Best Race and why? – 2014 Redcar Half Marathon – This was the year I got my half marathon PB 1:28:42. I’d struggled to get under 1hr 30mins for a few years, and this time everything just clicked for me. I felt relaxed, I enjoyed the run and realised no matter how hard you train you need the right mental attitude and a bit of luck to get your best performances.
Favourite Race and why? – I love the New Year’s Day Captain Cook’s race in Great Ayton. There’s always a great atmosphere for this run, and it’s nice to get out there on 1st Jan each year and get your year off to a good start. I’ve got to say I’m never actually that good at this race, but maybe that’s why I like it so much, because I always want to come back the next year and try to get a better result.
Why did you get into running? On and off I’ve been involved in running right back to when I was in school doing cross country runs – I don’t have the coordination / skill to play team sports like football, but you can’t really go wrong with running.
Best thing about being in a club? I always used to think that club running was only for ‘serious athletes’ – actually it’s about just enjoying running with a group of like-minded people, the club caters for most abilities and helps motivate you to get off the sofa and pop your running shoes even on the wettest, darkest and coldest days.
My ambition…… Is simply to enjoy myself – although recently I’m finding the sort of form I had 3 to 4 years ago so maybe I can squeeze out one more PB either at 10k or HM distance.
Fastest 5k? 18:22
Fastest 10k? 39:27
Worst injury? I picked up a bit of a knee injury in 2016, and couldn’t shake it off – the doctor said it was early onset of arthritis – I couldn’t run for months and got really fed up, I didn’t like the idea of not running though and eventually decided to just put up with the pain in my knees and start running again. After a while the pain started to ease, and now apart from taking it easy on any steep downhills I don’t really notice it.
Favourite Film? Field of Dreams – I’ve loved this film for as long as I can remember, it always makes me cry, and after my dad died in 2017 its made the film even more poignant to me.
Favourite drink? I love a cup of tea (no milk) especially when I’m outdoors. I’m also partial to a nice glass of red wine, and when I say nice I mean big!