Dawn, what would you say to anyone who tells themselves “I’m not a runner”? 

I think if you run, you are automatically a runner, but often we are too worried about what others think.  For example I will say “I’m a runner” but then will quickly follow up with “but I’m really slow”.  I am trying to reprogramme my thinking to be proud of what I am achieving and acknowledge it better.  “I run. I am a runner and I have great fun doing it”.

Where do these self-limiting beliefs come from?

Years and years of negative thoughts.  They creep into your thinking and vocabulary with stealth and gradually build up until they become your natural way of thinking and talking.

You hear kids saying “I’m an awesome runner” or “I can run really fast” or even “When I grow up I want to be Superman”.  Somewhere along the way we lose that belief in ourselves to be replaced with self-deprecating thoughts.  Humility is encouraged in adulthood and we are not great at saying “I’m awesome at that”.

That is so true Dawn. We all need to find our inner Superman!

Could you describe your own backstory?

I started running not for me but when my step-mum of 32 years was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.  I wanted to run the Race for Life for her to raise money and show my support for her in what would be a hard treatment journey.  I was 7 stone overweight and hadn’t really done exercise for 18 years, it had just got too difficult and was a vicious cycle resulting in low self-confidence and low mood for me.  But I set about training for the run, mostly in the dark.  It was really tough to begin with and I cried a lot but I never thought about giving up (which was a first for me).  Cut a long and sweaty journey down, I did the run but I was worried that if I had nothing else to aim for after, I would give up running as I always gave up things.  So I found parkrun and did my first 5k there.  I realised I had started to actually love running (weird I know).  So to date I have done 43 parkruns, 3 x 10km runs, run in my spare time, go to the gym, go horse-riding and am hoping to do my first half marathon next year.

Awesome! What’s the best non-running benefit of running? 

Friendships definitely – the people I have met along my journey have been so amazing and I have forged friendships for life.  And the benefits on my mental health have been phenomenal.  I always felt my life was on hold until I was “thin” almost as if then when I achieved what my head depicted as “thin” I would be finally happy and the clouds would part and all would be well with the world.  I now no longer hate what I see in the mirror as I look at myself and realise how strong I am and what I have achieved and how awesome that actually is.  I know I have the skills and tools to keep myself physically and mentally well and if I have a dip in mood a run even in the rain reminds me of how strong I am.

How would you describe Parkrun?

Family.  Epic.  Life changing. And so so welcoming.

You came to people’s attention with your iconic parkrun finish photo. Could you describe your feelings at the very moment you crossed the finish line of your 1st parkrun? 

That picture was from my 6^th parkrun, I think the finish line picture of my 1^st was a crying blubbering mess, less joy more emotionally and physically exhausted.

What stories have people shared with you because of that photo?  

Mostly that they see themselves in me.  They feel running isn’t for them or they are too slow or there is the expectation they will need to run the whole thing or they will finish last.  All those things are the thoughts I have had so love to hear those challenges and gently talk to people to break down those misconceptions and hopefully inspire some excitement to consider giving it a go.  The other more surprising stories are from the really fast runners that a lot of them actually admire the slower runners for getting out there and giving it a go.

Have you experienced negativity towards you through running? 

Not really.  I get the occasional disbelieving person when I say I run when they look me up and down and you can see them judging from my size that it is doubtful I am a runner.  I have been known to wear a race t-shirt as evidence, but usually to remind me on a bad day that I have actually run 10k before so to pull  up my big girl pants and just get on with it and stop being miserable.  Initially when I was on BBC Radio and they tweeted a picture of me running one guy laughed calling me ‘fatty’ and asking if I was running to Weight Watchers.  I’m not even going to bother answering that kind of comment, but thankfully there have been a handful like that – and usually the responses from other followers are enough to put them in their place.

I’ve had a bit a negativity from my teenager that I am not at home as much but that has meant she has had to learn to do a few more things for herself, which is no bad thing in the long run.

Any advice for others that may suffer from negativity? 

Be proud and believe in yourself.  When you are kind to yourself and acknowledge your achievements, it’s much easier to be positive and ignore comments which are totally ridiculous and probably more about the person saying them than they are about you.  And are you really going to let someone else’s small-minded opinion stop you going out there and enjoying yourself?  You deserve to be happy so go out and find it and keep doing it.

Fantastic! So how can people get more active? 

I have realised why I never really stuck to activities before, it’s because I didn’t enjoy them.  We only have a fixed amount of hours in a day and very few of them (if any) are ‘spare’ so why spend your time doing things you don’t enjoy?  Running may not be your ‘happy’, but go out there and find what it is.  Because if you are having fun it doesn’t feel like a chore or a slog, and meeting other people who share that same love, you’re going to make friends whilst having fun.  Local clubs, sports centres, work bulletin boards all have details of different sports and activities.  You might have to try a few to find the right one.  Sport England and This Girl Can websites (you don’t need to be a girl to read it) have great details of all types of sports too.

Any plans for a #2018dawnsyear?

Hopefully to do a half marathon without the need for CPR or a defibrillator.  The feeling of crossing the line after my first 10k was epic, so I am excited to take on this extra challenge and give it a go.

Finally, any tips? 

Look up when you are running or doing your sport.  I was always so embarrassed running in public that I used to look at my feet.  Another runner coming the other way flagged me down and told me to ‘look up’.  She said she had been trying to smile at me to encourage me and I missed it because I wasn’t looking up.  She said to be proud. 
So that would be my tip – Look up and be proud.

Dawn thanks so much for sharing your running experiences and dreams for 2018. It’s such an uplifting story. Hope next year is amazing for you and that you continue to go on inspiring so many of us to get more active 🙂

Yours in sport 

Jeff

In this enlightening interview, Lynne AKA “Jogonhijabi”, talks about the importance of running and joy of #Parkrun.

What has running given you?

Have you ever experienced negative stereotypes while running?

How do you handle it?

Fundraising for Gambia how can people help?

VLM whats your hope?

Lynne, thank you so much for reflecting on your running story with us. The very best of luck with Virgin London Marathon 2018 and your fundraising.

And what a day it was! All four of us taking part in a Lakeland Trails event for the first time. The kids have really got into running as a previous #parkrun post detailed.

Having just turned 16, Louis was eligible for the 10k event. When we entered last year, he’d only just started running regularly. We both booked on, assuming I’d take him round the course. How wrong we were!

Lakeland Trails quest to encourage more people to try out trail running, by introducing a new 5k Sport Trail for 2017, meant Anne Marie and Izzy (13) entered – the former with some cajoling from Izzy!

Sunny Spring Day

The forecast didn’t disappoint, serving up a day of ideal running conditions – slightly cool, dry, some breeze…

As is so often the case, the atmosphere at the event village was buzzing as entrants and their friends & family went about their business of settling down to enjoy the day ahead. There was a real feelgood vibe to Staveley village – no doubt helped by this being a ‘home’ event for new event sponsors Inov-8 who are based literally across from the recreation ground.  The kids both took the chance to ‘test drive’ some Inov-8 for their runs – instead of using their normal trail/fell shoes.

Catching up with running friends old and new was a theme of the morning as we wished each other luck for the events ahead. A ‘good luck’ handshake from Graham Patten was a very nice touch before the off.

Batala Beats

The brilliant “Batala Lancaster” got everyone buzzing with their enthusiasm as they drummed up the energy for the start of the 10k. Louis asked “So are we running this together then?” as we were about to head off. The look in his eye said different so I smiled wryly and said we should each run our own race. He smiled and we both knew we were determined to be first back to the finish! Louis stated his intent with a gentle elbow to move me aside as we set off. That first 10 metres was the only time I spent ahead of him! Running so strongly the entire course he built and maintained a 1-2 minute gap. As a parent I had a real mix of sheer pride and joy at how well he was going (I was mentally willing him on) yet at the same time, running hard to catch him in the event he may tire lol! He didn’t as you can see from the times below!

After a gruelling road climb roughly half way through, Louis still managed to take on the climb up and over Reston Scar while still having the energy to belt down the descent back to Staveley village – that last ascent and descent was where I thought I might catch him but he had other ideas.

