The Inside Track

I work for the MOD as an accountant and have done plenty of exciting jobs along the way, including a 10 month stint in the Falklands.

I joined the club in 2015 to get myself fit and running again having put the running on hold while we started a family.

The freedom to do exercise whenever you want! Just put your trainers on and off you go! In the early days, coming to club helped me get my backside off the sofa and out for a run, knowing there would be someone to have a chat along the route to pass the time. But now I also see a run as a great opportunity to clear my mind, chill out and get a bit of exercise.... oh and still have a lovely chat with EGRC members along the way!!

We have an allotment so growing lots of fruit and veg, and not growing quite so many weeds is what we aim for... but I think the weeds might be winning this year 

Hmmm???? There’s plenty up there, but in my mind you really cant beat a decent BBQ! I could totally live on them - A tasty steak, Jacket potato and salad hits the spot on a summers evening every time.

Even after my difficult run at the Malmesbury 10k at the end of Aug, I think I will still stick with the 10k distance. I’m never going to be a whippet at short distances, and anything over 13 miles is just REALLY hard work. So I love the challenge of pushing myself to try and get faster and faster at that distance. There’s plenty of races locally so a medal is never too far away either. And over the past few years I’ve become a lot more partial to a bit more mud - trail running! It can be much more picturesque and challenging along the way with stunning views to take your mind off any pain.

I have two – both abroad... First was the Budapest half in 2007. The most amazing route over many of the famous bridges and around landmarks, finishing off in Heroes park for a dip in a thermal bath – only dampened by the fact that I wasn’t that fast and the sweeper van got a little bit too close for comfort on a few occasions  Second has to be Paphos last year. On our holiday, securing sunbeds at 0700 and then heading to the seafront for an out and back (and then hitting the all inclusive breakfast guilt free) was just amazing!

So this was a tricky one... having said anything over 13 miles is just hard work, I think I would like the opportunity to run the London Marathon... Just once, to prove that I could do it and to be able to say that I did do it! Roll on the ballot results !!??!!

Maybe “Friendships, Fitness and Health”? Or, some might say I should have written “medals, medals, medals”... I think my husband might have a point  But the most important for all of us should be... “Always enjoy running!”