Born in Winchester and living in London means that most of my racing has been concentrated in either Hampshire or the Capital. I joined Winchester and District AC at the age of 11, and raced for them for 20 years until April 2014, when I switched my first claim membership to Serpentine Running Club.
I've always focused on longer distances, mostly competing in events from 10k and up to the marathon. My weekly mileage for a distance runner registering the sorts of times I run is relatively low compared to the average, given that I'll average around 60-70 miles per week. Through years of experience and multiple injuries, I've understood that my body cannot really handle any more than 70 miles per week.
To compensate for this relatively low mileage, I also do a fair amount of cross training throughout the week. This will take the form of either swimming, rowing or watt bike sessions during the winter, and cycling during the summer. Through doing this cross training, and since 2013, I've taken up triathlon and represented GB at age group level. In 2015, I was selected to compete for Team Freespeed, an amateur race team which focuses on longer distance triathlons.
I have 2 main aims for 2015: to set a personal best at the London Marathon, and to qualify for and then compete in the World 70.3 Ironman championships in Austria. So far I have ticked off the first aim when I achieved a 2:21:41 at the London Marathon. Now I will need to put the running shoes aside a few times a week and get out on the bike instead. Fortunately I have a group of friends who are willing to get up for 6am cycle rides early in the morning, so putting a decent mileage in on the bike is not too much of a struggle in the summer months.
To compensate for this relatively low mileage, I also do a fair amount of cross training throughout the week. This will take the form of either swimming, rowing or watt bike sessions during the winter, and cycling during the summer. Through doing this cross training, and since 2013, I've taken up triathlon and represented GB at age group level. In 2015, I was selected to compete for Team Freespeed, an amateur race team which focuses on longer distance triathlons.
I have 2 main aims for 2015: to set a personal best at the London Marathon, and to qualify for and then compete in the World 70.3 Ironman championships in Austria. So far I have ticked off the first aim when I achieved a 2:21:41 at the London Marathon. Now I will need to put the running shoes aside a few times a week and get out on the bike instead. Fortunately I have a group of friends who are willing to get up for 6am cycle rides early in the morning, so putting a decent mileage in on the bike is not too much of a struggle in the summer months.