I gave it everything at the end, to the point of wretching as I rounded the final bend and literally staggered pitifully across the finish. Pleased with 1:00:34 over 11.8k and even more delighted to see Louis had reached 16th with 58:35!

We were greeted with even more lovely news on collecting our t-shirts…

Do we go up there? (Not noticing clear signs)

pic Ian Stainthorpe

Sport Trail Success

The 5k had started after the 10k (11.8k). Their route turned out to be 5.8k with 2 huge climbs – the second being Reston Scar. Almost all four of us finished together. Izzy said it was the hardest she’d ever run and I think she surprised herself by finishing 11th with  36:01. Only 30 mins later she was asking “When is the next one?” lol. Anne Marie had battled her inner voice to push through both climbs and run the steep descent. Enjoy would be the wrong word but she was glad to have experienced her first Lakeland Trails event. We’d all successfully negotiated the ‘Sting in the Tail’.

Apres Trail was a joy. We were able to cheer on friends who were running the 17k challenge and race. Enjoy some lovely coffee and food from the stall vendors. Oh and Louis bought himself a pair of Inov-8 ROCLITE 290 and has been out in them a few times since 🙂

A massive thank you to all amazing marshals, for your smiles and encouragement to all runners 🙂

Btw, I’m only pointing out actual distances for information. One of the great things about trail running is that distances are not expected to be exact. We’re lucky to be running such beautiful places so why not embrace an extra km or two?!

Staveley 2017 5k profile

Well earned t-shirts from a brilliant day 🙂

Series Intent

So what now? Well myself and Louis are booked on the Autumn Series 10k so we can do battle again. Izzy on the Autumn Series 5k too. We’re looking forward to Keswick, Helvellyn and Ullswater so much I can’t tell you! (AM is happy to watch .)  This #Run1000Miles challenge is going well and keeping me fit 

Yours in sport

Jeff

(DNF = ‘did not finish’)

I’ve had a funny old year for running this year. I’ve been running for 13 years now, starting as a fun runner, taking selfies during my first charity 10k (Great Manchester Run). I progressed quickly to marathon runner – well, embarrassingly, at the time the London marathon was the only other race I’d ever heard of! I’ve now done 12 marathons so far and counting. In 2010 joined a club and became a bit more of a competitive runner. Took up fell running and decided off-road running was definitely for me. And finally when the marathon training/running started to feel decidedly ‘comfortable’, I started ultra running.

Ultra running seemed to combine several of my favourite things – long distance running, off-road running and eating. So three years ago I took the leap and entered my first ultra marathon in 2013, the Ladybower 35. A stunning trail route running round the beautiful reservoir of ‘Dambusters’ fame. Joy of joys I had a wonderful run and finished 2nd lady, 5th overall!

I entered my next ultra within 6 months. Next was the 50k Canalathon which I decided to run all the way without the usual walking/eating breaks. My theory was ‘well it’s only a few miles over a marathon’… now I’m not entirely sure that this theory stands up but I did just about manage to run it all the way in about 5 hours 20-odd minutes. I moved up distance, completing the 100k Canalathon the year after, followed three months later by the 110k Ultimate Trails Lakeland ultra. These last two events had been tough in very different ways – the canalathon mentally challenging (running along a flat canal for 12 hours, suffering with terrible nausea for the whole of the second half) and the UT110k physically challenging (69 miles, 14,000ft of ascent and quite technical running) but completely exhilarating. I started thinking about entering a 100 mile event. I’d just need to run the UT110k again and use this as a qualifying race. I looked forward to getting a 100 mile race under my belt. Just imagine being able to say you’d run 100 miles!

So as 2015 drew to a close I entered the same ultras again for 2016, the 100k Canalathon in late March and the 110 Lakeland ultra in early July. With the experience of having run the events before I felt confident I’d be able to complete both events again and was hoping to improve my time in the Canalathon in particular as I’d found it hard going when the nausea kicked in. Training went well through the winter and into spring. I seemed to be running a bit faster than I had previously. Everything was on track. And then. The week of the Canalathon I became ill. The worst cold I’ve had for many years. I never get ill. Ever. Why now!? Still, I’d done all the training and I had the confidence knowing I had completed the event last time, even though I had felt terribly sick during the race. So it didn’t even cross my mind to pull out or even drop to a shorter distance (oh hindsight..) Anyway, a couple of days before the race we went for a short walk up Holcolmbe Hill. I struggled so much. I got to the top drained and out of breath and turned to my friend and said “I am seriously worried about this race now!!” But still, I had another couple of days to rest and was still relatively hopeful.

Race day came! An early start and especially so as the clocks had gone forward the previous night. We set off from Sowerby Bridge for the 31.5 mile outbound stretch to Manchester. All good up to the first check point at 10 miles. And then things rapidly went downhill! I got to 15 miles – still very early in the race bearing in mind there were 64 miles to do overall – and I felt shocking. No energy, feeling sick… so early in the race but feeling like I had at about 40 miles last year. I was worried!! I managed to get to the halfway point at Manchester, turn around and head back. So many friends and family had turned out to support me, I was so grateful. I could only apologise to them, crying and emotional, knowing I was having a nightmare. I got to about 80km, roughly 50 miles and timed out just before the last checkpoint 13 miles before the finish. Devastated doesn’t come close. I cried all the way home.

At least I still had the Lakeland Ultimate Trails to look forward to. I got back into training again. Got up to doing 40 mile training runs, feeling good. Race day arrived (I say race day, we arrived at the event on Friday ready for a midnight start!). All good. Thank goodness! I did exactly as I did the previous year, even down to eating the same type of pasta salad the evening of the race. With the midnight start a nap in the early evening was essential. Feeling full and a bit uncomfortable I settled down in the tent for a few of hours sleep. Waking at 10pm I knew things weren’t quite right. The full stomach I’d gone to sleep with was still there. But now it felt tender to touch, even having my backpack strap against it felt uncomfortable. Probably just the late race start. Nobody feels that great starting a race at midnight!

Very, very soon into this race once again I knew things were not going to plan. I couldn’t bear anything touching my tummy. Although managing to get to Kentmere faster than the previous year, I felt terrible. Gripping my sides and walking I managed to get over the first three mountain passes, increasingly uncomfortable and struggling with stomach cramps. Made it over Nan Bield (a real highlight last year!) and onto the next leg. Shortly after leaving the checkpoint at Haweswater I had to find a secluded spot. And (apologies if you’re eating) thus ensued horrendous diahorrea. Ah right… so I was ill!!! That explained everything. Food poisoning. Unbelievable. How unlucky can one person be? Walking most of the way to the next checkpoint I deliberated about continuing – could I possibly walk for another 40+ miles to the finish? Finally arriving at Bampton I accepted the inevitable and handed my number in. Another DNF.

Talk about lowpoints. Nothing could have made me feel worse. What was happening? I had never DNF’d before and now I had DNF’d two major races that I’d trained months for. It really made me think about how much I had invested, just for everything to fall apart at the last moment. I had sacrificed other races (missing club championship fell and road races) for months in order to get the long ultra training runs in. The early weekend starts, the hours spent in wind, rain, hail.. alone for long hours on the trails. All for nothing. Time I could have spent with my daughter, my partner, family… what had I been thinking. Everything went through my mind. More tears.

To cut a long story slightly shorter I decided never to do ultras again. How could I invest so much for things to go so wrong at the last minute. Decision made. I started to enjoy running shorter distances again. We went on holiday… 

And then I started thinking about ultras again. I’d started to realise that I couldn’t leave things as they were. I had to do something. How could I finish the year achieving nothing, having started the year with such high hopes? Within a couple of weeks of returning from holiday I entered the Ladybower ultramarathon again. I’d had such a positive experience there three years ago it would be the perfect choice. A lovely undulating trail run which I’d thoroughly enjoyed last time. This time having no 35 mile option I entered the 50 mile. I decided not to tell anyone (apart from my partner Nick who would need to drive me to and from the event) for several reasons. Self-doubt being the chief one! But still, feeling terribly guilty about not sharing my decision to enter another ultra. But what if I DNF’d again? Self doubt again! I had to finish.

