When have you started running?
I started running about five years ago, my
boyfriend got me into it at the time. I remember trying to run to the end of
the road, finding it really hard and I thought, ‘oh god, how can people do
that’. Then I decided to join ‘Park Run’. It’s a
group of runners who get together every week to race against each other. I
gradually got better at running and started to increase my distance.
I never thought I would be an endurance
runner, because I’m not a natural runner. In school I used to be a sprinter for
the North West sprinting team, but as a sprinter my body physique is much
different from that of an endurance runner. Sprinters have fast power release
muscles, whereas endurance runners have slow-release muscles. It depends very
much on your genes pool and there is only so much you can do to change that.
Do you prefer to run by yourself or in a group?
When I started running I used to run by myself,
as I would find it really difficult to run and talk at the same time. As a more
developed runner, I now prefer to run with other people. Running in a group can
give you a real sense of camaraderie and motivation, especially when you’re
training for a marathon.
What was your first ever running event?
It was a 5K run for the charity ‘Race for
Life’ about six years ago. I remember being worried that I wouldn’t be able to
complete it. I wasn’t trained at all and I didn’t know anything about running
back then. I don’t remember the exact finishing time, but it was over 30 mins.
Now my PB for a 5K is 22:06.
Since then I’ve ran multiple distance
events. The Brighton Marathon was my first full-length marathon, which I
finished in a time of 4:20. I was injured then and had to take painkillers to
be able to complete the race. Now I should be able to run a marathon in a time
of sub 4hrs.
What’s your favourite running distance?
I like running half marathons, because they
are a good challenge. I can run half marathons now without training for them,
but I wouldn’t be able to get a PB. My PB so far is 1:51, but my target time
would be 1:45.
What keeps you motivated during training?
The camaraderie of my running group keeps
me motivated. I couldn’t train for an endurance run on my own. I ran my first
half marathon with my best friend and we kept each other going. Since then, she
moved to Australia, so I had to find a new running buddy. I decided to sign up
with my local running club and that was the best thing I did.
There is real sense of camaraderie within
the club and you become close to other runners. On those days when you don’t
feel like running, the incentive to go and see your friends is what makes you
go anyway. And you do get bullied when you skip runs, too! My friend Rich, who
I got to know through the club, helps me to pace my runs and to bring my PB
down. He’s better than any running watch you could buy in the shops.
Obviously, everyone is different. People
join running clubs for all sorts of reasons: For some it’s fitness, some are
proper racers, some do it for the health benefit. It doesn’t matter, and that’s
what I like about running. You are a runner when you put on your trainers and
go outside. It’s for fun.
How do you treat yourself after a run?
With food. You have to be careful though,
some people put on weight during marathon training due to the high carb load.
You find yourself eating all the time and your metabolism goes crazy.
Is there anything you don’t like about the sport?
Runners can become a bit cliquey and quite
exclusive, which can be intimidating to new runners and beginners. At the end
of the day, running is about putting on your shoes and going outside. Some
people overcomplicate it.
Also, the sports industry has become a huge
business. There are so-called experts and myths around giving you the wrong
advice on nutrition, gels, sports drinks and running shoes. As a sports
journalist it is my responsibility to tell the truth, not those outlandish
facts about running.
Before our ways part again, Katie gives me
some advice for my half marathon training. Go ahead and listen in…
If you are interested to talk to Katie about personal training or sports massages, you can contact her through her website www.coastaltherapy.co.uk.
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