Q: what is the picture about?
A: This was the RFL muddy 5k run! My running has created three small runners in my wake. They have won races at school and represented their school in interschools competitions. I am amazingly proud of them.
Q: Tell us a little bit about you!
A: I am a 45yr old lady who doesn't want to get older! I am married to an ex-army husband (who has run miles and miles) and we have three children; eldest daughter followed a year later with boy/girl twins. Pre children I played a lot of hockey for a club and did a couple of runs a week, pregnancy for two years put paid to my exercise! I work full time over three long days (with oncalls) as a clinical perfusionist. I studied hard when the kids were small and achieved my life long ambition of a PhD 6 yrs ago. I run when I can three times a week when the trio are at school whilst hubs and I juggle what life throws at us.
Q: How long have you been a runner?
A: I started with a c25k run group in August 2016, graduating in October 2016.
Q: Did you start running with a C25K programme? Why or why not?
A: It was a form of c25k with one run group session a week and 2 other runs set as homework. By the end I was running 5k parkrun in 36 minutes.
Q: But what made you want to start running races?
A: It seemed to be a natural progression to aim for a race spurred on by my husband's hm medals from his army days. In March 2017 I did a monthly virtual challenge of 25 miles, then I aimed to run the women's running 10k in early June. I focused on 5k to 10k training and completed the 10k run in 61 minutes despite being laid up with a flu like virus the week before. After this I did a couple of virtual 10k before training to 10 miles for GSR. Sadly family stuff got in the way of running GSR so I did a virtual 10 mile run. This sowed the seed for a hm in Southampton. My brothers sudden death gave me the focus and challenge to do the hm and helped hugely with the grief by having a future plan to aim for. Where next......I'm not sure yet!
Q: What's it like to run in your area?
A: Southampton is fairly flat with some hillier roads and lovely green spaces. The pavements are atrocious in places!
Q: What is your favourite race event so far? And why?
A: I guess it has to be the Southampton hm for the distance challenge, the locals support and the great fun/support of running round with a run group member. Finishing the run was both amazing and bittersweet. The most memorable run was a relay marathon race, (teams of 10 running 2.6 mile laps) where I attended an unconscious collapsed runner on the course, handed them to the ambulance crew in time to grab the batten and run my lap for the team, bonkers!
Q: What are your favourite mid-race snack, and post-race meal?
A: long runs I enjoy jelly babies! Post long race I ate chocolate and then raided the fridge before going out for a steak!
Q: Name a favourite running website (plus link, please!):
A: I read articles on women's running or runnersworld. I enjoy seeing the amazing stories and support on the run mummy run Facebook page.
Q: What's next for you, running-wise?
A: In this heat the aim is to keep getting out 3 times a week. I have started a plan for 10 GSR in October and have the New Forest 10k booked for early September. Not sure what other goals to go for yet, I still lack confidence in my running!
Just kidding, and that's such a great story!!
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