Race day came, another early start. Doubts on the way to the race -“maybe we should just turn back, nobody knows I’m even entered!” And then the start. Again everything seemed to be going well. Running at a comfortable pace and enjoying the route. The relief! An ultra going well. Even so I kept waiting for thing to start going wrong. Starting to feel things hurting at 30 miles, but only to be expected. Dip in energy at 37 miles. Bit of refuelling and things started to pick up again. Feeling amazing as I passed the 40 mile mark. The overwhelming happiness realising that I was going to finish!! Never mind racing it, I’d have been ecstatic just to complete it. Last few miles and realising that I was overtaking people, I ran in to the finish as 4th lady. Talk about highs and lows of running!

I’m not a fast runner, I’d probably describe myself as a pretty average club runner. There’s plenty of people who have run further and certainly faster! I’m not sure how much this will help others, but just wanted to share some observations from this year’s experiences:

1. Don’t beat yourself up about a DNF

Everyone has a bad run. In all likelihood anyone running for long enough will experience a DNF. Especially in ultras! You’re not the first to do so and definitely won’t be the last. Even the elites DNF now and again. There’s no shame in a DNF.

2. You are more than the sum of your runs

Having two DNFs after 13 years of successful running made me question my self-worth like nothing ever before. How had I come to tie my confidence up so closely with my long-distance running? I hadn’t even realised I had until I DNF’d. A valuable life lesson.

3. Take the positives – and get some perspective!

Okay so you didn’t finish for whatever reason. But you were brave enough to put the hours of training in and step up to the start line. More than most. You managed to run ‘x’ number of miles into the race. Again, more than most could hope for. Looking back I knew I’d done the best I could on the day in both DNF races. Once I’d calmed down and stopped crying I realised this. I’d managed to get over three mountain passes with food poisoning. Ran as far as I could in the Canalathon. Never again will I bemoan ‘only’ being able to run 50 miles before DNF’ing!

4. Don’t be afraid to ‘get back on the horse’

After a disappointment like a DNF it would be quite understandable to decide never to take the plunge again. Only you can decide what’s best for you. You know your own body and mind. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Take some time out. Don’t rush. But don’t be afraid to try again.

5. Keep a lookout for ferns!

Happy running!

Jill x

We are delighted to interview the “tour de force” of trail running that is Claire Maxted. Claire shares her thoughts on her own trail running adventures, the trail running community, oh and a bit of food Enjoy!

Claire, since launching Trail Running magazine in May 2010 you’ve take the publication from strength to strength. What is behind its increasing appeal?
These days, increasingly, people are craving experience and adventure over material goods. Trail running, ultra running and adventure racing is the new Porsche!

How did you get into trail running yourself?
I hated running at school so much I actually developed a slight phobia of it, feeling panicked beforehand & finding excuses not to. At uni, drinking a lot of beer I first realised I might get a bit fat! And I wanted to do a triathlon and adventure races which required running. I wanted to beat my phobia, keep fit & lean, & do these exciting races so I conquered my fear by just doing running. I joined a club too which really helps & makes you get out there even when you don’t want to. Now I LOOK FORWARD to running, and edit a running mag! Who’d have thunk it?

Superb! And what is your favourite local route?
Ooh tricky! I absolutely love my solo Saturday silence runs (the one time I’m not chatting & totally alone lol!) around Yawell Quarry, Southwick Woods and Warmington to Elton villages near Peterborough. The thing I love most is just choosing the route on a whim, like the views and trails they are old, welcoming friends I can revisit when I feel like it.


Where are your other favourite places to run and why?
The Peak District, the Lake District, obviously, but mainly exploring new and unexpected places. Like recently I was on a course in Warsall, Birmingham, and found a brilliant route around Sutton Nature Reserve without a map, just went exploring.

In three words please describe The Coastal Challenge…
Argh! Too! Hot!

What did you learn about yourself in doing this?
That my mind is the power. If I’d have wanted to finish it, I would. I’ve been in worse pain & more tired. But for the first time in my life I let myself quit because I wasn’t enjoying the insane heat. I’m not proud of that DNF but it will make me only enter races I really want to do in future (ie not hot ones) despite being tempted by all the exciting challenges on offer through my position at Trail Running mag.


What key advice would you give anyone preparing for their first multi-stage race/event?
Ha ha ha, probably train with Rory Coleman! He will definitely get you through and is worth every penny if you pay attention to him. Respect the challenge. Understand that good training will require a substantial proportion of your time so you must make sure you can fit this around your family, work & friends, and that you will enjoy this training journey. It’s not all about that week of racing but the months of prep beforehand.

You also completed the Bob Graham Round (BGR) in 2013, in a magnificent 26hrs 36mins. Will you be trying this again?
YES! It very much scares me but I really really want to be able to say “I’ve done the BG” without the “but it was outside 24hrs” on the end. 2017 is he plan, come and support me!

What do you most enjoy about editing Trail Running magazine?
The absolutely AMAZING people in this sport, the readers, the athletes, the team I work with, the kindness & enthusiasm of all is quite simply astounding. I will never get tired of it, it gives me my energy.

Where do you get your boundless enthusiasm from?
Ha ha I just answered that above without realising it would be the next question. I don’t know! It does take a lot out of me, I need a lot of sleep and I do get exhausted, but it just doesn’t take a lot to get me excitable. My other half likens me to a spaniel…

Ha ha okay, so what does the spaniel’s typical weekly training consist of?
Every morning 10mins core, plank, press ups, medial glute, ab crunches and pelvic floor exercises.

• Mon – Rest & yoga
• Tue – Run club 7-8miles threshold/long intervals
• Wed – Rest or 7 miles steady if training for a long or multi-dayer
• Thu – Hills (e.g. 8 X 60 sec efforts after 2 mile jog warm up)
• Fri – Rest (sometimes dancing at a parrrrrtay!)
• Sat – 10-15miles long steady run about 150bpm
• Sun – 10-20 miles LSR same HR

Goodness! Okay now to food… Sweet or savoury?
Ooh both, depending on mood. I am well known for ordering salty fat chips and an apple crumble with custard after a race!

Circular or point to point?
Ooh also both! I just like variety I suppose. But I do like races that are a journey so maybe point to point actually.

Morning or evening runner?
I like morning. I wake up with a lot of energy and like to get my run done so it doesn’t get missed by being busy.

You can’t beat a morning run! Now… 3 favourite fuel foods, go:

• Pre-run: 2 eggs with mushrooms & maybe a slice of toast a couple of hours before, then just prior, not much – recently a couple of almonds with a sugary earl grey coating from M&S, check them out!
• During: Not usually anything, even on my 20 milers. Gels don’t agree with me. Chia flapjacks are great.
• Post-run: Now we’re talking. Salty chips, apple crumble with custard and ice cream.

How would you describe the trail running community?
Fantastic! Enthusiastic, welcoming, fun, adventurous, exciting, lovely, supportive of each other. Wonderful and it is an absolute pleasure to be part of it.

What’s the best advice anyone has given you?
Treat yourself as you would a friend. I’m still trying…

What does the rest of 2016 have in store for you?
Oooh these are good questions Jeff!

• Keswick Mountain Festival 25k May
• Race To The King double marathon on the South Downs Way June
• Ice Bug Xperience 3-dayer Sept
• Great Eastern Run fast flat half marathon to test my speed endurance Oct.

Wow! An exciting year then Claire And what’s on your running playlist?
I never listen to music on my run cos I like to connect to my body, think about stuff, listen to birds chatting, be aware of my surroundings and I can’t be faffed with all the wires.
I love hearing it while running past it on a race though. Steel bands are a fave. I love radio 6 for my morning core exercises. I’m currently very into chilling out with This Is The Kit and Rozi Plain.

Lastly, what should Trail Running magazine readers look forward to most in forthcoming editions?
Very exciting articles on fell running greats Joss Naylor, Billy Bland & Kenny Stuart. I’d like us to do something on Ricky Lightfoot’s Winter BG and Mira Rai from Nepal too, and more brilliant routes from around the UK. Items on stretching, training despite injury, and many many inspiring photos of stunning trails to inspire readers, and their amazing stories too.

