did C25K and posted about it on Facebook very impressively. It interested me, and I was at the time writing a master's dissertation about digital health apps and websites, so I gave it a go and loved it!
Q: But what made you want to start running races?
A: Same old story, I originally had no desire to run further than 5k! But I wanted a new challenge, so I worked up to 10k, and once I'd been running that distance for a bit (and I loved it!) I started to think, well, a half marathon is only two 10ks... And then I heard about the Milton Keynes Winter Half Marathon (MK is an old stomping ground), so there I went I've since done a few halfs and 10ks, four marathons, a triathlon, and an ultramarathon! I've been injured too, but it's all part of life's rich tapestry
Q: What's it like to run in your area?
A: I'm really lucky to live in Brighton & Hove UK, which has a mixture of long and super-flat sea-front promenade (up to Rottingdean and back for a half-mara pb attempt!), flat-to-steep town streets and parks, and hilly trails up on the South Downs and beyond
Q: What is your favourite race event so far? And why?
A: Difficult to choose, but I'll go for Beachy Head. It was my first marathon, and it's just such a lovely event - trails, massive hills, glorious views, a highland piper, Mars Bars and sausage rolls en route, lunch and the use of a swimming pool at the finish!
Q: What are your favourite mid-race snack, and post-race meal?
Mars Bars (thanks Beachy Head!); and Fish 'n' Chips.
A: Best piece of running/racing advice?
Smile, and pick up your feet!
Q: Name a favourite running website (plus link, please!):
A: I love the Endurance Planet 'Ask the Coaches' podcasts:
Q: What's next for you, running-wise?
A: I'm going to be a bit more spontaneous with my race bookings, because earlier on this year I got really bogged down and stressed out with injury and too many races at once. I have booked a return to Beachy Head this year, but I am doing an ultramarathon training plan leading up to that, and would like mostly just to do my own thing. I may well go for more ultramarathons (there are quite a few local ones), and definitely would like to do more triathlon training - only the occasional actual event, but maybe an Ironman one day! And I'm currently trying to improve my windsurfing skills
Link to the July Challenge post: