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: I’m on holiday, so I don’t have access to my photos, but here’s one of me as parkrun director 3 weeks ago. It’s hard to believe I only ran my first parkrun one year ago.
Q: Tell us a little bit about you!
A: Like my namesake, C3PO, I’m a translator, and am self-employed. I’m a diplomat’s daughter, and grew up on 4 continents, and moved to my 5th (Europe) when I was 18. With my parents’ busy lifestyle, I didn’t have a conventional upbringing, and there wasn’t much focus on exercise or activities for us kids. I’m 50 now, and have three children, one of whom has special needs, so I don’t have much extra energy, but running keeps me sane.
Q: How long have you been a runner?
A: I started running 9 years ago, but stopped for a while after child no. 3, so I consider myself as having become a regular runner 5 years ago.
Q: Did you start running with a C25K programme? Why or why not?
A: No. I don’t know if they existed 9 years ago – I certainly hadn’t heard of them. I had to do it all on my own.
I also had to start over on my own in 2013.
Q: But what made you want to start running races?
A: Seeing somebody wearing a marathon T-shirt at the gym. I always hated running, so the idea of running a 5K race seemed like the ultimate symbol of how I had changed my life. I didn’t end up running 5K, though, I ended up going from 0 to 10K in three or four months!
Q: What's it like to run in your area?
A: Hilly. I live in a capital city, so there’s plenty of traffic. The descent to sea level is about 100 m, but then I have to run up again.
Q: What is your favourite race event so far? And why?
A: Not sure – they’re all so different. London Marathon was special, but since it didn’t go to plan, it’s definitely not there. Maybe the Spitsbergen half marathon. Things went decently, considering my injury, it was a special setting, and the post-race banquet was fun.
Q: What are your favourite mid-race snack, and post-race meal?
A: Gels or jelly babies, cheese mid-race. I have no post-race favourites.
I just need to have plenty of veg to prevent post-race bloating.
Q: Name a favourite running website (plus link, please!):
A: mapmyrun.com because I keep checking my old data!
Q: What's next for you, running-wise?
A: Being kind to myself, and allowing myself to finally recover from my injury. I’m going to try not to make too many plans for now. I have signed up for the Oslo Marathon half in September, but might downgrade to 10 K.
July Challenge - Whatsapp's Story
Pinks story
My Running Story
My Running story, squeezed in at the end of July: 