Brilliant! Claire thank you so much for sharing your passion for trail running and adventure. 2016 promises to be a very exciting year for you and Trail Running magazine readers
Jeff
* All image courtsey Claire Maxted Blog

Sarah, can you tell us about your love of the outdoors?
I just love being outside really! I find sitting about really boring, even if I’m busy and have things to do, I find I start to get twitchy and need to get outside to energise myself and clear my head – it just makes me feel so much better. Over time though it’s evolved into something much more than just a love of being outdoors – I’ve seen such an abundance of wildlife, sunsets, landscapes, history – I’d never have experienced those things from an armchair. I’ve come to realise that life is about experiences, and my ‘fix’ comes from the outdoors. Many of the people I’ve met along the way have influenced my love of the outdoors, and I love the lifestyle that comes with it.

What part does running play in this?
That’s kind of hard for me to define, because I do lots of other things, like climbing, skiing, biking, sometimes walking, and like those things, running is just a part of my life. That said, I do a lot more running that any of the other things these days, and it’s allowed me to explore many corners of the globe that I’ve travelled to – there aren’t many things you can do alone, anywhere, just by slipping on a pair of running shoes, and I suppose that is one of the best things about running – you can enjoy the outdoors, at whatever level you are capable of, anywhere. 

You’ve taken on some real challenges lately, including planning for the incredible Breo Hero 700 mile challenge! How would you describe such experiences?
The 700 miler, Running North, is actually on hold for the moment – during the Coast to Coast (which was 200 miles or so…), Laraine and I realised lots of things, and the main one was that we just weren’t ready for such a big undertaking – what really swung it was the realisation that Scotland isn’t all sunsets, wildlife and scenery, even in summer, it’s a really harsh environment. So, to better prepare ourselves, we’re running a series of long-distance routes to allow us to hone vital elements like kit, clothing, what we eat and what we use for sleeping! Aside from that Laraine ended up with extreme plantar fasciitis in both feet, and I was offered a full-time research post, so logistically, it would have been put on hold anyway.

How seriously do you take nutrition?
Because I do so much yoga, I’ve become a true advocate of being balanced, and I definitely take a balanced approach toward what I eat – every day I load up with fruit and veg in the form of green smoothies and salads, and eat very little refined or processed food – I guess most people would say I’m a super healthy eater, and I do notice a difference if I’ve had to eat food that I view as not so nutrient dense. For example, if I’ve been on the hill for a couple of days and had to carry all my food, it’s generally dried or there’s lots of sugar and salt added, and that sort of food makes me lethargic. I make a lot of my own food from scratch when I can – houmous, pates, birchers etc are good for packing lots of good stuff in. But, I generally have a bit of a naughty, mischievous nature and this definitely applies to what I eat – I love sweeties, cheeses and craft beers – however, I do believe the good balances out the treats! I drink gallons of water, and Yogi teas are a favourite, but I have to admit, without a good strong espresso first thing, very little happens!

What running fuel tips would you pass, particularly for long days in the hills?
I’m not sure I’m the best person to ask for a solid answer on this, because I tend to go for long periods on the hill without refuelling, and instead load up before, when I get home, on rest days etc. There’s different schools of thought on what the best approach is – some think it’s better to train the body to operate on little food, and other believe in eating as often as possible. For me, I struggle with eating while doing intense activity, but I think 100 calorie boosts are good and easy for the body to manage while on the go. With hydration, again, I am not so good, and probably could learn a better approach – I think this could be down to spending so much time running in the Alps, where I carried nothing more than ID and a few quid, because it was always possible to get a sip of water from one of the many, many water troughs that are dotted all along Alpine trails – I even had a sip of glacier water once! In Scotland, I do carry a small bottle of water in my waist pack, but could definitely carry more. I like the Nakd bars and nibbles – they are light to carry and offer a good, nutrient dense, energy boost. I think it’s wise to always carry some food and water for any runs over 10km, especially so if going into the hills. However, fuel is such a personal thing, trial and error is the key to learning what works, as every runner is completely different.

What is your favourite pre-run and post-run fuel?
Before a run, I just try to eat as much as I can but allow myself plenty of time, say a couple of hours, to digest. I now have a good idea of what my body needs, but that’s just come with experience. I generally eat a lot of fruit, veg and proteins before running – sometimes I have carbs, but usually, these are reserved for treat/rest days! I’m a caffeine fiend, and struggle to operate until I’ve had a good strong espresso, followed by a green tea!  Oh – loads of water also!

Post run – I eat what my body tells me it wants, but my favourite thing after a long day on the hill is a gourmet burger with a craft beer! Even better – in the sun!

Where does your boundless enthusiasm come from?
Coffee! Just kidding. It’s just the way I am – I probably have too much energy, and am easily bored, but it feeds my thirst for knowledge and I love that I am one of those people who always wants more, wants to learn more and wants to experience more.  I would hate to be a couch potato! That said, there’s plenty of times I’ve totally burnt myself out, and spent a few days in bed catching up on sleep. As I get older, I’m learning we all have limits!

How did your support from @Breofficial @sealskinz and @SkiAscent come about?
With all these things, social media plays a big part and that’s effectively the common dominator for all the companies and brands I’ve worked with – it can be hard to maintain a social media presence, and mine definitely ebbs and flows! But that’s really where all these connections come from, and most people I know who work with brands have built their relationships in the same way. I’ve been involved with Breo for a long time now, and I hope I continue to be for a long time to come – they have been a great company to work with, and I’ve really enjoyed being part of what they do. Sealskinz has been a more recent connection, and that came via one of the media representatives who I’d spent a bit of time with a few years ago doing some Gore Tex things.  SkiAscent – I helped set up the company, but for various reasons, I’m no longer involved. I suppose that’s the downside of these things, not every connection you make will be the right one for you, and when it becomes a full-time job in itself, it can loose it’s gloss! For the most part though, I’ve been really lucky and I work with other companies and brands too who allow me to dip in and out of things, as and when I have the time.

How do you find blogging?
I’ve always loved writing, and I actually took a minor in Journalism when I was doing my undergrad degree, but I lost touch with it for a while when I focused on being an ‘artist’, and screen printing, photography and design took over. Then I moved to Aviemore and took a temporary post with Wilderness Scotland – part of my role was to mange the blog, and I got some really great feedback for the blogs I was writing – I think one of my wild camping posts is still one of their most popular blogs! I realised that I enjoyed blogging, it was a lot less pressurised than I found traditional journalism to be, and the style fitted my approach to writing. I contributed to a few other blogs, and then started my own. Recently though, I’ve been eyeballs deep in writing my Ph.D thesis and academic research papers, so it’s been hard to keep up to date with my own blog – it’s probably become a bit of a photo blog to be honest, but I’m ok with that, and I always think it’s good to step away from things so you can find the joy in them once again.

Sarah’s blog is A Squirrel Goes Touring btw

You overcame Lyme Disease – could you tell us a little about your battle?
It’s very hard to communicate just how awful Lyme disease can become, there was a period of time, for me, when things got so bad I couldn’t get out of bed, and that was a really bad experience. I was also living on my own at that point, and it was quite scary not knowing if I would be able to get help if I needed it urgently. Prior to that I’d had quite a bad initial reaction to the tick bite, but it wasn’t until the bite flared up again and quite literally started growing out of my leg that I seen a doctor. I was lucky that I was living in an area where the doctors are familiar with Lyme, and are happy to treat it asap – I know that in some areas there are doctors who aren’t quite so clued up on, and perhaps aren’t even aware it exists.

