What Does running mean to you:
Running means are many things to me, but one of the most important thing is that it makes me feel alive. It makes me feel present to the moment, that I’m here right now, and appreciating life and living. It helps me trouble shoot and is great for my mental health so when I’m out running, if there is something I need to tackle, something that has been bugging me, I’ll run and figure out a way to overcome that sort of problem that I’m going through. It’ll help me deal with it. Running means to me – feeling alive and good mental well being.
Favourite place to run:
My favourite place to run right now, that’s a hard one. Originally I was from Hackney. I love running around Hackney but I’ve moved out from of Hackney at the moment and I’m living out in Essex, so I’ll say if I had to choose a favourite place to run it to would be along the Embankment, down the Thames. I just love seeing seeing the water, the landmarks of London, the bridges and then heading up towards Hyde Park off Westminster Bridge, down Birdcage Walk onto Hyde Park – so yeah, the London landmarks and the Embankment are my favourite places to run.
Your best running memory:
This has to be in 2017, in March. I was part of a team running the speed project. You’re in a team and you run from Santa Monica pier in Los Angeles to Las Vegas in a relay team – it’s about 344 miles – we covered that in 49 hours. It was burning hot during the day, you’re talking 40 ° and then getting to Death Valley is like, so hard, as you’re going through the desert. Then at night it’s super cold (especially the desert air) but the feeling it gave me was just amazing. It gave you a perspective on life as well as, you’re just out running for two days and all you care about is your next leg. We had a team of 8 and when it got really difficult we ran like a mile each (it was super hot in the day, especially in the mid day sun). That’s definitely the best feeling I’ve had. I was scared and I was invigorated; really passionate about doing that run. At the end of it I was totally exhausted and battered, but definitely the best feeling I’ve had running.
Why does running matter?
That’s quite a tough question to answer, it’s like a child asking you why and there’s not enough answers to the question why – but I guess one of the reasons that matters is because it’s healthy. Because it keeps you feeling good, keeps your feelings in check, keeps you accountable and if you’re in a good place mentally, and running puts you there, then you’re fit for life – so that’s my short answer
Running plans for the future:
My running plans are in progress: I’m training for Boston marathon in April. Before that I’ve got the Cambridge half in March. I’ve got the Berlin half in just two weeks before Boston which I’ll use as a training – run it at marathon pace and then Boston. The Stockholm half in September, followed by my A race, which is Valencia in December.
BreatheToMove 