Unfortunately though I got the antibiotics after the disease had started to get into my system. Of course, I didn’t know this and assumed the treatment would sort me out in a couple of weeks and I very foolishly keep active when I should have been resting. My early symptoms – fevers, racing heart, cold/flu and fatigue got so bad that I was ordered, by the doctor, to do nothing more than walk to my local corner store if it was critical for me to do so! At the same time, I started my Ph.D, so I couldn’t really sit around for long. Eventually my symptoms got so bad that I was having heart and muscle problems, I was always exhausted and stressed, but the worst thing was the brain fog – especially since I was doing research and really needed to be on the ball! Things came to a head after a trip to Vancouver, I wasn’t myself for the duration of my trip, but on the ten-hour flight home I had a really bad reaction to some blue cheese I’d eaten the nice previous, I don’t know if this was related to having Lyme or not, but it’s not something that had happened before. I literally thought I was going to die, it was awful – I don’t know how I got through boarder control at Heathrow and have no idea how I got through the flight back up to Scotland.

It took a couple of weeks to get over that, and I then went winter climbing in the Cairngorms for a couple of weeks. This was the last nail in the coffin and I was unable to get out of bed for about a month following. This made me realise I had to do something radical to get a normal life again.  Antibiotics just weren’t working, and I was living in an area where the doctors just didn’t want to help – I was continuously told that I was stressed because I was doing a Ph.D, and that I should find ways to relax! As a yoga teacher, I was well aware of ways to manage stress, and I found this both frustrating and angering.  Regardless, it was quite clear the doctors were not prepared to help me. So, I explored lots of things, and I found that diet and probiotics were the two things that started to made a difference. I started climbing again, and then running to get fit for climbing, I thought that running would send me on a downward spiral of exhaustion again, but it did the opposite and really seemed to help me get well again – perhaps it was all the sunshine! Now, I still have to be really careful that I don’t overdo, I get tried really easily, am susceptible to colds, and have lasting heart, lung and muscle problems, but a good diet and plenty of sleep seems to have been my saving grace!

That is some story Sarah and I can identify with a lot of it, having contracted Lymes myself.

Who and where do you draw your inspiration you?
Being in nature, of course. I also love the sun, snow, mountains, water – it’s usually quite hard to get all four at the same time! In terms of people, I think people who work hard to overcome hurdles, whatever they may be, are very inspirational – anyone with a positive, optimistic outlook on life I suppose. I really hate being around negativity, I find it drains me and zaps my energy, and I try to avoid neurotic people who should probably do a bit more yoga or something! I like to keep things simple and be happy with what I’ve got – I’m not interested in awards or achievements, and I draw inspiration from anyone or anything that has the same ethos as me.

What’s on your bucket list?
I don’t actually have one – my personality is such that I really am quite unpredictable and hard to pin down, I get an idea in my head and either go off and do it, or get bored waiting for it to happen! When I was younger, I was desperate to explore every corner of the globe, but that’s faded as I’ve gotten older. I’d love to spend a bit more time in Norway – my current dream is to buy a boat and live on it for a bit, touring the coastline and skiing further north of the country. I’d love to spend some time above the Arctic Circle, it’s an area that’s always fascinated me – I love the culture, the clothing (my first degree was in Textiles) and the people – I guess that would take in a lot of Siberia and Alaska as well.

Other than that, I’m very much enjoying being in the Highlands of Scotland at the moment and am struggling to find a reason to leave as there’s so much to do here – my next stop is Orkney. For the winter, I’m hoping to build on my very, very basic ski touring skills and spend lots of time in the Scottish hills on ski, doing a bit of hut-to-hut touring, bothy style!

Lastly, what is your running mantra?
I have a few:

– anything is better than nothing,

– just do it, and;

– good things happen when you wear the right shoes.

Fantastic stuff Sarah! Thank you so much for this interview. Your enthusiasm for life experiences is infectious believe me. Can’t wait to hear more about your future adventures  #ThisGirlCan

Jeff

What did you do with your time before running?
I always liked to keep fit.  Having trained as a dancer from a young age, through to University (I did a Dance performance degree), my focus was always on fitness for health rather than just to look good. Mainly I did strength and core work, and particularly enjoyed classes involving weights and TRX. Running was something I shied away from, and certainly not something I was ever keen on doing

What made you decide on a marathon as your first running event?
My Uncle was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease a number of years ago.  Having watched his rapid decline and the effect it has had on the family, I always felt helpless, which is very difficult when you are so close to someone suffering.  He was very fortunate to receive a Deep Brain stimulation operation in 2011, which has certainly improved his quality of life tremendously, but still the disease is debilitating.  I wanted to personally do something to help find a cure for this awful disease.  I was so bad at running, 10 minutes was a stretch for me, and this was common knowledge amongst all my peers and family.  One thing I knew people would donate towards would be me running a Marathon, particularly one as iconic as London. I entered VLM2014 in the April of 2013.  In the October I discovered I had a place.  I don’t know if I believe in fate, but given how difficult it is to get a place, I like to think it happened for a reason.

Family & friends are clearly important to you – how has your Uncle inspired you?
My Uncle is, and always has been, an incredible man.  Growing up he was the life and soul of the party. Generous, kind, funny, you could not ask for a better Uncle, or person to look up to. He is my Dad’s best friend and therefore I was very fortunate growing up with him as such a huge part of my life. The effect this disease has on someone is impossible to describe, it would take hours, and there are so many side effects that many won’t be aware of. John has always maintained his sense of humour throughout his diagnoses and decline caused by the disease. He makes jokes about it, he will not be beaten by it, and his strength in the face of something he ultimately has no control over is impossible not to be inspired by.

I would love to say I would have the same attitude if faced with similar, but I truly think it takes a very rare character to deal with something like this the way he has. Whenever I feel I cannot be bothered to do a training session, I think of the fact he doesn’t get to make that decision. He never gets to choose whether to run or not, that decision was made for him, and this makes me so grateful for the simple fact I can do it whenever I want to.

Who or what else inspires you?
I am inspired by so many for so many reasons. My family have all got such strong morals and close bond that every day I want to do them proud. In running terms, I think its common to look up to faster and more experienced runners as I am always striving to do better, go further, run faster.

In truth, I think I am often more inspired by those people who take longer to cover the same distance and never give up. It’s hard to say that without sounding patronising, but I find it so inspiring watching those final runners who easily could have given up when they know they are at the back of the field of a big race, hardly anyone around to cheer them in. That takes true guts and commitment. A good friend I met on a running site was unfortunately plagued with injury last year and missed out on doing her first marathon (Brighton) in 2014. She completed it this year, basically two years of training to complete that one race. It was possibly my proudest moment, watching someone so determined to achieve their goal no matter what efforts it took.

Now you’ve just completed the London 2 Brighton Challenge 100km.  How was it?
Tough! I went with a very different strategy to my usual ‘pace yourself and keep something in the tank’ on road marathons. My aim was to get as many miles under my belt whilst feeling good, knowing there would be low points further down the line.

The first 40km I got done in a relatively quick time and I felt amazing. Then my ITB issues flared up and to be honest it was touch and go for a while whether I would finish or not. I think a few friends who saw me on route expected me to have to drop given my awkward walk/shuffle. BUT, I was determined not to give in, and got a second wind when the knee eased off a bit.

The second half of my race was much slower – I could have pushed harder as fuelling had gone well and I otherwise felt strong, but I would then have risked pulling up entirely, and that was just not an option. The final hill over The Downs during the last 10km of the race was really tough. It’s a relentless climb and seems near impossible when you’ve already covered such a huge distance. You reach a checkpoint at the 88km mark and in front of you is this massive hill you’ve been heading towards for miles. But once you get to the top, the views are absolutely stunning and absolutely worth the pain.

Finishing was very emotional, I felt overwhelmed and I have to say I’m so proud of myself. This time two years ago I hadn’t even done my first race yet (British 10km in July in prep for London Marathon). To have completed 10 times that distance just doesn’t seem to have sunk in. It was the hardest thing I have ever done – but absolutely wonderful. I loved it!

Is most of your training goal or enjoyment driven?
Having started out very much hating every second of running, I was purely focused on the goal ahead – raise as much money for charity and get through the marathon.  In the process I fell in love with running, and got a little race addicted. I think this is common when you first start improving, or certainly seems to be the case with the people I speak to. I find races are good as it gives me a goal, and something to strive towards. My training is always more diverse with the need for sprint intervals, hill repeats etc. But I am definitely more focused on enjoyment now, and a huge run in a park with no real idea of how far I am going to run or for how long is a great way to explore beautiful places. There is so much to see, and running is a great way of doing that.

So you’re not one for @stravawankers then?
Hahahaha! I think I have managed to avoid that tag. To be honest, it’s easy to get carried away with obsessing over pace, and beating segments etc. Because my training has been so focused and tailored to my goals, I haven’t been able to get distracted by those things thankfully – I can appreciate why people do. I also think whilst I would never even consider logging a walk around a shopping centre for instance, if it makes people more aware of their fitness and health, then that’s only a good thing. But no, I certainly wont be logging myself mowing the lawn any time soon!

How do you get through the emotional and physical battles on such endurance events?
The mental side is the biggest challenge. I know I have the fitness for it now. The work for races tends to come before, and as long as I work hard and eat right, the only worry is injury. Seeing a physio regularly has been a great way of keeping my body at its best.  I do rehab exercises before I am even injured, because I know my weak areas and don’t want to find a problem too late and be out for weeks trying to fix it.

But mentally it is tougher. It is also tougher the longer you are out there for. Sprinting a 10km tends to hurt from start to end, but you know its over relatively quickly. An endurance event tends to just slowly get tougher, and so much time in your own head, you do end up questioning everything. It’s a constant battle of ‘can I do this, I could just stop, ouch is that a niggle or a real injury, my goodness I can’t do it, what was I thinking’. I think I put too much pressure on myself sometimes because I am raising money for charity for this event, which means I always panic that I will let people down, and that can easily put you in a negative state of mind. But equally it’s an extra push when I am suffering and considering giving up. That combined with the knowledge that every time I have thought I won’t make it, I have, I think mentally I am stubborn enough to make it.  There’s a lot to be said for being stubborn (a family trait I have picked up!)

Haha! You’re clearly driven by challenges – what others are on your bucket list?
My bucket list tends to have two new things added every time I tick one off!  There are a few races I am desperate to do – Comrades, Marathon Des Sables, New York Marathon, Race to the Stones. There are so many beautiful places to run now I am keen to explore a bit more.  I also have a Skydive to do soon – this is something I am so excited about.  To be honest if someone came to me with a challenge I would probably say yes before even considering what it was – I love testing myself.  Any ideas?

How about Amalfi Coast Trail – or a Lost Worlds Racing event?

That is some bucket list Lana! What lessons would you pass on to fellow runners?
Don’t go too fast when you start – it’s so easily done. Go slower and cover more distance then slowly build up pace. Also, it hurts. I know so many people who told me it wasn’t getting easier, even though their stats showed they’d gone faster or further. It doesn’t get easier, you just get faster I think is the saying. Also switch it up a bit. Always going out and covering the same route and same distance at the same pace gets monotonous. Explore new places, add in hills, do some sprint sections. All of this helps improve your running, but even if you’re not looking to improve, it keeps it exciting and interesting.

What’s the best running advice you’ve ever been given?
Turn off your watch.  I went through a stage where I hit a rut and panicked every time my pace wasn’t quite the same as normal. This also happened during a race recently, and the second I stopped looking at pace I felt far calmer. My second half without the watch ended up exactly the same pace as my first half with the watch – it showed me you must trust your body, don’t rely on technology as it can get the better of you!

Very true. What has the running community given you?
Without it I don’t know if I would have made it to my first marathon. The support and advice is incredible, and chatting with such a diverse selection of people, all different levels of achievements and goals, makes it much easier to be confident in yourself and your own abilities. I honestly feel a sense of belonging within the community, but it also gives me accountability knowing others look up to me (regardless of whether I believe they should or not) – I can now give newcomers the advice and support I was given when I started.

What would you say to anyone thinking about taking up jogging/running?
DO it. You probably won’t like it at first, I didn’t. But stick with it and you will find a new joy, a new way to explore, and a great way to keep fit. You’ll also find an amazing community to be a part of!

In three words, describe your running story.

Unexpected. Determined. Euphoric.

Lana thank you so much for sharing your story. What you’ve achieved so far is incredible and shows how we can surpass our expectations when we have a cause. Can’t wait to hear how you get on with your skydive!  #ThisGirlCan

p.s. Lana’s favourite post-run food is not as healthy as her usual clean diet. But then that’s the beauty of running

If you’re inspired by Lana’s story and want to get more active, visit BBC ‘Get Involved’

Jeff

For a start, the word “magazine” barely does this publication justice. I greatly enjoy subscriptions to Trail Running magazine and Cycling Active Magazine – both heartily recommended, both providers of excellent content, both sharing the joys of their respective activities.

Like the Wind is quite different however. For a start, the introduction was a genuine heartfelt thanks from creators, Simon and Julie Freeman, and an invite to join them on their journey. vedem For me that meant: Destination unknown but the journey promised to be exciting, evocative and engaging…

The first story was “Runs In The Family” by ultra running legend Dean Karnazes. A headline name for the first piece – as expected so far. But the words sideswiped me straight away. I’d assumed this would be a story of his ultra running. Instead what we got was the raw emotion, pain and pride of his cherished memory from running with his 10 year old daughter Alexandria on her first ever 10km. In what he desribes as the “single most memorable race” of his life he admits to tears “streaming” down his face when he “…could no longer choke back the emotions.” You could almost feel the sense of achievement both father and daughter experienced – and the mutual inspiration Dean and Alexandria give each other.

Immediately I scanned through through the to pages to see what other treats lay in store!

More stories awaited. They involved real personal struggles and huge achievements. And that is a key difference – these are not magazine articles, they are stories. Stories cheap nfl jerseys of people overcoming addiction by running, of the joy of running in a group, or it not being about a new PB.

Helen Taranowski, an elite England International ultra runner, shared one very personal story: How you can learn so much from an awful race experience. In her case she outlined heightened understanding of her mental and physical strength. The cause of her difficulties she later Jill learned cheap mlb jerseys was anaema.

What really came through for me was how people simply enjoy the very natural act of running. For Sarah Marsden, this mean paying attention to how her body feels, the earth beneath her feet, her surroundings. #ThisGirlCan indeed!  For Dean Hardman it was the rhythm created, the trance-like feeling of floating along on our feet which all of us wholesale jerseys will experience for fleeting moments, whether on grass, road or rock. Bill Byrne of Iffley Road, described how the “intense moments” experienced when spending a long day running in the hills are a huge part of why he runs. Dessert In fact the illustration by Fergus McHugh so grabbed my daughter’s attention, she coloured in the contours! Since which she completed in her first ever fell run last week!

The other theme to come through was how when your mind relaxes you become acutely aware of what is around you, or will experience a dreaminess that takes you to other places. How many of us have imagined ourselves elsewhere – just like the prisoner who visualised running the Jungfrau marathon? (That is one on my bucketlist!) Phil Gale described just now vivid the sights, smells, sounds of a city can be when you let your mind relax. Charlie Spedding, David Anderson, Ronan Strand each gave their own take on why you should trust yourself and it not all being about the science and results. Richard Askwith vividly portrayed the childlike joy of a “no-holds-barred thrash through the mud” – perhaps that was the reason I was hooked after my first Lakeland Trails run!  Like Richard, I have looked closely at birds flying – except I didn’t keep my footing and went flying on a fell

There is an unspoken elation to be experienced when running with a group. The rhythm of feet, the collective pace generated, the new routes learned. These I was reminded of when reading Jack Layton’s experiences gained from the community of a running group. Since starting this blog, I have become increasingly aware of the like-minded people Troels Frederiksen highlights in his take on team running.

Others such as Michael Shelton openly admitted to frustrations occasionally boiling over. I can’t say I’ve ever screamed and sworn at myself but it rang a few bells nonetheless!

And I think all of this is what forms the evocative imagery in Simon Freeman’s Sharing photographs of marathon finishers. In his words “Elation, devastation, pain, joy, relief, triumph and disbelief are all etched on the runners’ faces…” as they collect their medals. A metaphor for life if ever there was.

Writing this review has brought to mind the highs of running, the joy of sweating, of feeling breathless after an exhilarating burst! When cresting a climb or pelting downhill, you may find yourself smiling like a fool. Or laughing out loud as you leg it through the woods with running mates. That’s the pure unadulterated joy to be had with running, let alone any other activity

I found myself reading and re-reading not just sentences but full stories! Issue #2 was excellent.

So would I recommend it? Yes indeed. At £32 for 4 issues it may be expensive but what you are getting is a mini book with illustrations. One that really complements any other magazines you may read. In fact I’ve just subscribed myself! You could join them on their journey too

http://www.youtube.com/embed/oT8B2Ejtkds?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide=2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent

Jeff

Jill Butterworth shares her inspirational story

World meet Jill Butterworth  We celebrate the launch of the runeatrepeat.co.uk blog with this interview. Learn about Jill’s running story, how she got into running, her inspirations and how she ultimately progressed to an amazing 2nd lady in the 100k Canalathon Ultra! Inspiring for anyone considering running or looking for their next challenge – regardless of distance or ability.

What was your life before running?

I never ran at all before the age of 30. My dad and uncle were very good club cyclists from a fairly young age and although I had gone out on the bike once or twice with my dad I never really got into participating in sport at all. In fact I used to get out of cross country at high school by using my asthma as an excuse!  If anyone had suggested I would run at all, at any distance, I would definitely have thought they were being ridiculous.

I did enjoy following the cycling though. We spent a couple of family holidays following the Tour de France and I marshalled at the Leeds Wincanton classic cycle race with my dad. My first sporting heroes were cyclists such as ‘Big Mig’ Indurain (resting heartrate of 28bpm – just amazing). My dad’s hero was Tommy Simpson, the British cyclist who died while racing up the Ventoux during Le Tour. The way he refused to give in did stick with me – refusing to get off the bike and dying on the mountainside, his last words reputedly being “on, on, on”. I’m currently reading the biographies of him and Eddie Merckx.

When did you decide to run?

Running had never crossed my mind until about two years after the birth of my daughter. Mia was born with complex congenital heart defect, needing several surgeries and hospital visits, especially in her early years. She will need further surgery in the future. I was involved in some parents’ support online forums, and someone posted about the inaugural Great Manchester Run (2003) and that they were looking for runners to raise money for Francis House Hospice. I signed up straight away. Shortly afterwards my best friend Claire signed up too. We ran/walked the 10k in 1 hour 15 minutes, stopping to take pictures of ourselves along the way! I got such a buzz when crossing the finish line that I knew I definitely wanted to run another race.

Being a complete newbie to running the only other race I’d ever heard of was the London Marathon. So I signed up for that (and fortunately didn’t get a place straight away!!) I managed to get a place in London 2005. This coincided with waiting for a date for Mia’s open heart surgery in Birmingham – a very cheap NFL jerseys complex, rare operation called the rastelli-senning. I thought it was the Юбилейный, worst timing possible. As it turned out all the long runs helped with my stress levels immeasurably and training went well. Half way through my first marathon I hated it though, and decided “if I’m only doing one I’m going to make sure I bloody well run it all the way”. Which I did  Mia had her (successful) operation a few weeks later. Never in a million years would I think I would go on to complete 12 marathons and 3 ultramarathons.

Who or what inspired you to run?

Mia was and continues to be my inspiration to run. Everything is for her. When she was diagnosed I really felt quite helpless. As a parent you just want to “kiss and make it all better” for your child. But of course I couldn’t – I’m not a surgeon, I don’t have the ability to make her heart defects better. What I could do though problem was raise money to help the people that could make it better for Mia and others like her. I raised money for the hospitals, for charities that fund research into heart defects, for organisations that fund state-of-the-art hospital equipment… Pendlebury Children’s Hospital, the Children’s Heart Association, The British Heart Foundation, 3D heart scanner appeal for the children’s hospital, defibrillator fund at Mia’s school, The Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital among others. The hospitals and all the charities were so amazing that I really wanted to express our thanks to them for all the excellent care and support they’d given us. That’s as true now as it was at the beginning.

Who is your running inspiration?

Obviously I came into running quite late! Of course Paula Radcliffe was an inspiration when I first started marathon training. Sonia O’Sullivan, who won the Great Manchester Run the second year I ran it. And Jo Pavey who also has won the Great Manchester Run (twice!). You can’t fail to be inspired by Jo Pavey’s remarkable achievement in the European champs recently and it was amazing to actually meet her a couple of weeks ago!  I’m really inspired by athletes that never give in and push themselves beyond what’s expected. It’s the endurance thing that fascinates me, that ability to push on and on and never give up. That drive that makes someone carry on beyond the point at which the body should stop. Tommy Simpson comes to mind again.

Ultra running inspiration has to be the amazing Nicky Spinks – with her achievements over the Bob Graham, Ramsay Round and Paddy Buckley. The fact she is taking on the men in such tough events and smashing it. What a great role model.

I must say though, the people who really inspire me to keep striving to improve my running on a day to day basis have been the amazing athletes in the running club. Colin and Brenda Robinson, team-mates Anna, Jan, Ann-Marie, Jenny and Josepha to name just a few. Whenever I think I’m doing okay with my running I look at their achievements and it makes me realise I’ve got a long way to go!

Did joining a running club help you?

Absolutely yes. Being in a group of so many like-minded people is brilliant – and of course I met my partner Nick at the running club!  Nick has helped me so much of course, encouraging me, supporting me and enabling me to go out running for hours at a time (effectively from dawn until dusk for several Saturdays this winter).

The club has an amazing range of runners with a range of different interests – track, road, cross country, fell. There’s always someone with the experience to be able to offer advice and support, and I know that’s something that I’ll continue to benefit from. I love the team events, relay events and just competing for the club, it definitely makes you push yourself harder. It’s always a fantastic atmosphere at the races. I love being a part of the Harriers. I was blown away by the support from the club at the canalathon, it really did lift my spirits seeing my club mates and I’ll never ever forget it. I can’t thank everyone enough, Sharing the support has been priceless.

When and why did you decide to get into ultra running?

I had done several marathons and was finding that the training wasn’t as challenging as it used to be and that I was feeling good pretty much all the way through the marathons. I’d started to think about trying ultra distance a few years before I actually went for it!  I’m a fairly average competitive club runner but I do seem to suit plodding through the long distances in ultras. And I enjoy them, in a way!

When did you realise you were good at it?

I’m not sure I’m particularly good at it!  Feels a bit vain for me to say I’m good at them, but I definitely think that the ultra distance events seem to suit me very well. I really love the training, I find running for hours and hours on my own is really relaxing, and I just love the endurance aspect of ultra distance. One of my most memorable moments was running my first ultra, 35.9 miles at Ladybower in the Peak District in 2013. Training had gone really well during that summer, although I kept running out of water during my training runs!  It was during the very hot summer and I had to get water where I could, from non-drinking taps up at the res, and beg water from a small cafe in Todmorden! During the actual event I had a plan and I stuck to it. During the first few miles I was right at the back of the field. I felt pretty good most of the way and found that I was overtaking a lot of people after about 26-28 miles. In the end I finished 2^nd lady and was 5^th overall. I was absolutely over the moon! I was glad I’d not panicked in the early miles <a and had stuck to my plan. I think that’s probably key in the ultras.

What made you decide to do the 100k Canalathon?

I’d taken part in the 2014 50k Canalathon. I felt I didn’t do as well as I’d hoped in the race, I think I finished about 6^th or 7^th lady and ran about 5 hours 20 minutes. I’d run it all the way rather than fitting in walking breaks as I did during the Ladybower race. I felt that 50k was maybe a little short for me and that I might do better in a longer event. So when I heard that John was putting on a 100k option I signed up as soon as the entries opened. And then a day or two later it sank in, and the thought of running a 63 mile race nearly made me weep!

How did you prepare for this?

Well, I knew that I would have to experiment with eating and taking on calories during the race. I also knew that I needed to do all my long training runs along the canal and I decided I wanted to have run and experienced every mile along the canal at some point during training. From my experience of the 50k canalathon I knew that it was mentally pretty challenging to run a long distance along a relatively flat path with sometimes very few landmarks around. I ran several long runs along the canal, usually running from a central point, out for 7.5+ miles and back and then out in the other direction for 7.5+ miles and back, totalling 30 miles for example. Sometimes I was limited time-wise so would run do the same kind of thing but base it on time rather than distance, so out for 1.5 hours then back and out the other direction for 1.5 hours and back again, totalling 6 hours for example. This worked quite well, I think I got up to about 35 miles doing this method. Most of the training was done in the winter months, in the limited daylight hours, so effectively running from dawn until dusk. A few long runs were done in heavy snow and terribly icy conditions. I wanted to do the long runs whatever the conditions though, I mean, you never know what the weather will be like on race day. And if I know I can run 34-35 miles in the snow/hail/wind the at least I’ll know that if it’s snowing on race day I shouldn’t be too phased!

I experimented with eating during my long training runs too. I wanted to replicate as closely as possible to what I’d be doing on the day. My runs over 30 miles went really well, I ate roughly every 1.5 hours, just crisps, chocolate, some jelly babies or Soreen and my stomach was absolutely fine. I built up the runs so that my last long training run was about 41 miles. I found that I got to 40 and (to coin a cycling term) ‘bonked’. I had to stop, I just couldn’t run. I was hungry, so ate some chocolate and managed to finish the 41 miles. It had felt dreadful and as my last training run it could have left me somewhat demoralised, but actually it was a really useful experience and I was glad it had happened as I knew then that I wasn’t eating enough to sustain me over the 100k distance on race day! A learning curve!

Describe your experience of the day (100k Canalathon).

We started from Sowerby Bridge at 8am. Everything went well, I was really familiar with the canal route and I think this really helped psychologically. I was sipping energy drinks every ten minutes (which I’ve done in every long race since I started I think, it seems to work for me as it keeps me hydrated and also breaks up the time a bit!). I also drank water from my hydration pack during every walking break. I worked on a 25 minutes run, 5 minutes walk schedule which had worked well for me at Ladybower. I saw friends at Smithy Bridge and crossed paths with some team-mates who were on the 50k race, running the opposite direction… high fives and a hug really gave me a lift! The leg out went quite smoothly, I saw Mia and my aunt and uncle, plus more friends, near Castleton which was lovely.

Had a bit of a wobble when I thought “I’ve still got about 10 miles to Manchester and then I’ve got to run all the way back!” Thankfully the wobble didn’t last long. I knew I had to control thoughts like those, to not think about the distance and just try and enjoy the Barbershop day. It felt warm running into the sun all the way to Manchester, I definitely hadn’t been used to this during training. Luckily at the last minute I’d packed sunglasses and I wore them pretty much all way – the first time I’d ever run in sunglasses!

I reached Manchester just after 5 hours 30 minutes which was pretty much as expected. I filled my water bladder in my backpack, quick nip to the loo (and had a shock when I looked in the mirror to find my face full of freckles – running into the sun for 5½ hours will do that though I suppose!  I had found it difficult to eat as much as I’d planned, I wanted to try eating every hour but had only managed a bar of chocolate and some crisps during the first 31.5 miles. Some friends from the running club met me at Manchester and that gave me a huge boost. Paula gave me some gels when I said I’d struggled to eat much. I don’t tend to use them much but took them gratefully – even though I didn’t manage to eat them.

I set off back for the return leg to Sowerby, feeling pretty good. Things soon started to go somewhat downhill shortly afterwards when I started to feel sick. I’d never experienced anything like it in training or any time I’ve run. I’d regularly run much further quite comfortably with no issues with nausea at all. The only thing I can think that was different in the race compared to training was the sun. I really struggled, I couldn’t eat anything other than a few crisps and half a piece of Soreen all the way back. I did manage about half a dozen jelly babies though. Even the energy drinks were going down with a real struggle. I’m not sure just what my body was running on during the second 31.5 miles! I caught up with the lady in 3^rd place, at the checkpoint near Rochdale. She was also feeling sick and had been unable to drink or eat and decided to retire from the race.

A high point cheap MLB jerseys on the way back was seeing a group of Harriers stood out along the stretch past the Sandbrook pub at Rochdale. What a fantastic feeling it was to see them all out to support me, I can’t express how much I appreciated it. Littleborough was a particularly tough section. 50 miles in my legs and still another 13 to go. Luckily more friends were there to cheer me on and my dad came out too. It was really hard to keep going, in fact I’d call it quite de hellish. I just wanted to stop and lie down! I can remember saying to Nick ‘it would be fine if I wasn’t feeling so sick!’ Ian and Paula travelled along from Manchester and I was so grateful for the company and encouragement, just after Littleborough especially. Nick had been cycling along and joining me for walking breaks too which was so helpful. I can remember thinking ‘I’ve only got to do this one thing today. There’s nothing else I need to do, as long as I finish this one thing’. I remember saying how hard I was finding it but then saying ‘I’ll do it, I’ll finish, but it won’t be pleasant’ or words to that effect! I was wholesale jerseys also aware of the fairly strict time cut off points and had been a bit worried about missing those and being asked to retire from the race. Then I realised that even if I didn’t make the cut off times I could carry on under my own steam and still complete the distance, so I relaxed a bit then. I caught the lady in 2^nd place at the checkpoint just outside Todmorden. She retired from the race at that checkpoint. At Hebden, 7pm by this time, I had to stop and get the head torch on and ran the last hour in the dark. It was a wonderful feeling reaching the last checkpoint at Hebden, knowing there was only 5 miles left. And I counted down every single mile. I had a couple of trips running in the dark (even with the headtorch – tired legs!) and actually fell over at one point. The last few miles were in a woody area, not many lights around. Finally I passed the sign saying I was a mile from Sowerby, and could just see the lights of the town. Elation!! The last mile was my fastest mile over the previous 26 miles, I was so thrilled (and relieved) to have reached the end.

What kept you going?

As above!  Also the thought of letting all the sponsors down in my fundraising for Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.  I think you get to a certain point and things start hurting – roughly 25+ miles. They seem to then plateau and never really get any worse but of course it then becomes a mental challenge – the distance – that takes over… and just carrying on and not giving up. Just keep going.

What tips would you offer anyone considering running further than they’ve ever done?

Train for the distance and terrain you’re planning on tackling. Train train train. Practice, practice, practice. Talk to other people about their experiences and practice every aspect in training, don’t leave anything to chance. Know that you will at some point (or several points!) feel quite dreadful, that this is to be expected and that you will push through.

You’re generally capable of doing much more than you think you are.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever had?

When I first started running marathons – put your name on your vest and you’ll get the spectators cheering you on, it gives you such a fantastic lift! And also, when you start running long distance that expect it to hurt at some point. That’s pretty normal!

What has running given you?

I can’t imagine my life now without running. It’s given me a release from stress, amazing friends, a wonderful partner, immense personal fulfilment. Having personal goals and really pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone is so important. I hope I never ‘sit on my laurels’. There’s always another challenge to do. I had a really good friend, Joanna, who died when we were only 28, just before Mia was born. Mia’s was then given the middle name Joanna in memory of her. I think about Jo often and feel that I should really try to make the most of my life. That I should make the most I possibly can of the fact that I’m fortunate enough to be fit and healthy and able to run. Running is a massive part of who I am now. I just hope I can carry on running for several more years (decades) yet!!

What would you say to anyone thinking of taking up jogging/running?

Do it. Do it now.

And…!  Go slow, and build up slowly. Walk if you need to, take it easy and enjoy it. Make the time even when you’re tired after work etc.. it’ll energise you and you’ll feel amazing for having done it. If you don’t try you’ll never know. If I can do it any one can do it. And think about joining a club, we are all very friendly!

Jill’s club is Rochdale Harriers.   To find your local UK club visit…

England Athletics ‘Find a Club’

BBC ‘Get Involved’

Jill, thank you so much for this. I know you’re not normally one to talk about yourself and had never considered yourself a role model. I’m pretty sure your ongoing running journey will prove to be inspirational to the running community as a whole.

Jeff